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PubMed2001

Does early repolarization in the athlete have analogies with the Brugada syndrome?

AIMS: To re-examine the prevalence and presentation of early repolarization in athletes and to compare it with electrocardiographic abnormalities observed in patients with the Brugada syndrome. METHODS: Electrocardiograms of 155 male athletes and 50 sedentary controls were studied. Early repolarization was considered present if at least two adjacent precordial leads showed elevation of the ST segment > or =1 mm. Amplitude and morphology of ST elevation, the leads where it was present and the lead in which it showed its maximum value were analysed together with QRS duration, the presence of right ventricular activation delay, QT and QTc duration. Data were compared with those obtained by electrocardiograms of 23 patients with the Brugada syndrome. RESULTS: Early repolarization was found in 139 athletes (89%) and 18 controls (36%, P< or =0.025), being limited to right precordial leads in 42 (30%) athletes and 13 (72%) controls (P< or =0.001). Only 12 (8.6%) athletes and one control (5.5%) with early repolarization had an ST elevation 'convex toward the top' in right precordial leads, similar to that seen in the Brugada syndrome. In athletes the maximum ST elevation was greater (2.3+/-0.6 mm) than in the controls (1.2+/-0.8 mm; P< or =0.004) but significantly lower than in patients with the Brugada syndrome (4.4+/-0.7 mm; P< or =0.0001). Patients with the Brugada syndrome also had a greater QRS duration (0.11+/-0.02 s) than athletes (0.090+/-0.011 s; P< or =0.0001) with early repolarization. CONCLUSIONS: Early repolarization is almost always the rule in athletes but it is also frequent in sedentary males. Tracings somewhat simulating the Brugada syndrome were observed in only 8% of athletes without a history of syncope or familial sudden death. Significant differences exist between athletes with early repolarization and patients with the Brugada syndrome as regards the amplitude of ST elevation and QRS duration.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Prevalence of asthma and atopy in Italian Olympic athletes.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of asthma and atopy in the Italian athletes who were trying for a position on the Italian Olympic team for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Overall, 1060 athletes (mean age 24 years, range 15 - 69 years, 729 males) were recruited and divided into three groups of sport activities: 1) anaerobic, 2) aerobic-anaerobic, 3) aerobic. Asthmatic and atopic athletes were identified by a self-administered, standardized questionnaire modified from the ISAAC questionnaire. Spirometry was performed in the athletes who reported wheezing or asthma and in an equal number of randomly selected controls. Athletes reporting wheezing or asthma were 15 %. However, only a minority of asthmatics had moderate or severe disease: indeed, 2.5 % reported more than 4 attacks in the last year. The prevalence of atopy was 18 %. Asthma was more common in athletes engaged in aerobic sport activities than in the other groups. Asthmatic athletes had a significantly lower value of some spirometric parameters in comparison with the control group. In conclusion, the prevalence of wheezing or asthma in a large sample of Italian competitive athletes was found higher than in general population; respiratory symptoms were more prevalent in athletes engaged in aerobic sport activities; a significant impairment of lung function was found in athletes suffering from mild and rarely symptomatic asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Effect of competitive training on T-cell mediated immune function in Master's female athletes.

Interest in the effects of intense exercise training on immune function has grown over the past decade. Currently, data on the immunocompetence of female endurance athletes are limited and do not present a clear picture. The objective of this study was to compare the T-cell mediated immune function of female Master's athletes (41 +/- 4.3 yr) during peak training with age-matched non-athletes (42 +/- 3.6 yr) using non-specific and antigen-specific stimulation. Samples of peripheral venous blood were taken at rest for determination of total circulating T-cell number, sub-population number and CD4 + helper T-cell function. No significant difference in total circulating T-cell number or in the number of cells in each of the tested lymphocyte subpopulations was detected between athletes (n = 19) and non-athletes (n = 20). In athletes, 7.9 % of cells responding to non-specific (PMA and ionomycin) stimulation produced IL-2 versus 3.9 % of responding cells in non-athletes (p < 0.05). No statistical difference was noted between athletes and non-athletes in the percentages of antigen-responding CD4 + helper T-cells producing IL-2 (2.4 % and 2.3 %, respectively). Results of this study suggest that T-cell mediated immune function may not be compromised in female Master's athletes during periods of competitive training.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The upper limit of physiologic cardiac hypertrophy in highly trained elite athletes.

