Comparison of lung volume in Greek swimmers, land based athletes, and sedentary controls using allometric scaling.

OBJECTIVE: To compare lung volumes in a large cross sectional sample of Greek swimmers, land based athletes, and sedentary controls by means of allometric scaling. METHODS: Four hundred and fifty nine asymptomatic Greek children and young adults (age 10-21 years), including 159 swimmers, 130 land based athletes, and 170 sedentary controls, performed forced expiratory manoeuvres into a portable spirometer. Measurements included forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0), and peak expiratory flow. Body mass and stature were also measured using standardised anthropometric techniques. RESULTS: Logarithmic transformations showed that in FEV1.0 was highly related to in stature in males and females (r = 0.93 and 0.86 respectively, P < 0.001) and were used to determine the exponent in an allometric equation which also included age and age. Resulting power functions, FEV1.0/stature, were 0.64 (0.18) litres/m2.69 and 0.33 (0.24) litres/m2.32 for males and females respectively (mean (SE)). The male and female swimming groups had larger FEV1.0 than both land based athletes and sedentary controls (one way analysis of variance, P < 0.001). In addition, male national standard swimmers (n = 38) had superior FEV1.0 in comparison with male non-national standard swimmers (n = 24; t test, P < 0.05). However, when years of swimming training was controlled for by analysis of covariance, the difference in FEV1.0 between the two groups was no longer evident. CONCLUSIONS: Swimmers have superior FEV1.0 independent of stature and age in comparison with both land based athletes and sedentary controls. In addition, male national standard swimmers have superior FEV1.0 independent of stature and age in comparison with male non-national standard swimmers. When years of training is controlled for, the difference in FEV1.0 between the two groups is no longer evident. This suggests that the years of swimming training and/or the earlier age at which training begins may have a significant influence on subsequent FEV1.0 and swimming performance. However, because of the cross sectional nature of this study, the results do not exclude genetic endowment as a major determinant of the superior lung volume observed in swimmers

Avaliação do estado nutricional de atletas de ginástica olímpica do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo Nutritional status evaluation of olympic gymnastics athletes from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil

Com o objetivo de avaliar o estado nutricional de atletas de ginástica olímpica, do sexo feminino, foram estudadas 46 ginastas, de 11 a 14 anos, pertencentes a clubes e academias das cidades do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo. O estudo antropométrico envolveu medidas de massa corporal, estatura, dobras cutâneas e perímetros. Observou-se diferença significativa para as dobras cutâneas tricipital, suprailíaca, da coxa e da panturrilha e para o percentual de gordura (p<0,05). Para o estudo dietético foram utilizados recordatório de 24 horas e registro alimentar de três dias. As ginastas apresentaram baixo consumo energético. A percentagem de carboidratos, 50% a 58%, e a ingestão protéica de 1,5 a 1,7 g/kg de peso mostraram-se baixa e adequada, respectivamente, frente ao proposto para atletas. O conteúdo de vitaminas foi satisfatório, com exceção do ácido fólico para as adolescentes cariocas. Os minerais julgados inadequados foram cálcio, magnésio, ferro e zinco. O estado nutricional de ferro não apresentou alterações.<br>The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of 46 female olympic gymnastics athletes, aged 11 to 14 years old, attending private gymnastics clubs of the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The anthropometric assessment involved measurements of height, body mass, skinfold thickness and circumferences. Significant difference was observed for the triceps, suprailiac, mid thigh and medial calf skinfolds and for the percentage of body fat (p<0.05). For the assessment of dietary intake a 24-hour recall and a 3-day self-register were used. The energy consumption and the percentage of carbohydrates (50% to 58%) in the diet were low and the protein ingestion (1.5 to 1.7 g/kg of body weight) was appropriate, according to values proposed for athletes. Vitamin intake was satisfactory, except for folic acid of gymnasts from Rio de Janeiro. From the minerals assessed, the intake of calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron was inadequate. No clinical signs of iron deficiency were observed