Abstract
Dietary intake, plasma lipid levels, and anthropometric measurements were studied
in 76 weight trained athletes (body builders) who had been following a consistent
eating and training program for at least 2 years prior to the study. Dietary data
were collected using the 7-day diet record. Nutrient analysis indicated that these
athletes followed an atherogenic diet, characterized by a high-fat, high-cholesterol
intake. The high-cholesterol intake was due to a high egg intake, which varied from
0 to 81 eggs per week. Although those athletes with a high egg intake consumed significantly
more fat and cholesterol than those with a low egg intake, plasma total cholesterol
levels (mean = 182.9 ± 25.7) did not differ over the range of egg intakes. Plasma
HDL-cholesterol levels were higher and plasma triacylglycerol levels were lower at
a high egg intake compared with that at a low egg intake. Plasma uric acid was not
affected by the high animal protein intake. Despite the unfavorable intake of macronutrients,
food alone supplied adequate amounts of micronutrients as compared with the RDA. Using
different measurements of obesity, it was difficult to classify this group of athletes
as overweight or obese, due to increased muscle development.
Key words
dietary intake - eggs - atherogenic diet - anthropometry - blood lipids - weight training
- body builders
