Total fats and fatty acids consumption by sportsmen practicing slalom canoe and sport-shooting

Summary

Objective

The objective of this study was to estimate the total fat, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol intake by sportsmen practicing slalom canoe racing and sport-shooting.

Material and methods

The studies were performed at 29 slalom canoe's racing and at 23 sport's shooting sportsmen. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were collected in training and start period of 2009, for three selected days per week (including Friday and Sunday, due to the different, eating habits in Poland).

Results

The obtained amount of total fats intake in average daily diet of canoeist and shooters were 29% and 34% of total energy, respectively. The saturated fatty acids delivered –16% and 17% of total energy, respectively. The percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids was in accordance with recommendations (above 10% of total energy of daily diets), whereas for n-3 family polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially the docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, were too low (below 1% of energy of daily diets). However the proper ratio of n-6 to n-3 (5–6:1) were found.

Conclusions

It is therefore reasonable to increase consumption of fatty sea fish, canola and flax seeds oil rich in n-3 family fatty acids by sportsmen.

Résumé

Objectif

L’objectif de cette étude a été d’estimer la consommation totale d’acides gras saturés, mono-insaturés, poly-insaturés et de cholestérol par des sportifs pratiquant le canoë (slalom) et le tir sportif.

Population et méthodes

Les études ont été réalisées au cours de 29 courses de slalom en canoë et de 23 séances de tir sportif. Début 2009, un journal des consommations alimentaires a été effectué, établi lors des entraînements, et collecté sur trois jours entiers par semaine (y compris les vendredis et les dimanches, en raison de la différence des habitudes alimentaires en Pologne).

Résultats

La quantité totale de lipides apportés par l’alimentation quotidienne chez les canoéistes et les tireurs représentait respectivement 29 et 34% de la quantité totale de l’énergie consommée. Les acides gras saturés représentaient respectivement 16 et 17% de l’apport énergétique total. Le pourcentage d’acides gras mono-insaturés était conforme aux recommandations quotidiennes (c’est-à-dire au-dessus de 10% de l’apport énergétique total), tandis que pour la famille n-3, les acides gras poly-insaturés et en particulier l’acide docosahexaénoïque et l’acide eicosapentaénoïque, étaient apportés en trop faibles quantités (inférieures à 1% de l’apport énergétique). Cependant, un bon rapport entre les acides gras n-6 et n-3 (5–6:1) était conservé.

Conclusions

Il est donc raisonnable chez ces sportifs d’augmenter la consommation de poissons de mer gras, d’huile de colza, des oléagineux, et de toutes substances riches en acides gras n-3.

Introduction

According to recommendations dietary intake of total fats should be limited and vary from 15 to 30% of the total energy intake of the average daily diet. Not recommended is intake of fats below 15% daily energy needs. However fat intake by sportsmen should be in range 20–35% of the total energy of the average daily diets (ADD) [1]. The structure of consumed fats is also important, not more than 10% daily energy needs should be covered by saturated fatty acids (SFA). Monounsaturated fatty acids should provide above 10% of total energy intake, while polyunsaturated fatty acids 6–10%, where 5–8% should be n-6 and 1–2% n-3 [2].

To high intake of SFA with diet can rise the total cholesterol and LDL fraction levels in blood and increase risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases [3], [4], [5]. It is recommended to increase intake of monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially n-3 family, in prevention of cardiovascular disease, but they have other healthy properties (anti-inflammatory, anti-blood clotting protections, reeducating blood pressure) [6], [7].

The n-6 and n-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients (named essential fatty acids [EFA]) in the daily diet. Essential fatty acids include linoleic acid (LA) (18:2 n-6), which as a result of desaturation is transformed into arachidonic acid (AA) (20:4, n-6) and α-linolenic acid (LNA) (18:3 n-3), precursor of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (20:5, n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6 n-3) [8], [9], [10]. AA and EPA fatty acids are used for the production of eicosanoids, exhibiting a broad spectrum of action on the body. Eicosanoids originally from AA are characterized by high biological activity, even when present in very small concentration and produced in abundance stimulate cause the inflammation and atherosclerosis changes. Excessive intake of n-6 fatty acids, from the standpoint of health protection can thus be detrimental [11], [12]. Whereas eicosnoids synthesized from EPA show anti-inflammatory activities, inhibit cancerogenes and too high blood vessels shrinkage [13], [14]. DHA is an essential component of cells’ membranes in central nervous system, influences the proper development of neurons and their functioning especially in brain cortices and eye retina [6], [15]. The proportion of n-6 to n-3 in average daily diet should be 5-6:1 [16].

By analyzing the demand for fat, the attention should be paid on cholesterol intake. Excessive intake of this compound in the diet can cause an increase in its concentration in serum, leading consequently to hypercholesterolemia. According to current recommendations cholesterol intake with daily diets should not exceed 300 mg per day [9].

In slalom canoeing and sport-shooting strength and endurance are important factors and should be built during training period [17]. Properly balanced diet is an important factor in ability to perform high physical activity and to recover after training or competitions. Energy expenditure by sportsmen depends on many factors (i.e. gender, age, intensity, duration and frequency of training, and sport discipline [18].

Assessment of nutritional pattern of different groups of sportsmen (volleyball, hockey, swimmers, slalom canoeist, sports shooters, sport climbing), conducted for many years by our team, has shown low energy intake, usually about 50% of requirements. The objective of this study was to assess energy, total fat, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol intake with average daily diet by sportsmen practicing slalom canoe racing and sport-shooting, during training and start period. Intake of fat and fatty acids by slalom canoeist and sports shooters was compare because they have different energy demand.