Case Study: The Effect of Nutritional Intervention on Body Composition and Physical Performance of a Female Squash Player

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Rosimus

The body composition of a squash player may affect athletic performance as carrying excessive body fat may increase injury risk and impair agility and speed. This case study outlines the effect of a nutritional intervention on body composition, vitamin D status, and physical performance of a female squash player. A structured, 6-week, moderate energy–restricted diet (70–78% of estimated energy requirement of 2,300 kcal) was implemented with weekly support. A daily supplement of vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and a multivitamin and whey protein was used. Full blood count, vitamin D status, body composition, and physical performance assessments were carried out at baseline and Week 6 of intervention. Body composition changes were measured using the BOD POD™ and skinfold calipers. Body fat was 23% at baseline and 22% at Week 6. Mean sum of eight skinfolds was 127.4 ± 2.2 mm at baseline and 107.3 ± 0.4 mm at Week 6. Lean body mass-to-fat mass ratio improved from 3.4 at baseline to 3.7 at Week 6. The greatest increments compared with baseline in serum markers were 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (68%), ferritin (31%), eosinophils (20%), and triglycerides (16%). All physical performance measures improved, with reactive strength index (4.8%), and on-court repeated speed (6.0%) showing the greatest improvements from baseline. This intervention demonstrates that structured energy restriction alongside appropriately structured strength and conditioning training is an effective way to gradually reduce the body fat and improve the body composition of a female athlete.

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabitha J. Hookey ◽  
Robert C. Backus ◽  
Allison M. Wara

AbstractMore than one-third of humans and companion dogs in Western societies are overweight or obese. In people, vitamin D deficiency is widespread and associated with obesity, a now recognised inflammatory state. Low vitamin D status occurs in dogs with inflammatory conditions, but its relationship with obesity has not been investigated. In otherwise healthy privately owned adult dogs of ideal body condition (control,n7) and dogs with overweight to obese body condition (treatment,n8), serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and body composition as inferred from2H-labelled water dilution space were evaluated. Subsequently, the dogs were transitioned to a commercial canine therapeutic weight-loss diet; control dogs were fed to maintain body weight and treatment dogs were energy-restricted to achieve a safe weight-loss rate. Thereafter, serum 25(OH)D concentration was re-evaluated 8 weeks after diet transition, and at the study end, which was 6 months or when ideal body condition was achieved. At study end, body composition analysis was repeated. Initial body condition scores and percentage body fat were positively correlated (ρ = 0·891;P< 0·001). However, percentage body fat and serum 25(OH)D concentration were not significantly correlated. Final serum 25(OH)D concentrations were greater (P< 0·05) than initial concentrations for control and treatment groups, indicating a diet but not weight-loss effect on vitamin D status. These findings suggest that vitamin D status of dogs is not affected by obesity or loss of body fat with therapeutic weight reduction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (23) ◽  
pp. 8675
Author(s):  
Carlos Hernández-Martínez ◽  
Lars Fernández-Rodríguez ◽  
Marcos Antonio Soriano ◽  
José Miguel Martínez-Sanz

Powerlifting is a weight-class strength sport where achieving low fat mass (FM) and high fat-free mass (FFM) is desirable to improve performance. Recent studies have evaluated the nutritional considerations of different eating patterns, such as vegan diets (VD), in athlete populations. VD are a challenge for athletes who want to attain body composition changes. The aim of this case study is to report on the body composition changes and subjective feelings of a male professional vegan powerlifter following VD for six weeks. The body mass of the powerlifter decreased from 79.3 to 77.4 kg (2.39%). Along with this, FM decreased from 15.0 to 11.4 kg (24%). Conversely, FFM increased from 64.3 to 66.0 kg (2.64%). Moreover, the powerlifter communicated no subjective feelings of low energy availability during training sessions. The VD might compromise adherence in a nutritional intervention which aims to improve body composition due to the nutritional requirements for fat loss. Therefore, more appropriate health assessments, including blood and psychological tests, are required for professional athletes. This short-term VD intervention was satisfactory for improving body composition and no adverse outcomes were reported.