BACKGROUND: In some highly trained athletes, the thickness of the left ventricular wall may increase as a consequence of exercise training and resemble that found in cardiac diseases associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In these athletes, the differential diagnosis between physiologic and pathologic hypertrophy may be difficult. METHODS: To address this issue, we measured left ventricular dimensions with echocardiography in 947 elite, highly trained athletes who participated in a wide variety of sports. RESULTS: The thickest left ventricular wall among the athletes measured 16 mm. Wall thicknesses within a range compatible with the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (greater than or equal to 13 mm) were identified in only 16 of the 947 athletes (1.7 percent); 15 were rowers or canoeists, and 1 was a cyclist. Therefore, the wall was greater than or equal to 13 mm thick in 7 percent of 219 rowers, canoeists, and cyclists but in none of 728 participants in 22 other sports. All athletes with walls greater than or equal to 13 mm thick also had enlarged left ventricular end-diastolic cavities (dimensions, 55 to 63 mm). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these data, a left-ventricular-wall thickness of greater than or equal to 13 mm is very uncommon in highly trained athletes, virtually confined to athletes training in rowing sports, and associated with an enlarged left ventricular cavity. In addition, the upper limit to which the thickness of the left ventricular wall may be increased by athletic training appears to be 16 mm. Therefore, athletes with a wall thickness of more than 16 mm and a nondilated left ventricular cavity are likely to have primary forms of pathologic hypertrophy, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A springtime olympics demands special consideration for allergic athletes.

BACKGROUND: The Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in September-October 2000, which is early to mid-spring in the southern hemisphere. Pollen-sensitive athletes may encounter problems with allergic symptoms triggered by pollen exposure, thus compromising their ability to attain peak performance. OBJECTIVE: We sought to monitor pollen levels at the major Olympic venues to provide information for allergic athletes and their team doctors in order to adequately prepare them for Olympic competition. METHODS: We performed aerobiologic monitoring of the major Olympic venues to provide a profile of the most prevalent pollen species appearing during the spring. In the second part of this study, we surveyed a population of elite Australian athletes from Olympic sports to ascertain the prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, to investigate the major allergens involved in sensitization, and to conduct a pilot study to assess the effect of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis on quality of life. RESULTS: The pollen counts obtained at the 3 major sites were high over the period of Olympic competition. Tree pollens appeared from July, and grasses appeared from early September and peaked in the second week of October, the beginning of Paralympic competition. A relatively small number of pollen varieties comprise the majority of the total pollen count. Two hundred fourteen athletes (61% male; mean age, 21 +/- 16 years) representing 12 Olympic sports participated in the study. Fifty-six percent gave a symptom history consistent with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, 41% had symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and a positive test response to any one allergen, and 29% had seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (a positive history and at least one positive skin prick test response to a seasonal allergen). Athletes from aquatic sports were more likely to have symptoms than those from other sports. Symptom scores were higher and quality of life ratings were poorer in allergic compared with nonallergic athletes over the spring period. CONCLUSION: Olympic team managers and medical officers need to adequately prepare Olympic athletes for the possibility of exposure to high pollen levels in the weeks leading up to this most important sporting event. Symptoms of pollen sensitivity, such as rhinoconjunctivitis and exacerbation of asthma, could be devastating to athletes expecting peak performance. Potential Olympic athletes should be screened for the possibility of pollen allergy and have medical programs with permitted medication tailored to meet their needs. This may involve preventative therapy with medication, such as intranasal corticosteroid sprays or immunotherapy programs, if symptoms are particularly severe. The newer nonsedating antihistamines are the treatment of choice for acute intermittent symptoms. Appropriate management will ensure that the allergic athlete will safely perform to maximum ability with permitted medication during the Spring 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Minerals: exercise performance and supplementation in athletes.

