Optimali mityba neabejotinai susijusi su bendra sportininkų sveikata ir kūno rengyba. Mokslinėje literatūroje nepakanka duomenų ne tik apie Lietuvos olimpinės pamainos, bet ir kurčiųjų rinktinės krepšininkių faktinę mitybą. Egzistuojanti mokslinių duomenų spraga nesudaro galimybių optimizuoti ir pritaikyti sportininkų mitybos tokiu lygiu, kad būtų visiškai užtikrinta krepšininkių organizmo adaptacija prie intensyvių ir (arba) ilgos trukmės fizinių krūvių. Tyrimo tikslas – ištirti ir įvertinti Lietuvos kurčiųjų ir olimpinės pamainos krepšininkių įmitimo būklę bei faktinę mitybą. Parengiamuoju varžyboms periodu buvo ištirtos besirengiančiosios kurčiųjų olimpinėms žaidynėms (I grupė; n = 12; amžius: 26,9 ± 4,9 metų) ir olimpinės pamainos krepšininkės (II grupė; n = 13; amžius: 18,1 ± 0,5 metų). Taikant bioelektrinės varžos analizės (BIA) fizinį metodą, Lietuvos sporto centre buvo ištirta ir įvertinta sportininkių kūno kompozicija. Krepšininkių faktinės mitybos tyrimui panaudotas 24 valandų septynių dienų iš eilės faktinės mitybos apklausos metodas. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė, kad krepšininkių įmitimo būklė patenkinama: dėl santykinai didesnės riebalų masės kurčiųjų ir olimpinės pamainos krepšininkių raumenų ir riebalų masių santykiai nesiekė vidutinio rekomenduojamo. Tarptautines rekomendacijas gretinant su mūsų tirtųjų krepšininkių vartojamu angliavandenių kiekiu, svyruojančiu nuo 5,1 g/kg iki 5,4 g/kg, galima prognozuoti su maistu gaunamų angliavandenių trūkumą. Kurčiųjų krepšininkių maisto raciono riebalų teikiamos energinės vertės procentas (37,3 proc.) reikšmingai viršijo rekomendacijas. Riebaluose tirpaus vitamino D trūko tik olimpinės pamainos krepšininkių mityboje.

Cholesterol concentration in blood did not depend from great cholesterol amount in athletes' nutrition (897 + -16,6 mg) and had week relation with fats (r—0,26), animal fats (r = 0,24) and iron (r = 0,30) amount in ratio, and triglycerides concentration in athletes' blood was dependent from cholesterol amount in the nutrition.

The aim of this study was to investigate the young athletes' nutrition planning according to the concept of adequate nutrition and formula of balanced nutrition taking into consideration athletes' canteen menus and their variations. For the investigation, athletes' canteen menus of the different seasons of years 2005-2006 were selected. From each seasonÿs every month, there were chosen 6-day menus with 4-day intervals (72 menus in total). The obtained data was compared to chemical composition of athletes' canteen menus of the year 1989. After carrying out comparative analysis of the menus, the variations of nutrition in athletes' canteen were assessed. The study results showed that the total energy quantity of athletes' canteen menu rations of the years 2005/2006 cover athletes' energy inputs. The mean energy value of rations equals 4882,63 ± 57,90 ccal (S = 127,34). Just slight variations where found following evaluation of the mean energy value of different season menus. Winter season menus had the highest energy value – 5044,83 ± 64,28 ccal (S = 276,40), while for the spring season, it was the lowest – 4726,4 ± 75,40 ccal (S = 324,21). However, the difference was statistically insignificant (p>0,05). Athletes canteen menus of the years 2005/2006 meet their energy requirements. On the other hand, the nutrition balance is reflected at best by the percentage of energy value supplied with proteins, fat and carbohydrates.

We examined their height, body mass and its components, optimal body mass and the limits of optimal body mass. Factual nutrition was determined by the method of questioning and weighing. It was evaluated food ration chemical composition from average food sets. The high performance athletes’ physical performance was adequate to the represented sports and differs marginally during the study year. The factual nutrition of the athletes was found to satisfy the energetic demands of their body. All studied representatives from different sports received the sufficient protein amount (from 1,7 to 3,6 g/ kg body mass). Administrating food supplements without combining them to factual nutrition raise the disbalance among the proportions of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Food supplements highlighted the disbalance among the amino acids and showed the Metionine deficiency in all subjects food ration. Factual nutrition of athletes meets their energetical needs. Pronounced disbalance of nutritional elements in average nutritional ration is evidenced by sufficient amount of proteins, too high amount of fat, and too low amount of carbohydrates and shortage of polysaccharide carbohydrates. The supplements consumed by athletes raise their vitamin composition in daily food ration more then 10 times, comparing to well-balance nutrition formula.

