Q
: I have a fairly successful junior program with some players who read (or their parents read) a lot about nutrition. I find that they have developed very interesting viewpoints on vitamins and minerals, some of which concern me. Can you please set the record straight on what vitamins and minerals truly do?
A: Vitamins and minerals are catalysts that help the body function. They are essential nutrients that the body must have to perform its daily functions.
Vitamins are organic in nature. Those required by the body are A, C, D, E, K and eight varieties of B. It is recommended that people obtain their vitamins through food sources, but a supplement is often warranted since a high-calorie, well-balanced diet is difficult to achieve. As for megadoses, be careful; they can be very harmful.
Minerals are inorganic elements found in nature. Minerals are classified as macronutrients (more than 100 mg/day required) or micronutrients (less than 100 mg/day required). Calcium, phosphorous and magnesium are considered the big three among the macrominerals. All three are important in the formation and maintenance of bones and teeth. Magnesium is also necessary for carbohydrate metabolism and neuromuscular function. There are roughly 10 minerals — iron, zinc, copper, iodine, manganese, fluorine, chromium, selenium, silicon and molybdenum. Iron is considered to be the most important of these trace minerals, especially to the female athlete. Research has shown that up to 25 percent of female athletes are iron deficient.
These macro and micromin-erals can be obtained through normal dietary intake, but many multivitamin supplements also have basic amounts of mineral supplements. However, be aware that an overdose of minerals can be toxic to your system.
Supplements
It has been estimated that more than $25 billion a year is spent on questionable health practices in the United States. A large percentage of this money is spent on nutritional products.
Super salespeople use questionable scientific information to give products a sense of authenticity and credibility. The sophisticated advertising and marketing techniques result in many people buying nutritional products that they do not need.
Jacobson and Aldana of Oklahoma State University published a paper in the Journal of Applied Sport Science Research on "Current Nutrition Practice and Knowledge of Varsity Athletes." This paper indicated that athletes are not properly educated with respect to most nutritional issues. It was recommended that several sequential actions be taken to provide coaches with basic nutritional knowledge and that measures be taken to educate athletes.
Observe in the chart below how some collegiate athletes incorrectly view supplementation. Please note that functions that provide energy, increase muscle size, regulate metabolism, aid in weight gain and increase muscle strength are not developed through vitamin supplementation.
Remember the time, pressure, money and work that athletes spend on winning. It is easy to see why many athletes who are training for competition are always searching for the ultimate nutritional supplement to provide them with that extra winning edge over their opponents.
Percentage of responses to questions concerning the benefits of vitamin supplements
Respondents were to check any function that they believed resulted from vitamin supplementation.
A. Provides energy
B. Increases muscle size
C. Regulates metabolism
D. Aids in weight gain
E. Increases muscle strength
|
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
|
Football |
83.7 |
30.2 |
39.5 |
37.2 |
27.9 |
|
Basketball |
81.5 |
10.7 |
29.6 |
18.5 |
22.2 |
|
Wrestling |
50.0 |
13.3 |
66.7 |
16.7 |
16.7 |
|
Softball |
82.4 |
5.9 |
33.3 |
5.9 |
23.5 |
|
Baseball |
70.2 |
17.0 |
46.8 |
27.7 |
29.8 |
|
Track |
76.2 |
14.3 |
57.1 |
9.5 |
19.0 |
|
Tennis |
90.9 |
7.3 |
27.3 |
9.1 |
36.4 |
|
Volleyball |
77.8 |
8.2 |
55.6 |
9.1 |
11.1 |
|
All sports
(n=812) |
76.6 |
13.4 |
42.3 |
16.7 |
23.3 |
|
Males
(n=553 |
74.1 |
21.4* |
43.6 |
27.1* |
25.1 |
|
Females
(n=259) |
80.3 |
5.0 |
41.5 |
7.2 |
22.4 |
*P<0.05 (males vs. females)
Journal of Applied Sports Science Research, Volume 6, No. 4, 1992
