Association of nutrition knowledge, practice, supplement use, and nutrient intake with strength performance among Taekwondo players in Nepal

Abstract

BackgroundOptimum dietary intake and adequate nutritional knowledge have been recognized as the key factors that play a critical role in improving the athlete's health and nutrition status. This study aimed to measure the association of nutritional knowledge, practice, supplement use, and nutrient intake with strength performance among Nepalese Taekwondo players.MethodsBetween August 2019 and January 2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 293 Taekwondo players in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (mean age, 18 years; 63.1% male, 36.9% female). Face-to-face interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires. Anthropometric measures, nutritional intake, nutrition knowledge, and practice were all recorded. The handgrip strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer as a proxy for strength performance. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to find out the association between predictor and outcome variables.ResultsMore than half of the participants had poor nutrition knowledge [54.3% (159/293)], and poor nutrition practice [55.3% (162/293)] scores. Daily mean energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat intake were 48.0 kcal.kg−1.d−1, 8.6, 1.6, and 1.5 g.kg−1.d−1, respectively among Taekwondo players. Daily total energy and carbohydrate intake were 48.2 kcal.kg−1.d−1 and 8.7 g.kg−1.d−1, respectively among male players which is higher than female players. However, daily protein and fat intake were higher in female players (1.7 and 1.6 g.kg−1.d−1, respectively). Both calcium (375.3 mg) and iron (9 mg) intake among Taekwondo players were significantly lower than current sports nutrition guidelines. Nutritional knowledge score (r = 0.117), height (r = 0.538), weight (r = 0.651), body mass index (r = 0.347), fat (r = 0.075), and energy (r = 0.127) intake showed significant positive correlation with strength performance of athletes. The strength performance was positively associated with training hours per day (β = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.09–0.91), body mass index (β = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.09–0.61), nutrition knowledge score (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.01–0.25), and energy intake (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.12–0.14).ConclusionsThe nutritional knowledge and practice both were suboptimal among Taekwondo athletes. Height, weight, body mass index, nutritional knowledge, energy, and fat intake showed a positive correlation with strength performance. Future studies can build on the premise of this study to identify the robust relationship between nutritional knowledge, practice, different supplement use, and nutrient intake among other athletes too.

Attitude towards healthy nutrition and mental toughness: a study of taekwondo athletes

“…Ozsari, Kara & Kara (2021) observed similar relationships in athletes across various disciplines, demonstrating that increased knowledge and positive nutrition attitudes correlate with enhanced mental toughness. Sunuwar et al (2022) also found a positive correlation between nutritional knowledge and athletic performance in taekwondo athletes, further reinforcing the notion that dietary awareness and healthy eating practices contribute to both mental and physical well-being in athletes. Research findings by Rampersaud et al (2005) showed that a healthy diet can improve cognitive function.…”

“…Previous work in this field highlights the crucial role of nutritional knowledge in influencing athletic success. Davar (2012) and Sunuwar et al (2022) emphasize the importance of accurate nutritional knowledge as a fundamental determinant of athletic achievement. Teo, Burns & Kawabata (2022) provide empirical support for this notion, demonstrating a positive correlation between netball players’ level of nutrition knowledge and their feeding behavior.…”

Nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice of professional athletes in an Iranian population (a cross-sectional study)

“…Bakhtiar et al [ 23 ] revealed 57.3% satisfactory nutrition knowledge among adolescent trainee athletes in Bangladesh. Sunuwar et al [ 42 ] found over half Nepalese Taekwondo players with poor nutrition knowledge. Kathure et al [ 43 ] indicated that most elite athletes in Kenya had adequate nutrition knowledge (above 50%).…”

“…However, in the study by Shakeel et al [ 39 ], the actual practices of the participants were poor and did not align with their good knowledge and attitude level; only about 57.4% of the students implemented their knowledge in their practices, suggesting a gap between knowledge and behavior. Sunuwar et al [ 42 ] also indicated a poor level of nutrition practice (55.3%) in Taekwondo athletes in Nepal.…”

Athletes’ nutritional demands: a narrative review of nutritional requirements

“…The field of sports nutrition has seen the publication of numerous new research papers, accompanied by the release of 17 fresh consensus statements and recommendation papers from authoritative organizations such as the IOC, ACSM, and ISSN ( 2 , 20 , 23 – 25 ). However, there is a recurrent observation of suboptimal adherence to sports nutrition guidelines among athletes ( 26 – 28 ).…”