Author(s):  
Jenna E. Heller ◽  
Joi J. Thomas ◽  
Bruce W. Hollis ◽  
D. Enette Larson-Meyer

Excess body fat or obesity is known to increase risk of poor vitamin D status in nonathletes but it is not known if this is the case in athletes. Furthermore, the reason for this association is not understood, but is thought to be due to either sequestration of the fat-soluble vitamin within adipose tissue or the effect of volume dilution related to obese individuals’ larger body size. Forty two US college athletes (24 men 18 women, 20.7 ± 1.6 years, 85.0 ± 28.7 kg, BMI = 25.7 ± 6.1 kg/m2) provided blood samples during the fall and underwent measurement of body composition via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum samples were evaluated for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration to assess vitamin D status using Diasorin 25(OH)D radioiodine assay. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was negatively associated with height (r = -0.45), total body mass (r = -0.57), BMI (r = -0.57), body fat percentage (r = -0.45), fat mass (r = -0.60) and fat-free mass (r = -0.51) (p < .05). These associations did not change after controlling for sex. In a linear regression mixed model, fat mass (coefficient -0.47, p = .01), but not fat-free mass (coefficient -0.18, p = .32) significantly predicted vitamin D status and explained approximately 36% of the variation in serum 25(OH)D concentration. These results suggest that athletes with a large body size and/or excess adiposity may be at higher risk for vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. In addition, the significant association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and fat mass in the mixed model, which remained after controlling for sex, is in support of vitamin D sequestration rather than volume dilution as an explanation for such association.


2021 ◽  
pp. 194173812110193
Author(s):  
Emilija Stojanović ◽  
Dragan Radovanović ◽  
Tamara Hew-Butler ◽  
Dušan Hamar ◽  
Vladimir Jakovljević

Context: Despite growing interest in quantifying and correcting vitamin D inadequacy in basketball players, a critical synthesis of these data is yet to be performed to overcome the low generalizability of findings from individual studies. Objective: To provide a comprehensive analysis of data in basketball pertaining to (1) the prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy; (2) the effects of vitamin D supplementation on 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration (and its association with body composition), bone health, and performance; and (3) crucial aspects that warrant further investigation. Data Sources: PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC, Google Scholar, SCIndex, and ScienceDirect databases were searched. Study Selection: After screening, 15 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Data Extraction: The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy, serum 25(OH)D, body composition, stress fractures, and physical performance were extracted. Results: The pooled prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy for 527 basketball players in 14 studies was 77% ( P < 0.001; 95% CI, 0.70-0.84). Supplementation with 4000 IU/d and 4000 IU/wk (absolute mean difference [AMD]: 25.39 nmol/L; P < 0.001; 95% CI, 13.44-37.33), as well as 10,000 IU/d (AMD: 100.01; P < 0.001; 95% CI, 70.39-129.63) vitamin D restored 25(OH)D to normal concentrations. Body composition data revealed inverse correlations between changes in serum 25(OH)D (from pre- to postsupplementation) and body fat ( r = −0.80; very large). Data concerning positive impacts of vitamin D supplementation on bone health and physical performance remain sparse. Conclusion: The high proportion of vitamin D inadequacy underscores the need to screen for serum 25(OH)D in basketball players. Although supplementation restored vitamin D sufficiency, the beneficial effects on bone health and physical performance remain sparse. Adiposity can modulate 25(OH)D response to supplementation.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2175
Author(s):  
Winnie Siew Swee Chee ◽  
Chung Yuan Chang ◽  
Kanimolli Arasu ◽  
Soon Yee Wong ◽  
Shu Hwa Ong ◽  
...  

Studies on vitamin D status and its determinants in growing children in countries with ample sunshine such as Malaysia have been limited. The aim of our study was to determine factors associated with serum 25(OH)D concentrations such as lifestyle, dietary intake, anthropometry, and body composition in 243 pre-adolescent Malaysian children from low-income families living in Kuala Lumpur. This cross-sectional study measured bone density and body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), while serum 25(OH)D was measured using LC–MS/MS. Time spent outdoors, body surface area exposed to sunlight, dietary intake, and physical activity level were assessed using questionnaires. Multiple linear regression and stepwise analysis were performed to identify significant predictors for serum 25(OH)D. About 69.4% had 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L, and 18.9% were vitamin-D-deficient with 25(OH)D < 30 nmol/L. Girls had a nine-fold higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency than boys. Body surface area exposed to sunlight, Sun Index, and fat mass were significant predictors of 25(OH)D concentrations in this population. Modifiable lifestyle factors such as sun exposure and reducing obesity are important public health guidance to ensure optimal vitamin D status in these children.


