assessing the nutritional status and body composition of female athletic students in isfahan university of medical sciences, iran, in 2011

background: different studies have shown that inadequate and unbalanced intake of nutrients including micronutrient and macronutrient, have negative effects on exercise performance and optimal ability; besides, it decreases physical efficiency in athletes. the present study aimed to assess the nutritional status and body composition of female athletic students in isfahan university of medical sciences (isfahan, iran). methods: this descriptive cross-sectioned study was carried out on 38 subjects of sport teams in isfahan university of medical sciences. general characteristics were collected using questionnaires and performing anthropometric measures. dietary information was assessed using 3-day food record. data were analyzed using food processor ii (fp ii). findings: in study subjects, the average intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat was according to dietary reference intakes (dri); protein, carbohydrate and fat constituted 14.6%, 56.8% and 28.6% of total energy, respectively. average intake of fiber (15.8 g/d) was lower than the recommended dri. among micronutrients, average intake of pantothenic acid, folate, calcium and magnesium was lower than, vitamin ,   and zinc, vitamin a, e, c, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron, phosphorus and selenium was higher than the recommended dri. average body mass index (bmi), waist-hip ratio (whr), triceps skin fold (tsf) and body fat was 20.7 ± 2.6, 0.74 ± 0.03, 18.08 ± 4.7mm and 25.3 ± 7.2, respectively. conclusion: the findings of the study indicated that the main problem in these athletes was low level intake of fiber, unbalanced intake of some micronutrients and inadequate intake of pantothenic acid, folate, calcium and magnesium. however, level of energy intake, percentage of energy produced by each macronutrients and also anthropometric data were in normal ranges .