This paper examines whether mineral supplements are necessary for athletes, and whether these supplements will enhance performance. Macrominerals (calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus) and trace minerals (zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, and iron) are described. Calcium supplements are important for the health of bones. Athletes tend to have enhanced calcium status as assessed by bone mineral density, with the notable exception of female amenorrhoeic athletes. Magnesium status is adequate for most athletes, and there is no evidence that magnesium supplements can enhance performance. Phosphorus status is adequate for athletes. Phosphorus supplementation over an extended period of time can result in lowered blood calcium, however, some studies have shown that acute 'phosphate loading' will enhance performance. Athletes may have a zinc deficiency induced by poor diet and loss of zinc in sweat and urine. Limited data exist on the relationship of performance and zinc status. Widespread deficiencies in copper have not been documented, and there are no data to suggest that copper supplementation will enhance performance. There is no reason to suspect a selenium deficiency in athletes. The relationship between selenium status and performance has not been established, but selenium may play a role as an antioxidant. Because of the low intakes of chromium for the general population, there is a possibility that athletes may be deficient. Exercise may create a loss in chromium because of increased excretion into the urine. Many athletes, particularly female, are iron depleted, but true iron deficiencies are rare. Iron depletion does not affect exercise performance but iron deficiency anaemia does. Iron supplements have not been shown to enhance performance except where iron deficiency anaemia exists. In conclusion, poor diets are perhaps the main reason for any mineral deficiencies found in athletes, although in certain cases exercise could contribute to the deficiency. Mineral supplementation may be important to ensure good health, but few studies have definitively documented any beneficial effect of mineral supplementation on performance.

Exercise↗
PubMed2001

Physical activity as a possible aggravating factor for athletes with varicocele: impact on the semen profile.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of physical exercise on seminal parameters of male athletes with varicocele. Sixty healthy male volunteers (athletes and non-athletes, n = 30 + 30) and 60 volunteers affected by varicocele (athletes and non-athletes, n = 30 + 30) were randomly selected for a clinical study. All subjects provided at least two semen samples for routine microscopic analysis. Determinations for basal luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin, oestradiol, total and free testosterone under resting conditions were also performed. In both groups with varicocele the percentage of total and progressive forward sperm motility and the percentage of normal spermatozoa were significantly reduced. The percentage of both progressive forward motility and normal spermatozoa were significantly lower in athletes with varicocele compared with non-athletes with varicocele (P < 0.05). Only athletes with varicocele had mean left testis volume significantly lower than the contralateral testis (P < 0.05). No modifications of hormonal parameters at rest were observed in any groups. Physical activity might represent an aggravating factor for spermatogenesis in athletes with varicocele. In countries where sport eligibility is granted by an authoritative body, these results suggest the need to establish general medical criteria to guarantee the continuation of an athlete's training whilst at the same time taking care of his reproductive health.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Ambulatory electrocardiographic findings in young athletes between 14 and 16 years of age.

Ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings were obtained from 35 male athletes between 14 and 16 years old, and from 35 male non-athlete controls of the same ages, in order to determine the effects of regular physical training on cardiac electrical activity. In the young athletes, the heart rates were significantly (P less than 0.01) lower than in the nonathletes. Sinus intervals over 2.00 s were present in five athletes (14%) and one control (3%). First-degree atrioventricular block was detected in eight athletes (23%) and four controls (11%), and second-degree block was detected in seven athletes (20%) and one control (3%) (P less than 0.05). Ventricular premature beats were present in 60% of athletes and 57% of controls. The bradycardia in athletes did not predispose to ventricular ectopic activity, since heart rates at the times of occurrence of extrasystoles were higher in athletes than in controls. Even after two years of regular physical training there are significant differences in sinus nodal function and atrioventricular conduction as between young athletes and controls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Family size and age at menarche in athletes.

