Some Aspects of Nutrition and Moderate Body Weight Reduction in Lithuanian Olympic Sport Centre Female Basketball Players

Abstract

Research background and hypothesis. Many athletes know the benefi ts of low carbohydrate diets these
days, but recently healthcare specialists have paid much attention to high carbohydrate diets and safer methods
of losing weight.
Research aim was to investigate Lithuanian Olympic Sport Centre female basketball players’ (n = 10) actual
and special nutrition and their physical condition.
Research methods. Athletes’ food records were analyzed and assessed. We determined plasma triacylglycerol,
total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose. Physical Working Capacity (PWC 170 ) test was
conducted to determine aerobic fi tness before and after moderate weight reduction.
Research results showed that the basketball players received too little carbohydrates, linoleic acid, amino
acid methionine and too much fat. Vitamins D, PP, B 1  and folic acid intakes were insuffi cient. During moderate
bodyweight reduction basketball players signifi cantly decreased in their BW (–2.2 ± 0.3 kg, p < 0.05), BF
(–1.6 ± 0.3 kg, p < 0.05) and minerals (–0.1 ± 0.4 kg, p < 0.05), but they non-signifi cantly decreased in BP
(p > 0.05). Furthermore, lipid panels markers (triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol)
experienced non-signifi cant improvements while glucose levels (p < 0.05) and PWC 170  (p < 0.05) resulted in
signifi cant decrease following a 12-day hipocaloric diet.
Discussion and conclusions. The results indicate that hipoenergetic moderate weight loss at < 30 kcal· kg –1  ·
day –1 , < 5 g · kg –1  · day  –1  carbohydrate is not recommended for athletes as it can affect aerobic fi tness.

Keywords: nutrition, female basketball, bodyweight reduction.