Food intake, body composition and endurance capacity of national basketball team players in I.R. of Iran.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study 14 national basketball team players attending the preparatory camp for the Asian games with mean age of 25.6 ± 3.1 yrs, height of 191 ± 6 cm, weight of 87.3 ± 8.1 kg and BMI of 23.9±1.7 were surveyed. The subjects underwent anthropometric, aerobic power, body fat content and VO 2 max measurements in three stages of the training period (before training, during training and before the actual competition). In two stages (before and during training) nutritional assessment and food intake using weighing method in 7 intermittent days was made. Anthropometric measurements showed body weight and BMI changes during the period of study to be negligible and non-significant. Subcutaneous fat was reduced significantly (p< 0.02). Also VO 2 max increased appreciably (p<0.001) from 42.3± 3.3 in the first stage to 44.3 ± 4.4 and 44.5 ± 2.2 mL/Kg body weight per minute in the second and third stage respectively which demonstrates the positive role of exercise on maximum oxygen uptake or VO 2 max. The results of quantitative food intake assessment showed the energy intake to be at 3900 kcal per day. At this stage carbohydrate, fat and protein provided 50, 35 and 15% of energy respectively. In the second stage energy intake was 3600 kcal with 55, 30 and 15% of energy coming from carbohydrate, fat and protein respectively which were in the normal range in both stages. Regarding vitamins and minerals, intake of iron, calcium and ascorbic acid was above the range, while thiamin, riboflavin and niacin were within the range and vitamin A as well as B 6 were below the recommended levels. Further research regarding nutrient intake monitoring, nutrition education of athletes and coaches as well as international nutrition research offering a defined menu in preparatory camps is necessary. MJIRI, Vol. 18, No. 1, 73-77, 2004.