Effect of nutrition education on nutrition knowledge, nutrition status and fluid intake of adolescent volleyball players

This study was planned to determine the effect of nutrition education program on nutrition knowledge, nutrition status and fluid intake of adolescent volleyball players. Research was conducted with 13 male professional volleyball players aged between 15 and 17, who were participant of TVF Project team in Turkish Volleyball Federation. Within the scope of the research, nutrition education including healthy diet and sport nutrition subjects, is provided to adolescent volleyball players for 1 hour per week along 4 weeks as an intervention. Before the intervention, general information related to the participants was collected. Before and after the intervention, food consumption frequency questionnaire, nutrition knowledge assessment and two-day physical activity form were applied by the researcher. Volleyball players' body weight and height ware measured. In the same way, body fat percentage, body fat mass, fat free mass and body water mass of the adolescent volleyball players were measured with bioelectrical impedance device. Mean age of the volleyball players was 16.46±0.776 years. As professionals, the players had been playing volleyball for 5±3.54 years in average. While the players' mean BMI was 21.8±1.70 kg/m2, after the intervention, it changed to 22.8±1.85 kg/m2 (p<0.05). Before the intervention, mean body fat percentage of the players was %11.8±4.52 and it changed to %11.7±4.41 after the intervention (p>0.05). While mean fat free mass of the players was 70.4±5.19 kg, it changed to 71.2±5.63 kg after the intervention. According to Harris-Benedict equation, mean energy requirement of the players was 3108.2±240.7 kcal and according to Schofield equation, it was 3188.4±257.10 kcal. It was found that the players' mean percentage of energy arising from carbohydrates was %47±6.59 before the intervention and that it was %42.2±5.04 after the intervention (p<0.05). It was detected that the mean protein intake of the players was 108.1±41.08 g before the intervention and that it was 136.1±29.73 g (p<0.05) after the intervention. While the players' mean percentage of energy arising from protein was %15.3±3.64, it was determined that it was %18.8±2.37 after intervention (p<0.05). It was designated that the players mean sucrose intake was 76.0±50.86 g before the intervention, and that it decreased to 52.6±33.32 g after the intervention (p<0.05). It was determined that the players' fructose intake was 21.2±13.89 g before the intervention, and it was 12.9±6.29 g after the intervention (p<0.05). While average niacin, B12, and B2 intake of the volleyball players increased when compared to before intervention (p<0.05). Average amount of dairy products that the volleyball players consumed was 522.6±409.18 g before the intervention and it increased to 861.0±356.25 g (p<0.05). It was designated that average amount of consumed nutrition from meat, fish, chicken and legume groups was 155.0±75.06 g before the intervention and it was 202.3±53.11 g after the intervention (p<0.05). While the average water intake of the players was 1769.0±897.23 ml before the intervention, it increased to 12.6±2.17 (p<0.05). As a result, providing 4-week nutrition education for one hour per week significantly increased nutrition knowledge of the adolescent volleyball players and it led dietary intake of the players to change in a positive way. Keywords: Adolescent, volleyball, nutrition, nutrition knowledge, nutrition education KA16/339 numbered and 30/11/2016 dated 'Ethics Committee Approval' is received by Başkent University Medical and Health Sciences Research Council.