NUTRITION KEY TO ATHLETES HEALTH

by James Skitt 05.11.08

Staying healthy before, during and after competition is a crucial factor in sporting success as months, even years of training can be cruelly undermined if athletes suffer illness at the wrong time.

Performance levels in any athletes, even the very best, can be hugely diminished by a badly timed bug, which is why immune support was an important focus for the English Institute of Sport (EIS) Nutritionists who assisted British athletes in their preparations for Beijing this summer.

“Travel for competition provides several nutrition challenges for athletes and immunity was an important consideration” insists EIS Nutritionist Beth Allanson.

Perversely for athletes, it is the very hard graft they put into their training which can make them more susceptible to infection. Endurance athletes in particular often complete high volumes of training which place great demands on their body’s energy systems and fuel stores, meaning a focus on nutrition to support their immune system has become an important part of their training strategies.

“Demanding training and competition schedules can result in a suppression of the immune system which can increase an athlete’s susceptibility to infections and illness” Allanson explains.

“This immunosuppression is largely dependant on the intensity and duration of the training sessions, but is also influenced by stressors such as the nutritional status of the athlete, environmental conditions, injury and psychological stress.”

With this in mind, Nutritionists from the EIS gathered for a master class in immune support for elite athletes earlier this year to share and discuss best practice ahead of their support to athletes heading to Beijing.

“Strategies to assist immune function for athletes going to Beijing included provision of immune boosting supplements as well as hygiene protocols in holding camps to help prevent illness and nutritional interventions during illness” says Allanson.

Utilising these strategies to avoid susceptibility to infection was vital to the athletes as any illness, no matter how small, would result in performance decrements. But according to Allanson, a focus on nutrition before, during and after training sessions can help lessen the effects of immunosuppression no matter what event is being trained for.

“It is important for any athletes to implement long term strategies to ensure they consume a sufficient intake of energy and protein to support the rapid turn over and replication of the cells in their immune system” she says.

“Nutritional factors such as low energy intake, low carbohydrate stores and insufficient or excessive micronutrient intake can contribute to the post exercise suppression in immune function.”

“Training in a carbohydrate-depleted state results in a greater increase in circulating stress hormones and enhances the suppression in immune function post exercise, therefore it is important to fuel up prior to training and consume some carbohydrates during prolonged intense sessions” she suggests.

“During training it is often more appropriate to take carbohydrates on board in a fluid form such as a sports drink as this not only aids hydration but also maintains saliva production, which contains antimicrobial proteins that act as a first line of defence against air borne viruses. A dry mouth will increase the risk of infection.”

“In addition, there are also a number of nutritional supplements that support various aspects of immune function including fish oils, antioxidants and probiotics” she adds.

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