CTR Centre of Rehabilitation Therapy, Fratelli Cervi Street, 59/e, 42124, Reggio Emilia (RE), Italy; Italian Ultra Marathon and Trail Association, Moscardo Street, 47, 37142, Verona (VR), Italy.
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020, Riad El Solh, Beirut, Lebanon.
Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021 Apr;42:239-243. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.01.029. Epub 2021 Feb 8.
BACKGROUND & AIM: Sport performance during competitions is a central goal for athletes, and several factors have been identified that appear to have an association with better performance in different sport disciplines. However, the data are still not conclusive in ultramarathon runners. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the potential associations between anthropometric, body composition, dietary and training factors and athletic performance in 100-Km elite ultramarathon runners.
Body mass index (BMI), body composition, training volume, Mediterranean dietary adequacy score (MDAS) and "100-Km race competition record" were assessed in 10 elite ultramarathon runners from the Italian Ultramarathon and Trail Association (IUTA) of the Italian national team.
The study sample had a mean age of 41.1 ± 7.59 years and BMI of 21.66 ± 1.11 kg/m. Female athletes had a lower appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) and 100-Km race competition record, and a higher trunk fat percentage and MDAS compared to males. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between the 100-Km race competition record and age, gender, ASMI, training volume, total body and trunk fat percentages. However, after correcting for confounders, partial correlation analysis confirmed only the association between training volume and 100-Km race competition record (ρ = -0.891, p = 0.009).
Our findings provide evidence that a higher training volume expressed as Kilometers per week is an independent variable associated with better performance in 100-Km race competitions in elite ultramarathon runners. Future studies are needed to assess the usefulness of programs based on the increase of training volume as a strategy to improve athletic performance in 100-Km races in this specific population.
在比赛中取得优异的运动表现是运动员的核心目标，有几个因素被认为与不同运动项目的更好表现有关。然而，这些数据在超长距离跑运动员中仍然没有定论。因此，本研究旨在评估身体测量学、身体成分、饮食和训练因素与 100 公里精英超长距离跑运动员运动表现之间的潜在关联。
从意大利超长距离和小径协会（IUTA）的意大利国家队中评估了 10 名精英超长距离跑运动员的体重指数（BMI）、身体成分、训练量、地中海饮食充足评分（MDAS）和“100 公里比赛记录”。
研究样本的平均年龄为 41.1±7.59 岁，BMI 为 21.66±1.11kg/m²。女性运动员的四肢骨骼肌指数（ASMI）和 100 公里比赛记录较低，躯干脂肪百分比和 MDAS 较高。相关分析显示，100 公里比赛记录与年龄、性别、ASMI、训练量、全身和躯干脂肪百分比之间存在显著关联。然而，在校正混杂因素后，偏相关分析仅证实了训练量与 100 公里比赛记录之间的关联（ρ=-0.891，p=0.009）。
我们的研究结果提供了证据表明，较高的训练量（每周公里数）是与精英超长距离跑运动员 100 公里比赛表现相关的独立变量。未来的研究需要评估基于增加训练量的方案的有效性，作为提高该特定人群 100 公里比赛表现的策略。