The food provided in athletes canteen only partially covers energy expenditure of athletes, depending on the age, sex, sport discipline, height and weight. So it is very important to estimate the athlete’s satisfaction with the canteen’s nourishment, evaluating the amount of the provided food in relation with hunger, appearing three hours after eating, also with the energy value of the provided food, depending on athletes’ nutrition schedule, in order to ascertain the objective groups, which have major connection with the risk of inadequate, unsuitable and unbalanced nutrition. The aim of this study is to evaluate the athletes’ satisfaction with the nutrition planning. The investigation have been performed during the year 2007. The investigation involved 50 athletes of Lithuanian Olympic Sport Centre selected randomly and eating in athletes’ canteen every day. In this study anonymous questionnaire method was used. Athletes’ satisfaction with the canteen’s nutrition of Lithuanian Olympic Sport Centre was investigated by this method. The data of the research was evaluated distributing respondents by age, sex, height, weight and sport discipline. The SPSS version 13,0 analytical software was used for the analysis of the research data. The data are statistically correct if the probability of bias is (p<0,05). Statistic relation is evaluated by Chi square parameter (χ2 ). The investigation showed that these athletes, who do not eat or eat very rarely their breakfast food portion, feel more hungry three hours after eating. Food amount receivable during the dinner is inadequate for athletes of track-and-field athletics and contemporary pentathlon, who are 18 – 20 years old, weigh 82 – 110 kg and 182 – 204 height. With the growth of age, height and especially weight the amount of food obtainable in the canteen is too small.[...]

The majority of the investigated persons overrate importance of proteins in their nutrition, they especially put importance on protein food supplements and constantly use them even having inadequately great amount of proteins in their daily nutrition – up to 3.6 grams for a kilogram of body mass. Proteins enriched energy intake compile in average 14.3 percent of athletes‘ daily nutritional energy. Athletes receive too little carbohydrates, the main energy nutritional substance. Mono and disaccharides are enough and even too much, however slowly intaken polysaccharides are lacking. Athletes received 43.8 percent daily energy with carbohydrates. General amount of fat in all investigated ratios was great, individual indices deviated from 98 g to 310 g. Energy, received together with fats, compile 41.9 percent of athletes‘ daily average nutritional energy intake. Imbalance between alimentary substances is shown also by quantity relation among proteins, fats and carbohydrates in factual ratio, which is 1:1,3:3,1. Athletes‘ energy amount with food intake (from 41,6 kcal/kg to 70,7 kcal/kg, in average 54,5 kcal/kg) completely covered their daily energy expenditures. Analysis on athletes‘ food ratio and their physical development different features interrelations showed that body mass and muscle mass were in strong relation with general proteins amount (r=0,41 and r=0,43), with animal proteins amount (r=0,48 and r=0,51), weak relation with food ratios energy value as well as with amount of carbohydrates and fats in it, and body fats mass was in weak relation only with animal proteins and energy value, did not depend on fats and carbohydrats and amount of their components in nutrition.

In order to evaluate the condition of Lithuanian Olympic Sport Centre athletes’ organism supply of nutritive and biologically active products, there were examined and evaluated athletes’ 24-hour 3 days straight actual nutrition and nutritional mode. Inquired contingent consisted of high performance athletes representing skiing, biathlon, athletics, bicycle sport, canoe rowing, basketball, Greek-roman wrestling and boxing (n = 55). Statistical data analysis was made using SPSS v.13 programme package. The investigation data analysis was made by using mathematical methods: arithmetical averages ( X ), representative biases (S X ), standard deviations (S) were counted. To estimate the reliability of difference between index averages of research Student t criterion was used. Differences of index averages were to be statistically significant when p≤0,05. Pierson’s correlation coefficient (r) was used for calculations of statistical correlative connections between variables, when p ≤ 0,05. To evaluate the statistical significance of frequencies dispersion between different respondent groups chi square criteria (χ2 ), when p ≤ 0,05 was counted. The results of analysis have shown that the energy amount in athletes’ nutrition ration is 3914,3 ± 187,5 kcal (S = 1390,7 kcal) and it covers their energy inputs, but it is diagnosed that women nutrition ration average energy amount is too low (3175 ± 197,7 kcal (p = 0,003)). The amount of protein in men nutrition’s ration is too high (2,2 ± 0,1 g/kg (p = 0,000)). The amount of carbohydrates in women nutrition’s ration is too low (5,7 ± 0,5 g/kg (p = 0,020)).[...]

