Implementation of nutrition care process in Indonesian athletes and its effect on nutritional status and aerobic capacity performance
Authors:   Department of Health Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, Mirza Hapsari Sakti Titis Penggalih , Zaenal Mutaqqien Sofro ,   Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, Laksono Trisnantoro ,   Department of Health Policy Management, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, Edi Nurinda Susila ,   Sports Health Science and Technology Development Centre, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Republic of Indonesia, Ernawaty  ,   Sports Health Science and Technology Development Centre, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Republic of Indonesia, Bayu Rahadian ,   Deputy III of Sports Cultivation, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Republic of Indonesia, Margono  ,   Deputy III of Sports Cultivation, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Republic of Indonesia, Dadi Sujadi ,   Deputy III of Sports Cultivation, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Republic of Indonesia, Raden Isnanta ,   Deputy III of Sports Cultivation, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Republic of Indonesia, Kurnia Mar’atus Solichah ,   Nutrition Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, ‘Aisyiyah University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Rahadyana Muslichah ,   Department of Health Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, Naila Alfi Syarifah ,   FIRST Sports Nutrition Consulting, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Veronika Dewi Pratanjani Prasasta ,   Department of Health Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Despite the critical function of a nutritionist, only a few sports training centres for students in Indonesia have one. This study aimed to determine the effect of the nutrition care process (NCP) on athletes’ nutritional status and aerobic capacity performance. Methods: This cohort study was conducted in 2022 (May–August) in four training centres (TC) in Indonesia. Subjects were athletes who have been dwelling in TC for at least three months, excluding those absent for >14 days due to a competition or other commitments during the data collection period. NCP included the assistance of trained sports nutritionists. In total, 114 athletes participated in this study: 90 strength athletes and 24 endurance athletes. The participants were aged 14-19 years old with approximately (mean+SD) 6+2.5 years of experience in specific sports. Results: After three months of NCP, knowledge of nutrition (p=0.013), body fat composition (p<0.001), skinfold thickness scores (p<0.001), and performance (p<0.001) of athletes significantly improved. In spite of good intakes of protein and fat, none of the intakes showed significant changes (p>0.05). Furthermore, improved knowledge of sports nutrition and exercise science had a positive impact on dormitory meal choices. Conclusion: Overall, three months of NCP had a significant effect on athletes’ knowledge of nutrition, body fat composition, skinfold thickness, and also VO2Max.