The association between family size and age at menarche was evaluated in 370 university athletes representing seven sports, 291 white and 79 black. Age at menarche, number of children in the family (family size), and birth order were collected retrospectively by questionnaire with a follow-up interview if necessary. The effect of family size on menarche was estimated with linear regression and multiple regression. For each additional sibling in the family-age at menarche was later by 0.17 yr in white athletes, 0.21 yr in black athletes, and 0.16 yr in the total sample (about 2.0-2.5 months). The slopes for white (beta = 0.167) and black (beta = 0.208) athletes did not differ significantly. Controlling for the effects of birth order significantly increased the family size effect in white athletes (beta = 0.221), but not in black athletes (beta = 0.203) or in the total sample (beta = 0.164). The slopes for white and black athletes, after controlling for birth order, also did not significantly differ. Thus, after controlling for birth order, menarche was later by 0.16-0.22 yr (about 2.0-2.6 months) for each additional sibling in the family, which was within the range of family size effects observed in samples of nonathletes and athletes. The family size effect also persists after controlling for maternal age at menarche in a subsample of 134 athletes, thus implying an independent effect of family size. Later ages at menarche observed in athletes may thus be due in part to larger family sizes.

Birth Order↗
PubMed1997

Prospective screening of 5,615 high school athletes for risk of sudden cardiac death.

Sudden cardiac death among high school athletes is a very infrequent though tragic occurrence. Despite widespread preparticipation screening for known causes of this event, the frequency has not changed. The ECG is an acknowledged sensitive screening tool for the common causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. The specificity of the ECG in this setting is believed to be relatively low in young athletes for which reason, in part, it is not used. We added an ECG to the usual preparticipation screening. An echocardiogram was performed when screening was abnormal. Outcome measures of serious or potentially serious cardiovascular abnormalities were defined by the 16th Bethesda Conference. These abnormalities either preclude sports participation or require further testing before approval for participation in sports can be considered. Over 3 yr, 5,615 male and female high school athletes were screened prospectively from 30 different high schools in northern Nevada. Outcome measures were detected in 22 athletes or one per 255. Cardiac history led to detection of outcome measures in 0 athletes, auscultation/inspection in 1/6,000 athletes, blood pressure measurement in 1/1,000 athletes, and the ECG in 1/350 athletes. Specificity was 97.8% for an abbreviated cardiac history and auscultation/inspection and 97.7% for ECG. Overall, the ECG was a much more effective screening tool than cardiac history and auscultation/inspection in detecting cardiovascular abnormalities requiring further tests before approval for participation in sports could be given. ECG and cardiovascular history/ausculation/inspection had similar specificity ECG was efficiently performed on large groups of high school athletes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Electrocardiographic findings in female endurance athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of aberrations in the resting electrocardiogram (ECG) in female athletes. DESIGN: Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty female endurance athletes and 30 age-matched nonobese nonathletic control subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Different measurements based on resting ECGs. MAIN RESULTS: The athletes had lower heart rate (mean 53 +/- SD 7) than the controls (67 +/- 11; p < 0.0001), but no group difference was found in atrioventricular conduction (PQ interval). Cornell voltage (RaVl + SV3) reflecting left ventricular mass was higher in athletes (1.18 +/- 0.58 mV vs. 0.78 +/- 0.41 mV; p = 0.0030), but the deviations from normal limits were small. The index reflecting right ventricular mass (RV1 + SV5) was higher in athletes (0.58 +/- 0.23 mV) than controls (0.45 +/- 0.23 mV; P = 0.036) but did not exceed the criterion for right side hypertrophy. QRS duration was slightly prolonged in athletes (99 +/- 10 ms vs. 92 +/- 9 ms; p = 0.010), as were rate-adjusted QT intervals (p < 0.05). J-point elevations (p = 0.0062) and ST-segment elevations (p = 0.013) were seen more frequently in athletes, but were usually small. CONCLUSIONS: The female athlete's ECG differs less from control subjects than has been reported in male athletes. Extrathoracal anatomic considerations may explain some of the sex differences. However, when clear-cut ECG abnormalities are observed in female athletes, organic heart disease must be carefully excluded.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Spirometry and airway reactivity in elite track and field athletes.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize spirometry and to document the incidence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) during competition in elite track and field athletes. DESIGN: Spirometry was performed in 120 men and 69 women athletes before competition and peak expiratory flows in 50 men and 23 women athletes before and after competition. SETTING: The 1991 (Randalls Island, NY, U.S.A.) and the 1993 (Eugene, OR, U.S.A.) National Track and Field Championships (World Championship team-qualifying meet). PARTICIPANTS: American track and field athletes who met World Championship qualifying standards. MEASUREMENTS: Spirometry (Cybermedic, Inc., Boulder, CO, U.S.A.) and peak expiratory flows (Personal Best, Healthscan Products, Cedar Grove, NJ, U.S.A.)--the best of three reproducible efforts. RESULTS: Male sprinters had lower vital capacities than other track athletes, whereas both male and female field (throwing) athletes had larger vital capacities than both runners and other field athletes. Decreases of 10% peak expiratory flows were found in 10% of men and 26% of women track athletes within 15 min after competition. The incidence was higher in longer-distance events. Most participants did not have a history of asthma. CONCLUSIONS: A higher-than-expected prevalence of EIB was found in high-level track athletes. The results suggest that spirometry and/or peak flows should be measured in track athletes because small decreases in airflow may impair training or performance, a condition that is easily treated.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Medication use in athletes selected for doping control at the Sydney Olympics (2000).

