The associations between anthropometric characteristics and nutritional parameters in male elite rugby union players

Protein and Leucine Requirements for Maximal Muscular Development and Athletic Performance Are Achieved with Completely Plant-Based Diets Modeled to Meet Energy Needs in Adult Male Rugby Players

“…Rugby players following the Mediterranean-style diet and higher-protein diet gained 4.9 and 1.2 kg of muscle mass, respectively (p = 0.03) [75]. These protein intakes and the values modeled in the present study reside within the range reported in surveys of the dietary intakes of rugby players, which indicate mean protein intakes of 1.02-2.59 g/kg [8,10,22,23,72,77]. These values may reflect larger intakes of protein supplements, the use of which is prevalent among rugby players [71,[78][79][80].…”

“…This study calculated nutrient values using a calorie level of 4587.5 kcal/day because this value precisely matches the mean TEE in rugby athletes determined using doubly labeled water [52]. Calculating nutrient intakes using a lower caloric value that was estimated from dietary assessments that are prone to significant measurement limitations [10,72] would therefore model a caloric deficit. A chronic negative calorie balance would limit the potential application of the results to rugby athletes because research suggests that, longitudinally, rugby players experience a small caloric surplus, as reflected by modest increases in total and lean mass over a seven-year period [73].…”

“…A systematic review that used 24 h recalls and food diaries of varying durations to estimate the dietary intakes of team sport athletes including rugby players reported mean energy intakes that ranged from 3177 to 4336 kcal/day [70]. Additional research using FFQ, 24 h recalls, and food diaries estimated the energy intakes of rugby players to be between 2284 and 3875 kcal/day [8,10,22,23,71,72]. Low reported energy intakes relative to TEE have led to observations of a negative energy balance (−1382 kcal/day) in rugby players [10], accompanied by suggestions for cautious interpretation due to underreporting during dietary assessment and limitations in energy intake estimations [10,72].…”

“…Additional research using FFQ, 24 h recalls, and food diaries estimated the energy intakes of rugby players to be between 2284 and 3875 kcal/day [8,10,22,23,71,72]. Low reported energy intakes relative to TEE have led to observations of a negative energy balance (−1382 kcal/day) in rugby players [10], accompanied by suggestions for cautious interpretation due to underreporting during dietary assessment and limitations in energy intake estimations [10,72]. This study calculated nutrient values using a calorie level of 4587.5 kcal/day because this value precisely matches the mean TEE in rugby athletes determined using doubly labeled water [52].…”

“…Meal plans created for professional male rugby league players also prioritize protein from animal sources [7]. This advice is evident in the eating patterns of rugby players, for whom the majority of protein choices are animal-based and consist largely of beef, chicken, dairy, and eggs [1,2,[8][9][10]. This conflicts with national public health guidelines in the USA, England, and Australia to reduce the intake of red and processed meat [11][12][13] as well as international recommendations to decrease meat intake and increase the consumption of plant foods [14,15].…”