Nutritional strategies in an elite wheelchair marathoner at 3900 m altitude: a case report

Santiago Sanz-Quinto; Manuel Moya-Ramón; Gabriel Brizuela; Ian Rice; Tomás Urbán; Raúl López-Grueso

doi:10.1186/s12970-019-0321-8

Nutritional strategies in an elite wheelchair marathoner at 3900 m altitude: a case report

J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2019 Nov 10;16(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s12970-019-0321-8.

Authors

Santiago Sanz-Quinto¹, Manuel Moya-Ramón^{1

2}, Gabriel Brizuela³, Ian Rice⁴, Tomás Urbán¹, Raúl López-Grueso⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sport Sciences, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 03202, Elche, Alicante, Spain.
² Department of Sport Sciences, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Institute for Health and Biomedical Reaearch (ISABIAL-FISABIO), 03010, Alicante, Spain.
³ Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Gasco Oliag, 3, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
⁴ Department of Kinesiology and Community Health College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2003 Huff Hall, M/C 586, 1206 S. Fourth St, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA.
⁵ Department of Sport Sciences, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 03202, Elche, Alicante, Spain. rlopezgrueso@gmail.com.

Abstract

Background: Altitude training is a common practice among middle-distance and marathon runners. During acclimatization, sympathetic drive may increase resting metabolic rate (RMR), therefore implementation of targeted nutritional interventions based on training demands and environmental conditions becomes paramount. This single case study represents the first nutritional intervention performed under hypobaric hypoxic conditions (3900 m) in Paralympic sport. These results may elucidate the unique nutritional requirements of upper body endurance athletes training at altitude.

Case presentation: This case study examined the effects of a nutritional intervention on the body mass of a 36-year-old professional wheelchair athlete (silver medalist at the Paralympic Games and 106 victories in assorted road events) during a five-week altitude training camp, divided into pre-altitude at sea level (B_N), acclimatization to altitude (Puno, 3860 m) (B_H), specific training (W_1,2,3,4) and return to sea level (Post) phases. Energy intake (kcal) and body mass (kg) were recorded daily. Results demonstrated significant decrease in body mass between B_N and B_H (52.6 ± 0.4 vs 50.7 ± 0.5 kg, P < 0.001) which returned to pre-altitude values, upon returning to sea level at Post (52.1 ± 0.5 kg). A greater daily intake was observed during B_H (2899 ± 670 kcal) and W_1,2,3 (3037 ± 490; 3116 ± 170; 3101 ± 385 kcal) compared to B_N (2397 ± 242 kcal, P < 0.01) and Post (2411 ± 137 kcal, P < 0.01). No differences were reported between W₄ (2786 ± 375 kcal), B_N and Post. The amount of carbohydrates ingested (g · kg^{- 1}) was greater in W_1,2,3, (9.6 ± 2.1; 9.9 ± 1.2; 9.6 ± 1.2) than in B_N (7.1 ± 1.2) and Post (6.3 ± 0.8, P < 0.001). Effect sizes (Cohen's d) for all variables relative to B_N (all time points) exceed a large effect (d > 0.80).

Conclusions: These results suggest an elite wheelchair marathoner training at 3860 m required increased nutrient requirements as well as the systematic control needed to re-adapt a nutritional program. Moreover, our findings highlight training and nutritional prescription optimization of elite wheelchair athletes, under challenging environmental conditions.

Keywords: Body mass; Energy intake; Hypoxia; Nutritional intervention; Paralympic.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Acclimatization*
Adult
Altitude
Athletic Performance*
Diet*
Humans
Male
Para-Athletes*
Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
Wheelchairs