title: Nutrition knowledge in athletes: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nutrition education aims to enhance knowledge and improve dietary intake in athletes. Understanding athletes' nutrition knowledge and its influence on dietary intake will inform nutrition-education programs in this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review the level of nutrition knowledge in athletes, benchmark this against nonathlete comparison groups, and determine the impact of nutrition knowledge on dietary intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  An extensive literature search from the earliest record to March 2010 using the terms nutrition knowledge or diet knowledge and athlete or sport was conducted. Included studies recruited able or physically disabled, male or female, competitive (recreational or elite) athletes over the age of 13 yr. Quantitative assessment of knowledge and, if available, diet intake was required. Because of variability in the assessment of nutrition knowledge and dietary intake, meta-analysis was not conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine studies (17 published before 2000) measuring nutrition knowledge (7 including a nonathlete comparison group) met inclusion criteria. Athletes' knowledge was equal to or better than that of nonathletes but lower than comparison groups including nutrition students. When found statistically significant, knowledge was greater in females than males. A weak (r < .44), positive association between knowledge and dietary intake was reported in 5 of 9 studies assessing this. Common flaws in articles included inadequate statistical reporting, instrument validation, and benchmarking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nutrition knowledge of athletes and its impact on their dietary intake is equivocal. There is a need for high-quality, contemporary research using validated tools to measure nutrition knowledge and its impact on dietary intake.
authors: Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Heaney
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: O'Connor
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Michael
authors: Janelle
authors: J
authors: Gifford
authors: Geraldine
authors: G
authors: Naughton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D055815:Young Adult