Carbohydrates support performance in young female cross-country skiers – better-performing athletes eat more
Oona Kettunen, MSC, investigated the associations between nutrition and performance in young female cross-country skiers. In addition, she examined how well young female skiers met nutritional recommendations for endurance athletes. The study was performed at the Vuokatti Sport Technology Unit of Ģֱ.
The study showed that most female skiers tended to have inadequate energy intake considering the high energy expenditure of their training. Especially carbohydrate intake was lower than recommended while the intake of protein and fat were within the recommended range.
“Inadequate energy and carbohydrate intake may, for example, decrease performance during training and competition, delay recovery and increase the risk for illness and injury.”
Indeed, Kettunen found that lower energy and carbohydrate intake during intensive training periods were associated with the markers of under-recovery, such as decreased explosive muscular performance. In addition, athletes with higher energy and carbohydrate intake tended to perform better in competitions and laboratory measurements.
In addition to performance, adequate carbohydrate intake may support health. Kettunen noticed that athletes with higher carbohydrate intake reported fewer injuries and menstrual dysfunctions. Interestingly, better nutrition knowledge was also associated with higher energy and carbohydrate intake showing that adequate nutrition knowledge may be an important factor for dietary practices that support health and athletic performance.
“The study highlights the significance of enhanced high-quality nutrition education for young female skiers,” Kettunen says.
The public defence of Oona Kettunen’s doctoral dissertation “Nutrition and performance in young female cross-country skiers” will be held on 20 October 2023, at 12:00 in the auditorium of Sokos Hotel Vuokatti (Kidekuja 2, Vuokatti). Associate Professor Anna Melin (Linnaeus University, Sweden) will act as opponent and Professor Vesa Linnamo (Ģֱ) as custos. The language of the defense is English.
Oona Kettunen graduated from high school (Karhulan lukio) in 2013. Five years later, in 2018, she graduated as a Master of Science in Sport and Health Sciences from the Ģֱ, majoring in exercise physiology. She started her work as a doctoral researcher started at the beginning of 2020.
Link to dissertation "Nutrition and performance in young female cross-country skiers":