UNLABELLED: During the Olympic Games held in Sydney in September, 2000 Doping Control was undertaken as specified in the International Olympic Code. During this process information about the medications taken by athletes was collected as a routine and formed part of the paperwork associated with a urine test. In their Post Games Report the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recommended that the information about medications be collated with a view to assessing their use by athletes. Mandatory doping control for winners of events as well as random selection of athletes both during competition and out of competition allowed data to be collected about medications and supplements used by athletes. At the Doping Control Stations all competitors selected for a test, after providing a urine sample for analysis, were asked the same question: "what medications have you taken in the past three days?" The answer was to include all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, any other substances taken by mouth, injection, inhalation, ointment or by suppository, as well as vitamins, minerals, and all other supplements. This paper reviews the data from the 2758 Declaration Forms obtained at doping control. The prevalence of use of medications, the number used by an individual, and the pattern of use by these elite sports people were examined. The trends seen in this survey point to a dangerous overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and an unnecessary overuse of vitamins in this population, while pointing out the increased prevalence of asthma and the dangers of drug interactions. OBJECTIVE: The main objective here is to review some of the medications used by athletes in the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000. DATA SOURCES: During these Games Doping Control was undertaken as specified by the International Olympic Committee. As well as a urine test, information about medications routinely taken was collected. Mandatory doping control for winners of events as well as random selection of athletes both during competition and out of competition required data to be collected about medications and supplements used by athletes as part of the sample collection protocol. At the Doping Control Stations all competitors selected for a test, after providing a urine sample for analysis, were asked the same question: "what medications have you taken in the past three days?" The answer was to include all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, any other substances taken by mouth, injection, inhalation, ointment or by suppository, as well as vitamins, minerals, and all other supplements. DATA SELECTION: In this article we review the data from the laboratory copy of the 2758 Declaration Forms obtained at doping control. The cut down version of the Declaration Form submitted to the laboratory had all information identifying the athlete removed. Thus all information used in this article is completely anonymous. The prevalence of use of medications, the number used by an individual, and the pattern of use by these elite sports people were examined at the request of the IOC. CONCLUSIONS: In their Post-Games Report, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) acting as independent observers of the anti-doping process recommended to the IOC that the information obtained in the Athlete Declaration Forms concerning medications be collated with a view to assessing their use by athletes. The trends in their use seen in this survey point to an overuse of supplements as well as a dangerous overuse of drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents together with multiple drug use emphasising the dangers of drug interactions and points out the increased prevalence of asthma in this population.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed2004

