Nutritional Knowledge and Behavior of Professional Athletes in Khorramabad

Today it is proved that the lack of adequate nutritional knowledge leads to problems such as obesity, overweight and increased cardiovascular diseases. However, many obstacles such as poor financial support, lack of time and poor nutritional knowledge can influence achievement of optimal nutrition which is proportional to the level of the athlete＇s physical activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of nutritional knowledge and dietary behavior of athletes in Khorramabad in 2013. Professional athletes of Khorramabad, Iran, with more than one year of regular exercise and at least one course participating in national championships competitions were studied in this cross-sectional, descriptive-analytic study. The samples included 247 athletes aged 17-29 years. Their nutritional knowledge and behavior were measured by the nutritional knowledge and behavior inventory. Results： The results showed a significant difference in nutritional knowledge of athletes by gender and educational level; female athletes have higher nutritional knowledge than male athletes. A gender-dependent difference was found in nutritional behavior; despite their higher nutritional knowledge, female athletes have weaker nutritional behavior than male athletes. However, no significant correlation was found between BMI and nutritional knowledge and behavior of the athletes. Moreover, findings showed that nutritional knowledge and behavior could be significantly different in various sports.

Specific probiotics alleviate allergic rhinitis during the birch pollen season

AIM： To investigate whether birch pollen allergy symptoms are linked with gut microbiota changes and whether probiotics have an effect on these. METHODS： Forty seven children with confirmed birch pollen allergy were randomized to receive either a probiotic combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus （L. acidophilus） NCFM^TM （ATCC 700396） and Bifidobacterium lactis （B. lactis） BI-04 （ATCC SD5219） or placebo in a double-blind manner for 4 mo, starting prior to onset of the birch pollen season. Symptoms were recorded in a diary. Blood samples were taken for analysis of cytokines and eosinophils. Fecal samples were analysed for microbiota components, calprotectin and IgA. Nasal swabs were taken for analysis of eosinophils.RESULTS： The pollen season induced a reduction in Bifldobacterium , Clostridium and Bacteroides which could not be prevented by the probiotic intervention. During the intervention, significantly higher numbers ofB. lactis 11.2 × 10^7 ± 4.2 ×10^7 vs 0.1 × 10^7 ± 0.1 × 10^7 bacteria/g feces （P 〈 0.0001） and L. acidophilus NCFMTM 3.5 × 10^6 ± 1.3 × 10^6 vs 0.2 × 10^6 ±0.1 × 10^6 bacteria/g feces （P 〈 0.0001） were observed in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group.During May, there was a tendency for fewer subjects, （76.2% vs 95.2%, P = 0.078） to report runny nose, while during June, fewer subjects, 11.1% vs 33.3%, reported nasal blocking in the probiotics group （P = 0.101）. Concomitantly, fewer subjects in the probiotic group had infiltration of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa compared to the placebo group, 57.1% vs 95% （P = 0.013）. Eye symptoms tended to be slightly more frequent in the probiotic group, 12.5 d [interquartile range （IQR） 6-18] vs 7.5 d （IQR 0-11.5） （P = 0.066） during May. Fecal IgA was increased in the placebo group during the pollen season; this increase was prevented by the probiotics （P = 0.028）. CONCLUSION： Birch pollen allergy was shown to be associated with changes in fecal microbiota composition. The specific combination of probiotics used was shown to prevent the pollen-induced infiltration of eosinophils into the nasal mucosa, and indicated a trend for reduced nasal symptoms.

Effects of Lean Beef Supplementation on Iron Status, Body Composition and Performance of Collegiate Distance Runners

Iron deficiency is prevalent among endurance athletes, particularly females. Low iron may compromise oxygen delivery and physical performance. Vegetarianism, desire for convenience, and perceived health risks associated with red meat contribute to low bioavailable iron intakes. The purpose of this study was to examine if lean beef supplementation would maintain iron status, improve body composition and increase performance of distance runners after 8 weeks. Twenty-eight (14 female) Division-I cross-country runners were stratified by iron status, use of iron supplements, and gender, and randomized into a control (n = 14) and intervention group. All participants maintained their typical diet and consumed a daily multivitamin, while the intervention group consumed 9 ounces of lean beef weekly. Dietary intake (total iron, heme-iron, protein, zinc), body composition, VO2max, and iron status (hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, serum ferritin, total iron binding capacity [TIBC]) were measured at baseline and post-intervention. The intervention group had greater intakes of total and heme-iron. There were no group differences in amino acids, protein, or calories. Both groups had a significant body fat increase and lean mass decease over time. There was a significant VO2max increase over time in both groups. There were no group differences due to the intervention in serum ferritin, hemoglobin, serum iron, and TIBC. There was a significant difference in hematocrit between groups as a result of the intervention. In conclusion, increasing bioavailable iron from red meat may have effects on body composition and maintenance of blood iron markers;however, its direct impact on performance among endurance athletes is unclear.