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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Child Science 2018; 08(01): e90-e98
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1669382
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Nutrition for the Young Athlete

Francisco Jesús Llorente-Cantarero
1   Department of Artistic and Corporal Education, Faculty of Education, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
,
Laura Palomino-Fernández
2   Department of Paediatric, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
,
Mercedes Gil-Campos
3   Metabolism and Pediatric Research Unit, Reina Sofia University Hospital/Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), CIBERobn, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

29 June 2018

01 July 2018

Publication Date:
26 September 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Child athletes require a healthy and balanced nutrition according to the type and intensity of the sport activity. This review aims to provide integrated and updated information to establish adequate nutritional guidelines for these children, essentially avoiding deficiencies or unbalances that can be harmful for their health. A lack of vitamins and minerals can affect their health especially at long term and depending on the type of sport and age of the child. The diet must be controlled without any nutritional supplements. It is also important to know which nutrients can improve performance of the child athlete during both training and competition. In conclusion, the contribution of macro- and micronutrients to the diet, together with an adequate hydration according to the energy expenditure must be controlled for child athletes to ensure a good status of health.

Keywords

athletes - children - nutrition - sport - physical activity
 

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