Nutrition Research and Practice

The Korean Nutrition Society (한국영양학회)
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Effect of a Mediterranean-style diet on the exercise performance and lactate elimination on adolescent athletes

  • Gizem Helvaci (Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara University) ;
  • Asli Ucar (Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara University) ;
  • Mehmet Mesut Celebi (Department of Sport Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University) ;
  • Haydar Cetinkaya (Bolu Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate) ;
  • Ayse Zulal Gunduz (Bolu Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate)
  • Received : 2022.09.02
  • Accepted : 2023.04.05
  • Published : 2023.08.01
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Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Mediterranean diet is an environmentally friendly and healthy diet model. The diet offers many vegetables, fruits, nuts, and olive oil to consumers. In addition, it provides moderate amounts of fish and chicken, smaller quantities of dairy products, red meat, and processed meat. The Mediterranean diet has a high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant content, and it causes many physiological changes that can provide a physical performance advantage. This study examined the effects of a 15-day menu, which was planned using foods with a low acid load within the Mediterranean diet rules, on the exercise performance, lactate elimination, anthropometric measurements, and body composition. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifteen professional male athletes between the ages of 13 and 18, who were engaged in ski running, were included in the experimental study. Dietary intervention was applied for 15 days. The athlete performances were evaluated by applying the vertical jump test, hand grip strength, 20 meters shuttle run test, and Borg fatigue scale. After the shuttle run test (every 3 min for 30 min), blood was drawn from the finger, and the lactate elimination time was calculated. Performance and lactate measurements, body analysis, and anthropometric measurements were taken before and after dietary intervention. RESULTS: The vertical jump height and hand grip strength increased after the intervention (P < 0.05). The test duration, total distance, the number of shuttles, and maximum oxygen consumption parameters of the shuttle run test increased (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the athletes' perceived fatigue scores decreased in several stages of the shuttle run test (P < 0.05). The lactate elimination time and athlete's body composition were similar in repeated measurements (P > 0.05). In the last measurements, the upper middle arm circumference decreased while the height of the athletes increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the Mediterranean diet is a safe and feasible dietary approach for aerobic performance and strength increase.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank the athletes who voluntarily participated in the study. In addition, the authors appreciate the institution's trainers, Ali Celiksoy and Cemal Cetinkaya, their chefs, and drivers for their support in the many stages of the research, including performance measurement, meal preparation, food purchase, and transportation.

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