Utility of hematological and iron-related screening in elite athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical and performance related utility of hematological and iron-related screening in elite athletes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The Department of Sports Medicine at the Australian Institute of Sport. PARTICIPANTS: Male and female elite athletes undergoing routine medical screening over a period of 2 to 3 years. INTERVENTION: Blood testing for hematological and iron-related biochemical variables. MEASURES: White blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, percent hypochromic red cells, serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, and percent transferrin saturation. RESULTS: Eight female athletes (4.6%) had clinically relevant abnormal results, 6 with an obvious explanation on clinical history and examination and 1 who was diagnosed with hemochromatosis following genetic testing. Eighty-nine (51.1%) female athletes had abnormal results that were not associated with obvious clinical signs or symptoms. Twenty-seven female athletes had a serum ferritin less than 30 ng/mL and were placed on iron supplementation. In male athletes, 5 cases had screening abnormalities that were associated with illness or other factors identified during the clinical consultations. Nonclinically significant abnormalities in males were generally minor reductions in hemoglobin and/or hematocrit or minor alterations in red cell parameters. Five male athletes had a serum ferritin less than 30 ng/mL and were placed on iron supplementation. CONCLUSION: Screening for hematological and iron-related abnormalities in male athletes has a very low yield. Due to the critical nature of the effects of anemia and low serum ferritin on some aspects of performance, it is reasonable to perform a full blood count and a serum ferritin on male athletes entering an elite training program. Further testing should be performed on clinical grounds. In females, the yield is greater. Again, it is reasonable to perform a full blood count and a serum ferritin on female athletes entering an elite training program. In view of their greater risk of iron depletion and to assess the effect of increased training inherent in elite programs, this could be repeated at 6-month intervals, or an isolated measurement of serum ferritin could be performed. Further testing should be performed on clinical grounds.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
PubMed2006

Health of master track and field athletes: a 16-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To study different aspects of health in master athletes. DESIGN: A 16-year follow-up study. SETTING: Finland. PARTICIPANTS: All male Finnish master athletes (N=102, mean age 58.3 years) who in 1985 participated in track and field athletic World Veterans Games. Controls were men, who as young adults had been classified as completely healthy (N=777, mean age 55.0 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Health questionnaires at baseline (in 1985) and at 10-year and 16-year follow-ups. RESULTS: During follow-up, the master athletes self-rated their health as better (P<0.001) and they coped better with leisure-time daily activities (P=0.024) than controls. The adjusted risk for shoulder region (odds ratio 2.84, P<0.03) and Achilles tendon rupture (14.87, P<0.01) after the age of 45 years was higher in the athletes than in the controls. At the 16-year follow-up, none of the athletes, but 9% of controls reported having diabetes mellitus. The adjusted odds ratio of having at least 1 metabolic syndrome disease was 0.43 (P=0.01) in the athletes compared with the controls. At follow-up among subjects without reported coronary heart disease in 1985, the age-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) in the athletes compared with the controls of death from natural-cause was 0.41 (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Master athletes had a lower risk of chronic diseases than the controls. It remains to be determined how far this advantage is due to initial selection and/or incomplete adjustment for covariates. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There seems to be no such health risks as to why those who have good training background and feel healthy should avoid participating in master athletics.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Silent ischemia during voluntary detraining and future cardiac events in master athletes.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether exercise-induced silent ischemia in older master athletes following a 3-month period of deconditioning is a predictor of future cardiovascular events. DESIGN: A longitudinal study of a cohort of master athletes. SETTING: The Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: Ten older (59 +/- 8 years, mean +/- SD), highly conditioned (maximal aerobic capacity VO2max 50 +/- 5 mL/kg/min), aerobically trained athletes. INTERVENTION: Five to eight years of longitudinal follow-up of athletes who had previously participated in a 3-month-long detraining intervention. MEASUREMENTS: At baseline, all 10 athletes had their history taken and underwent physical examinations, metabolic testing, electrocardiogram at rest, exercise treadmill tests, exercise thallium scintigrams, and exercise multigated acquisition scans. After 3 months of deconditioning, they had repeat maximal exercise stress tests. After 5 to 8 years of follow-up, they were re-evaluated, including history and physical examination and measurement of their VO2max. RESULT: All 10 master athletes had normal studies at baseline. At the end of 3 months of detraining, three of these athletes had exercise-induced silent ischemia, which disappeared after retraining in two subjects and persisted at a higher heart rate in one subject. Over a 5- to 8-year period of observation, two of these three athletes with silent ischemia experienced major cardiac events (sudden death, cardiac bypass surgery). The other seven athletes did not have any cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise-induced silent ischemia after a short period of detraining in highly trained older athletes may be a predictor of future cardiac events. A study with a larger cohort is warranted.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1999

