Determination of food consumption i̇n athletes 24-hour dietary intake and digital photography method

This study was conducted to determine dietary intake status of professional athletes and sedantery individuals using the 24-hour dietary intake and digital photography methods and to compare these methods. The research was conducted on 41 male participants affiliated with a professional football team under the Turkish Football Federation, consisting of 21 players and 20 sedentary individuals within the same team. The participants' general characteristics, training information and dietary habits were investigated through a questionnaire form. The participants' height (cm), body weight (kg) and body fat percentage measurements were performed by the researcher. The amounts of food on the plates of athletes and sedentary individuals during lunch were recorded using the photography technique by the respective researcher, both before and after the meal. The following day, the individuals were questioned about the foods they consumed and the quantities of those foods during the previous day's lunch using the 24-hour dietary recall method. The photographs and dietary intake record were evaluated by the research dietitian to determine the individuals' nutrient intake. The avarege age (X̅±SD) of athletes is 26.29±4.93 years, while the average age of sedantery individuals is 36.65±10.31 years. According to the 24-hour dietary intake and digital photography methods, the average energy intake of athletes is 740.66±335.21 kcal and 553.34±253.39 kcal respectively. For sedentary individuals, the average energy intake is 941.76±393.09 kcal using the 24 hour dietary intake method and 659.92±284.85 kcal using the digital photography method. According to the 24-hour dietary intake method, the energy, carbohydrates, carbohydrates (%TE), plant-based protein, plant-based protein(%TE), dietary fiber, thiamine, vitamin C, vitamin B6 , potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and fluid intake of athletes were found to be significantly higher compared to the digital photography method (p<0.05). According to the digital photography method, athletes had significantly higher intake of protein (%TE), animal-based protein (%TE), fat (%TE), saturated fatty acid (%TE), polyunsaturated fatty acids (%TE) and monounsaturated fatty acids (%TE) compared to the 24-hour dietary intake method (p<0.05). Energy , carbohydrates, protein, plant-based protein, animal based protein, fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc intakes of sedantery individuals were found to be significantly higher in the 24-hour dietary intake method compared to the digital photography method (p<0.05). Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found between athletes and sedentary individuals in term of carbohydrate (%TE), protein (%TE), plant-based protein (TE%), fat, fat (%TE), saturated fatty acids (%TE), polyunsaturated fatty acids (%TE), monounsaturated fatty acids (%TE), cholesterol, fluid intake, niacin and vitamin B12 values based on the mean differences between the two methods. There is a significant correlation (p<0.05). between the data obtained from the 24-hour dietary intake method and the digital photography method for all values except fluid intake in athletes. There is a significant correlation (p<0.05) between the data obtained from the 24-hour dietary intake method and the digital photography method for all values except dietary fiber, fluid intake, vitamin B6, potassium and magnesium intake in sedantery individuals. In the Bland-Altman analysis, agreement between the two methods was found among the athletes, while it was not observed among the sedentary individuals. In conclusion, the digital photography method is a technological approach that is easy and fast to implement. Each dietary intake method has its limitations. Therefore, it is believed that utilizing multiple methods together to determine food consumption would provide more accurate indormation in assessing nutritional status.