The Effects of Energy Intake on Upper Respiratory Symptoms in Ultra-Endurance Triathletes

Background: It is unclear whether energy intake can impact the incidence of upper respiratory symptoms (URS). The purpose of this study was to examine if there are differences in energy intake between symptomatic (SYM) and asymptomatic (ASYM) groups of URS in Ironman triathletes. Methods: Thirty-three subjects competing in the Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon (mean ¡ SD: age, 37 ¡8 y; height, 178 ¡ 8 cm; mass, 76.3 ¡ 10.4 kg; body fat, 10.8 ¡ 3.8%) were randomized into either control (CON) or intervention (INT). INT consumed four commercial recovery drinks, two immediately post-race and two 3-hours post-race. Calorie and macronutrient intakes were recorded pre-, during, and post-race. Subjects completed the Wisconsin URS Survey to assess URS over the next two weeks. Two analyses were done by comparing results between CON and INT, and when subjects were classified as either ASYM (5 20) or SYM (5 13). Results: There were no differences in energy intake (p . 0.05) and URS (INT, 32 ¡ 38; CON, 16 ¡ 23; p 5 0.155). However, on the race day, SYM (9,044 ¡ 2,598 kcal) consumed less energy than ASYM (10,991 ¡ 2,497 kcal) (p 5 0.044). Also, SYM consumed less energy the day before the race (p 5 0.031) and post-race (p 5 0.008). ASYM consumed greater carbohydrate the day before the race (p 5 0.032), fat the day of the race (p 5 0.006), carbohydrate post-race (p 5 0.08), and fat post-race (p 5 0.002). Conclusions: Overall energy intake was similar between CON and INT. However, when subjects were differentiated by URS, SYM consumed fewer calories the day before the race and the day of the race versus ASYM.