Supplement use and nutritional habits in Norwegian elite athletes.

The purpose of this study was to examine nutritional and supplemental habits among international alpine- and cross-country skiers and power sport athletes in Norway. Data from all the athletes of the National alpine skiing team (ALP; n = 33, 19 men and 14 women) and the National cross-country skiing team (CRO; n = 34, 17 men and 17 women) plus a mixed group of power sport athletes (POW: n = 33, all men) from the National teams of boxers, weightlifters and track and field athletes, were collected through a semi-structured interview during their annual medical examination. Twenty percent of all the athletes reported unsatisfactory nutritional habits (CRO 6%, ALP 27% and POW 27%; CRO vs. ALP/POW P < 0.05). Eight-four percent used one or more micronutrient supplement (ALP 70%, POW 88%, CRO 95%; ALP vs. CRO/POW P < 0.01). Power sport athletes had the most frequent use of supplemental creatine (45%), proteins/amino acids (30%), vitamins (88%) and minerals (82%), and CRO had the most frequent intake of iron (94%), vitamin C (88%) and fish oils (91%). Among ALP, only 7% of the female athletes supplemented iron regularly compared to 37% of male ALP (P < 0.05) Overall, male athletes supplemented mostly on a regular basis and female athletes more on an occasional basis. The results show that in spite of differences between sport groups, many elite athletes report unsatisfactory nutritional habits. Micronutrient supplementation was prevalent, but varied between both groups of sports and gender.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Variability in estimation of self-reported dietary intake data from elite athletes resulting from coding by different sports dietitians.

A routine activity for a sports dietitian is to estimate energy and nutrient intake from an athlete's self-reported food intake. Decisions made by the dietitian when coding a food record are a source of variability in the data. The aim of the present study was to determine the variability in estimation of the daily energy and key nutrient intakes of elite athletes, when experienced coders analyzed the same food record using the same database and software package. Seven-day food records from a dietary survey of athletes in the 1996 Australian Olympic team were randomly selected to provide 13 sets of records, each set representing the self-reported food intake of an endurance, team, weight restricted, and sprint/power athlete. Each set was coded by 3-5 members of Sports Dietitians Australia, making a total of 52 athletes, 53 dietitians, and 1456 athlete-days of data. We estimated within- and between- athlete and dietitian variances for each dietary nutrient using mixed modeling, and we combined the variances to express variability as a coefficient of variation (typical variation as a percent of the mean). Variability in the mean of 7-day estimates of a nutrient was 2- to 3-fold less than that of a single day. The variability contributed by the coder was less than the true athlete variability for a 1-day record but was of similar magnitude for a 7-day record. The most variable nutrients (e.g., vitamin C, vitamin A, cholesterol) had approximately 3-fold more variability than least variable nutrients (e.g., energy, carbohydrate, magnesium). These athlete and coder variabilities need to be taken into account in dietary assessment of athletes for counseling and research.

Diet Records↗