When Lithuania’s high performance combat athletes seek to achieve the best results and to specifically decrease body weight prior to the competitions, it is necessary to balance their diet properly in order to maximize their physical capacity and sustain health. However, until now there has not been done any combat athletes weight reduction aspects research in Lithuania, unlike in other countries. Therefore we conducted a study to investigate and evaluate high performance combat athletes’ from Lithuania (n = 43) bodyweight reduction and dietary characteristics before the competition, to evaluate the characteristics of links to sports development, physical condition and the results achieved. Athletes’ bodyweight reduction characteristics were investigated by the direct interview method using the valid look to bodyweight reduction form’s Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire (RWLQ). The measurements of body mass components were made using BIA via tetra-polar electrode method using 8 touch electrodes option. The study results showed that 88,4 percent of combat athletes before sport events reduce their body weight. They start to decrease body mass while being 12,9 ± 2 years. Athletes reduce body mass on average 7,0 ± 5,5 times per year, but the rate varies in very wide range: from 1 to 30 times per year. Although while reducing of bodyweight during each time athletes lose an average of 3,1 ± 1,5 kg or 4,6 ± 2,1 percent of total body mass but 75 percent of respondents before sports events reduce their body mass from 6 to 9,3 percent in 3 days to 2 weeks. Meanwhile, at 24 to 72 hours before the event 50 percent of athletes reduce weight from 1 to 3,5 percent and 45 percent - from 3,5 percent to 4.6 percent (p = 0,002). On the other hand, 37,5 percent of athletes before the event reduce their body mass unsafely from 4,6 percent to 6 percent of body mass within 24-72 hours.[...]

Siekiant geresnių sportinių rezultatų, sportininkams būtina išugdyti santykinai didelę raumenų masę. Anabolinis su maistu vartojamų aminorūgščių poveikis naujai sintetinamiems baltymams priklauso nuo vartojamų baltymų kiekio ir kokybinės aminorūgščių sudėties. Esant nepakankamam endogeninių nepakeičiamųjų aminorūgščių prieinamumui, baltymų sintezės greitis raumenyse gali sumažėti. Tyrimo tikslas – įvertinti Lietuvos didelio meistriškumo sportininkų mitybos daromą įtaką raumenų masei. Buvo tirti 18,0 ± 3,3 metų amžiaus Lietuvos didelio meistriškumo sportininkai (n = 323). Sportininkų raumenų masės matavimai atlikti pasitelkus BIA tetrapoliarinį elektrodų metodą. Faktinės mitybos tyrimas atliktas taikant 24 valandų faktinės mitybos apklausos metodą. Sportininkų vartojami baltymų ir angliavandenių kiekis sudaro atitinkamai 1,7 ± 0,6 g/kg ir 5,5 ± 2,1 g/kg kūno masės. Sportininkų vartojamų visų nepakeičiamųjų aminorūgščių kiekis yra didesnis už rekomenduojamus. 5,5 kg didesnę sportininkų raumenų masę lemia tik didesnio baltymų kiekio vartojimas (95 % PI: 1,0; 10,1; p = 0,016). Neatsižvelgiant į angliavandenių vartojimą, didesnę sportininkų raumenų masę labiausiai lemia tik padidintas baltymų ir aminorūgščių vartojimas. Padidintas aminorūgščių leucino, valino ir arginino vartojimas daro teigiamą įtaką raumenų masės didinimui, tačiau galimai išbalansuoja sportininkų maisto raciono aminorūgščių kokybinę sudėtį.

The lack of nutritional knowledge is a limiting factor for healthy athletes’ nutrition. Nutritional knowledge can be developed by a number of information of (sports coaches, family members, friends, TV and radio broadcasts, etc.). These sources of information are not reliable and do not give relevant knowledge on athletes nutrition. Nutritional knowledge of athletes has not been investigated in Lithuania yet. This led to our research objective: to assess nutritional knowledge of Lithuanian Olympic Team athletes (n=195), to identify the factors determining it, and to find out association between nutritional knowledge and nutritional habits of the study group (the average age was 17.8 ± 3.2 years). The nutrition survey questionnaire was used to examine nutritional habits of Lithuanian Olympic Team athletes in 2013. Nutritional knowledge of athletes was assessed by adapting nutritional knowledge test (NKT). Logistic regression was applied to evaluate the interaction between athletes’ nutritional practices, nutrition knowledge and their determinants. The results showed that level of the nutritional knowledge of athletes has an average point. However, the nutritional knowledge of athletes depends on sport, gender, age, and education level. A higher level of nutrition knowledge is specific to athletes representing cyclic (odds ratio 3,6) and acyclic (odds ratio 3,6) sports, of higher education level (odds ratio 3,0), who are older (odds ratio 2,8) and who falls into the group of women (odds ratio 2,9). Nutritional knowledge is most sufficient of younger combat sports athletes with lower education level. Nutritional knowledge of athletes does not depend on the information received from the coaches (odds ratio 0,7), family members (odds ratio 1,4) the popular literature (odds ratio 1,6), TV and radio (odds ratio 0,8), doctors (odds ratio 0,5), dieticians (odds ratio 0,8) and friends (odds ratio 3,6). Knowledge about nutrition does not affect dietary habits of athletes. Athletes lack the motivation to eat healthily. The nutritional habits of athletes are mainly determined by the taste of food, too little attention is drawn to the sport discipline and healthful diet effect. Therefore, athletes’ dietary habits do not meet nutritional guidelines. In summary, educational programs must be implemented that develop nutritional knowledge of athletes in Lithuania. In addition, during educational process special attention must be focused on the improvement of nutrition knowledge of combat sports athletes.