Nutrition Practices of Lithuanian Elite International and National-level Male Bodybuilders in the Pre-competition Period.

Objectives: To compare the pre-competition nutrition practices of Lithuanian elite international-level (IL) and national-level (NL) bodybuilders.

Methods: Sixteen male bodybuilders (n=8 per group) were enrolled. The IL group comprised individuals achieving 1^st to 4^th place in the World and European Championships organized by the IFBB, whereas the NL group ranked between 1^st and 6^th place in the national championships. Body mass and diet data were obtained via a questionnaire. A repeated-measures ANOVA was performed using time as a within factor and group as a between factor.

Results: Both groups experienced a reduction in body mass during the pre-competition phase (p<0.001), which was slower in the IL than in the NL group (p=0.048). Both groups exhibited a reduction in caloric (p<0.001), carbohydrate (p<0.001), and fat (p=0.006) intake relative to body mass, but not in protein intake. Nevertheless, the IL group had a higher intake of calories (p=0.015), protein (p<0.001), but not carbohydrates relative to body mass vs. the NL group.

Conclusions: The Lithuanian IL and NL bodybuilders both reduced calories by cutting fat and carbohydrates during pre-competition. The IL group maintained higher calorie and protein intake, resulting in similar body mass loss but at a slower rate than the NL group.