Evaluation of energy consumption, macronutrients, and supplements intakes among university hockey players

Abstract

This study was a cross - sectional study involving hockey players among students at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) using convenient sampling method. Data were collected by using questionnaire consists of five parts including sociodemographic, physical activity, anthropometric measurement, dietary intake records and supplement intakes. The collected data was statistically analysed using t-test and descriptive statistic to assess the daily intake of energy, macronutrients and as appropriate for each question on the questionnaire. The male players remained more active than females and similarly, the some of the male players were overweight and the females were underweight. The daily energy intake was significantly (P<0.001) higher for males than for females. The energy intake of male respondents exceeded the recommended value in the RNI Malaysia 2005 whereas for female respondents it was significantly (P<0.001) lower. When the energy intake of the male and female players was compared with the FIH & RNI, it was significantly (P<0.001) lower. For the protein intake, both group of respondents, males and females, did achieve the recommended value of the protein intake in a day and consumed significantly lower FIH. Lastly, the male respondents have higher percentage of consumption of nutritional supplement, with 54.5 %, as compared to the female respondents, with only 45.5% who consumed nutritional supplements. Compared to standard references, there was significant difference between energy (kcal), macronutrients (g) and macronutrients (expressed as % of total calorie intake) to the recommended value. Majority of the nutritional supplement consumer obtained information from trusted source. Therefore, nutritional education related to supplements is necessary to prevent any health-related problem and overused/abuse of supplements.