The prevalence, knowledge and reasons for carbohydrate, protein, creatine and glutamine use among first team rugby players in premier rugby schools in the Western Cape Province

Date
2016-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Nutrition plays an important role in optimal athletic performance as “strengthand-power athletes” like rugby players would go to great lengths to increase their impact in this competitive environment. As a result, additional nutritional strategies are adopted. However, the potential adverse effects of such strategies on their health and the impact of these strategies on moral development are unclear. Healthcare professionals are concerned about the performance-enhancing supplements that young athletes are using. Research methodology: This cross-sectional study design used a self-administered questionnaire which consisted of specific questions to determine the prevalence and knowledge of and reasons for carbohydrate, protein, creatine and glutamine use among adolescent rugby players. Participants consisted of 189 rugby players from four League A and six League B rugby schools in the Western Cape, including 18 of their coaches. Results: The majority of players used carbohydrates (92%) followed by protein (79%) while only 37% of the players reported using creatine and glutamine. The prevalence of protein and glutamine use among League A players was significantly higher compared to League B players (90% vs. 69%, p<0.001 and 59% vs. 17%, p<0.001 for protein and glutamine respectively). The overall knowledge scores were poor (43%) with League A players performing significantly better than League B players (48% vs. 39%, p<0.001). Knowledge regarding the role of glutamine supplementation in particular was very poor. The majority of players indicated that they need education regarding supplementation and that they have not consulted a dietitian on diet and supplement use. The main reported reason for using carbohydrate supplements was to reduce fatigue/increase energy (46%) followed by an increase in muscle mass/strength (29%). Protein is reportedly consumed firstly to increase muscle mass/strength (72%) and secondly to enhance muscle recovery (24%). Creatine is predominantly used to increase muscle mass/strength while glutamine is reportedly used to enhance muscle recovery. The main source of supplement information is the coach (28%), followed by the trainer (19%) and the supplement representative (16%). Only a few of the players were aware of the amount of carbohydrates (4%), protein (22%), creatine (13%) and glutamine (4%) supplements they consumed on a daily or weekly basis with the exception of the 29% of League B players who were aware of the dose of protein they were consuming. Discussion: The majority of the rugby players in this study used CHO, followed by protein supplements, with fewer using creatine and glutamine. It was evident from the findings of this study that knowledge about safe and appropriate supplement use is currently lacking in both League A and League B rugby schools in the Western Cape. The main reasons why these rugby players use supplements are to increase energy or reduce fatigue, to increase muscle mass and to assist with muscle recovery. According to these rugby players, carbohydrates will assist to increase energy/reduce fatigue and, similar to protein, increase muscle mass and assist with recovery. There is a misconception regarding the reasons for creatine and glutamine use. Additionally, the minority of the athletes were aware of the amount of supplements they consumed on a daily or weekly basis. Athletes looked to coaches and trainers for nutritional information, while these coaches and trainers also lacked supplement knowledge. Developing an educational programme for coaches, athletes and all involved in high school rugby, based on the latest scientific research, would benefit schools and athletes.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Agtergrond: Voeding speel 'n belangrike rol in die optimale prestasie van atlete, veral sterk atlete soos rugbyspelers wat baie moeite sal doen om hul impak in hierdie mededingende omgewing te verhoog. As gevolg hiervan word bykomende voedingstrategieë in werking gestel. Die moontlike negatiewe uitwerking wat hierdie strategieë op hul gesondheid kan hê en die invloed wat dit op morele ontwikkeling het, is egter onduidelik. Gesondheidswerkers is bekommerd oor die aanvullings wat jong atlete gebruik om hul prestasie op die sportveld te verbeter. Navorsingsmetodologie: Dit deursneestudie-ontwerp maak gebruik van 'n selfgeadministreerde vraelys wat uit spesifieke vrae bestaan om die prevalensie, kennis en redes vir die gebruik van koolhidrate, proteïen, kreatien en glutamien te bepaal. Die deelnemers het bestaan uit 189 rugbyspelers uit vier Liga A- en ses Liga B-rugbyskole in die Wes-Kaap, tesame met 18 van hul afrigters. Resultate: Die meeste van die spelers gebruik koolhidrate (92%) gevolg deur proteïen (79%). Slegs 37% van die spelers het aangetoon dat hulle kreatien en glutamien gebruik. Die prevalensie van proteïen- en glutamien-gebruik by Liga A-spelers is aansienlik hoër in vergelyking met Liga B-spelers (90% vs. 69%, p<0.001 en 59% vs. 17%, P<0,001 vir proteïen en glutamien onderskeidelik). Die algehele punt vir kennis van aanvullings was swak (43%) met Liga A-spelers wat aansienlik beter as Liga B-spelers vaar (48% vs. 39%, p<0.001). Kennis oor die rol van glutamien-aanvullings was veral baie swak. Die meerderheid van die spelers het aangedui dat hulle opleiding oor die gebruik van aanvullings nodig het en dat hulle nog nooit 'n dieetkundige oor voeding en die gebruik van aanvullings geraadpleeg het nie. Die belangrikste redes vir die gebruik van koolhidraataanvullings was om moegheid te verminder of energie te verhoog (46%), en om spiermassa / krag te versterk (29%). Proteïene word na bewering geneem om eerstens spiermassa / krag (72%) te verhoog en tweedens om spiere vinniger te laat herstel (24%). Kreatien word hoofsaaklik gebruik om spiermassa / krag te verhoog terwyl glutamien na bewering gebruik word om spierherstel aan te moedig. Die vernaamste bron van inligting oor aanvullings is die afrigter (28%), gevolg deur die instrukteur (19%) en die verkoopsverteenwoordiger van die aanvullings (16%). Baie min spelers was bewus van die hoeveelheid koolhidraat- (4%), proteïen- (22%), kreatien- (13%) en glutamien-aanvullings (4%) wat hulle op 'n daaglikse of weeklikse basis neem, met die uitsondering van die 29% Liga B-spelers wat bewus was van die dosis van proteïen-aanvullings wat hulle neem. Bespreking: Die meerderheid rugbyspelers gebruik CHO, gevolg deur proteïenaanvullings. Minder spelers gebruik kreatien en glutamien. Die resultate het duidelik getoon dat kennis oor die veilige en toepaslike gebruik van aanvullings tans in Liga A- sowel as Liga B-rugbyskole in die Wes-Kaap ontbreek. Die vernaamste redes waarom hierdie rugbyspelers aanvullings gebruik is om energie te verhoog / moegheid te verminder, spiermassa te verhoog en spierherstel aan te help. Volgens hierdie rugbyspelers help koolhidrate om energie te verhoog / moegheid te verminder, en, net soos proteïen, help dit ook om spiermassa te verhoog en herstel te bespoedig. Daar is 'n wanopvatting oor die redes vir kreatien- en glutamien-gebruik. Daarby was net 'n klein groepie atlete bewus van hoeveelheid aanvullings hulle op 'n daaglikse of weeklikse basis neem. Atlete soek voedingsinligting by afrigters en instrukteurs wat self oor gebrekkige kennis van die gebruik van aanvullings beskik. Die ontwikkeling van 'n opvoedkundige program wat gerig is op afrigters, atlete en almal wat by hoërskoolrugby betrokke is, en wat op die jongste wetenskaplike navorsing gegrond is, sal skole en atlete bevoordeel.
Description
Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
Keywords
Rugby football players -- Nutrition, Rugby football players -- Performance, Nutrition -- Strategic aspects, UCTD
Citation