Research summary · Nutrition and energy
Dietary intake gaps in a Slovenian athlete sample
Researchers analysed three-day weighed food diaries and questionnaires from 150 Slovenian athletes aged 14–34, including 77 females. The underlying clinical assessments were collected between 2015 and 2020.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Retrospective observational study
- Journal
- Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
- Population / context
- Adolescent and adult athletes across sports; women and men
What the publication reports
Many recorded diets fell below the study's energy and carbohydrate benchmarks, while protein intake was more often adequate. Meal timing and peri-exercise food choices also showed gaps. Calcium and iron intake were particular concerns in the female subgroup.
Limits and interpretation
A short food record may not capture habitual intake and is vulnerable to reporting error. Broad intake benchmarks do not diagnose individual energy deficiency, REDs or biochemical micronutrient deficiency. The retrospective clinical sample cannot establish current national prevalence or effects on performance.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Dietary practices among slovenian athletes: A comprehensive assessment of energy, macronutrient, and micronutrient intake and adherence to sport-specific dietary strategies
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42637037DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2026.105052Reader discussion
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