Author(s):  
Marius Baranauskas ◽  
Valerija Jablonskienė ◽  
Jonas Algis Abaravičius ◽  
Rimantas Stukas

There are about 466 million people with hearing impairments in the world. The scientific literature does not provide sufficient data on the actual nutrition and other variables of professional deaf athletes. The objectives of this study were to investigate and evaluate the body composition, the physical working capacity, the nutrition intake, and the blood parameters of iron and vitamin D in the Lithuanian high-performance deaf women’s basketball team players. The female athletes (n = 14) of the Lithuanian deaf basketball team aged 26.4 ± 4.5 years were recruited for an observational cross-sectional study. A 7-day food recall survey method was used to investigate their actual diet. The measurements of the body composition were performed using the BIA (bioelectrical impedance analysis) tetra-polar electrodes. In order to assess the cardiorespiratory and aerobic fitness levels of athletes, ergo-spirometry (on a cycle ergometer) was used to measure the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and the physical working capacity at a heart rate of 170 beats per minute (PWC170). The athletes’ blood tests were taken to investigate the red blood cells, hemoglobin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ferritin, transferrin, iron concentrations, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). The consideration of the VO2peak (55.9 ± 6.1 mL/min/kg of body weight, 95% CI: 51.8, 58.9) and the low VO2peak (56–60 mL/min/kg of body weight) (p = 0.966) in the deaf women’s basketball team players revealed no differences. For the deaf female athletes, the PWC170 was equal to 20.3 ± 2.0 kgm/min/kg of body weight and represented only the average aerobic fitness level. The carbohydrate and protein intakes (5.0 ± 1.3 and 1.3 ± 0.3 g/kg of body weight, respectively) met only the minimum levels recommended for athletes. The fat content of the diet (38.1 ± 4.1% of energy intake) exceeded the maximum recommended content (35% of energy intake) (p = 0.012). The mean blood serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and ferritin (24.1 ± 6.6 nmol/L and 11.0 ± 4.1 µg/L, respectively) predicted vitamin D and iron deficits in athletes. Female athletes had an increased risk of vitamin D and iron deficiencies. Regardless of iron deficiency in the body, the better cardiorespiratory fitness of the deaf female athletes was essentially correlated with the higher skeletal muscle mass (in terms of size) (r = 0.61, p = 0.023), the lower percentage of body fat mass (r = −0.53, p = 0.049), and the reduced intake of fat (r = −0.57, p = 0.040).


2008 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin McKinney ◽  
Carmen Radecki Breitkopf ◽  
Abbey B. Berenson

Nutrients ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoneta Granic ◽  
Tom Hill ◽  
Karen Davies ◽  
Carol Jagger ◽  
Ashley Adamson ◽  
...  

Sports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Fields ◽  
Justin Merrigan ◽  
Jason White ◽  
Margaret Jones

The purpose of this study was to assess the body composition of male and female basketball athletes (n = 323) across season, year, and sport-position using air displacement plethysmography. An independent sample t-test assessed sport-position differences. An analysis of variance was used to assess within-subjects across season (pre-season, in-season, and off-season), and academic year (freshman, sophomore, and junior). For both men and women basketball (MBB, WBB) athletes, guards had the lowest body fat, fat mass, fat free mass, and body mass. No seasonal differences were observed in MBB, but following in-season play for WBB, a reduction of (p = 0.03) in fat free mass (FFM) was observed. Across years, MBB showed an increase in FFM from freshman to sophomore year, yet remained unchanged through junior year. For WBB across years, no differences occurred for body mass (BM), body fat (BF%), and fat mass (FM), yet FFM increased from sophomore to junior year (p = 0.009). Sport-position differences exist in MBB and WBB: Guards were found to be smaller and leaner than forwards. Due to the importance of body composition (BC) on athletic performance, along with seasonal and longitudinal shifts in BC, strength and conditioning practitioners should periodically assess athletes BC to ensure preservation of FFM. Training and nutrition programming can then be adjusted in response to changes in BC.


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