The Effects of Energy Intake and Oxygen Consumption on Resting Metabolic Rate Among Endurance Athletes: A Pilot Study

Abstract

College students are not known for their nutritional education, and student athletes are no exception. Endurance sports performance relies on many factors, such as training schedule, coaching methods, and training location, but less focus is put on nutritional intake. PURPOSE: to address the question of whether an athlete's overall energy intake versus resting metabolic rate (RMR) correlate with an endurance runner’s performance capacity. METHODS: ·College student-athletes (n=10, n=6 female) completed a 7-day dietary log to determine an average energy intake (SuperTracker), obtained RMR values (Parvo Medics’ TrueOne® 2400), and completed a timed race to assess the associations between caloric intake and the amount of oxygen consumed during a minute of running. RESULTS: There is a positive linear correlation between RMR and average energy intake and significant relationship between RMR, VDOT, and Average Energy Intake (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For student athletes of the same VDOT and Average Energy Intake of the same age, on average males consume an RMR of 25.16 kcal/day more than females.