Dietary Practices Among Slovenian Athletes: A Comprehensive Assessment of Energy, Macronutrient, and Micronutrient Intake and Adherence to Sport-Specific Dietary Strategies.

BACKGROUND: Optimal nutritional support is paramount for athletic health and performance. This study aimed to evaluate the dietary intake of Slovenian athletes, specifically assessing whether they meet current clinical sports nutrition recommendations for energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients, and their adherence to sport-specific dietary strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of clinical and nutritional data from 150 Slovenian athletes (77 females, 73 males; aged 14 - 34 years) was conducted, including a 3-day weighed food diary and questionnaires. RESULTS: The median energy intake fell below the lower bound of the recommended range (36.8 (15.9) kcal/kg of body mass (BM) vs. 50 - 70 kcal/kg BM), with only 15.3% of athletes meeting their energy needs. Protein intake was generally adequate (1.6 (0.7) g/kg BM vs. 1.5 - 2 g/kg BM), with 40.7% consuming below the recommended lower limit. Carbohydrate intake was below the recommended range (4.2 (2.5) g/kg BM vs. 6 - 12 g/kg BM), with only 27.3% meeting the lower threshold. Fat intake was also below recommendations in 72.0% of athletes (1.2 (0.6) g/kg BM vs. 1.5 - 2 g/kg). Adherence to appropriate pre-, during-, and post-exercise nutritional strategies was found to be suboptimal for a large proportion of athletes, particularly concerning carbohydrate timing and overall meal composition. Micronutrient deficiencies especially for calcium and iron in female athletes, were prevalent. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight a critical gap between current sports nutrition recommendations and the actual dietary practices of Slovenian athletes, emphasizing the need for targeted nutritional education and intervention programs.