HAEMATOCOCCUS PLUVIALIS PIGMENT AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR PARA-SWIMMERS: EVALUATING ITS IMPACT ON NUTRITIONAL PROFILES

Adequate nourishment is a vital component of a healthier life and wellness, along with physical activity. This study aims to comprehend the special difficulties experienced by para swimmers in terms of their dietary intake, nutrient requirements, and general nutritional well-being through a quantitative methodology with the help of DietCal software.
The study involved 13 para-swimmers ranging in age from 20 to 50 years with different disability categories from S4 to S15. Their existing diet patterns and intake were assessed through a verified food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour diet recall, and the collected data were then interpreted using the software Diet Cal. Later on, both the recommended and received values of macro and micronutrients were compared.
A nutritional profile assessment indicates differences in nutrient intake from recommended levels. It was observed that para-swimmers were deficient in energy and nutrients such as protein, calcium, and iron, while over consuming nutrients like carbohydrates, fat, sodium, and magnesium.
This study concludes that there were nutrients deficient and over consumed in the diet of para-swimmers. Therefore, recommendations were made to adopt a balanced, nutrient-rich diet in addition to astaxanthin supplementation that the athletes were already taking to enhance athletic performance and promote overall well-being.
ANJALI VASHISHTH
AMALENDHU NARAYANAN
ARVIND PAREEK
NEHA SINGH
Year
2023
Volume
Vol 2
Serial
8