Probl Hig Epidemiol 2012, 93(4): 817-823pl

Nutritional support of physical abilities in a professional athletes´ group

Barbara Frączek ^1/, Maria Gacek ^1/, Andrzej Grzelak ^2/

1/ Zakład Żywienia Człowieka, Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego w Krakowie
2/ Studia Doktoranckie, Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego w Krakowie

Summary
Aim. An estimation of distribution of the ergogenic aids among athletes, considering gender as well as the kind and capacity of the sport discipline (endurance and mixed vs. weight and high-speed-weight disciplines).
Material. 156 people (78 women and 78 men) professionally practicing sports disciplines were examined, with predominance of volleyball players (16.7%) and cross-country skiers (14.7%).
Results. The majority of the questioned declared taking the ergogenic aids (86.5%), where the most popular were the vitamin and mineral preparations (ca. 3/4 of the sample). The supplementation with protein or carbohydrate applied to 1/3 of the competitors, especially to those practicing gymnastics, cross-country skiing and ski jumping. The athletes took also other ergogenic aids such as carnitine, BCAA, HMB or more seldom creatine, coenzyme Q10 and ginseng. The usage of some supplements showed some differences depending on gender and sports discipline. The women more often took vitamin supplements (p<0.01) and carnitine (p<0.001), while the men chose BCAA, HMB (P<0.05) and creatine (p<0.01). The competitors of endurance and mixed (of different intensity) sports disciplines considerably more often took mineral substances and carnitine (p<0.001) or BCAA (p<0.05) than those practicing forcible and speed-forcible sports. No usage of sodium bicarbonate or caffeine was affirmed.
Conclusions. The prevalence of nutritional ergogenic aids among the examined group indicates educational requirements towards professional athletes to ensure the application of effective training aid to optimize instituted nutritional strategy.

Key words:  athletes, supplementations, ergogenic aids