Proposal of a Nutritional Quality Index (NQI) to Evaluate the Nutritional Supplementation of Sportspeople.
BACKGROUND
Numerous supplements are used by sportspeople. They are not always appropriate for the individual or the sports activity and may do more harm than good. Vitamin and mineral supplements are unnecessary if the energy intake is sufficient to maintain body weight and derives from a diet with an adequate variety of foods. The study objectives were to evaluate the main nutrients used as supplements in sports and to propose a nutritional quality index (NQI) that enables sportspeople to optimize their use of supplements and detect and remedy possible nutritional deficits.


METHODS
A nutritional study was performed in 485 sportspeople recruited from Centros Andaluces de Medicina del Deporte, (CAMD). All completed socio-demographic, food frequency, and lifestyle questionnaires. The nutritional quality of their diet and need for supplementation were evaluated by scoring their dietary intake with and without supplementation, yielding two NQI scores (scales of 0-21 points) for each participant.


RESULTS
A superior mean NQI score was obtained when the supplements taken by participants were not included (16. 28 (SD of 3.52)) than when they were included (15.47 (SD: 3.08)), attributable to an excessive intake of some nutrients through supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that sportspeople with a varied and balanced diet do not need supplements, which appear to offer no performance benefits and may pose a health risk.
Research Group on Nutrition, Diet and Risk Assessment-AGR255, Nutrition and Food Science Department, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Alba
A
Palacin-Arce
Research Group on Nutrition, Diet and Risk Assessment-AGR255, Nutrition and Food Science Department, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Celia
C
Monteagudo
Andalusian Centre of Sport Medicine (CAMD), Junta de Andalucía, Spain.
Juan de Dios
Jde D
Beas-Jimenez
Research Group on Nutrition, Diet and Risk Assessment-AGR255, Nutrition and Food Science Department, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Fatima
F
Olea-Serrano
Research Group on Nutrition, Diet and Risk Assessment-AGR255, Nutrition and Food Science Department, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Andalusian Centre of Sport Medicine (CAMD), Junta de Andalucía, Spain; Food Technology, Nutrition and Food Science Department, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Miguel
M
Mariscal-Arcas
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D056352:Athletes; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult