Development of a Nutritional Supplement From Local Foods and Determination of Its Efficacy in Improving Nutritional Status and Physical Endurance in Long-distance Athletes at Ngong Training Camp, Kenya

Abstract

The present study was conducted on long distance athletes training in selected private training camps in Ngong area, Kenya. The objective of the study was to develop a nutritional supplement from local foods and determine its efficacy in improving nutritional status and physical endurance of long distance athletes at Ngong Camp, Kenya. Food Frequency and 24-hour food recall methods were used to determine food and nutrient intake. The study was designed to comprise food and nutrient intake assessment, Dietary supplement development and supplementation intervention to determine its‘ efficacy in improving nutritional status and physical endurance in long distance athletes. This study included 11 women and 13 men who were selected purposively from a population 0f 36 athletes. Assessment done included both anthropometric and body composition. Food frequency analysis showed that cereal and cereal products were consumed daily by 95.8% of all the respondents, followed by dairy products whose daily intake was at 95.8%. Daily consumption of vegetables was at 87.5% whereas meat intake was at 62.5%. Pulses and legumes were poorly consumed with daily intake at only 16.7% with fruits being the least consumed at 8.3%.According to the 24 hour food recall results, the mean daily calorie intake of women was 1072.45 Kcal representing 40% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), whereas calorie intake for men was 1266.76 Kcal which represented 46.6% of the RDA. Results of t-test revealed that there was a significant difference between calorie intake by men and women (P=0.032).The mean daily carbohydrate intake for women and men was 150g and 195g, respectively. This represented 37.4% and 47.9% of the RDA for the groups, respectively. This level was inadequate to maintain muscle glycogen at normal levels and prevent muscle glycogen depletion for the endurance athletes which require to be maintained at adequate levels. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between carbohydrate intake by men and women (P<0.002). Average daily fat intake for women and men was 29g (39% of RDA) and 27g (37 % of RDA) respectively. Mean daily protein intake for women and men was 54.81g and 59.53g which represented 54.6% and 58.9% of the RDA respectively. Analysis of the results also showed no significant difference between protein intake by men and women (P<0.286). The mean daily iron intake for the groups I and II was 9.56mg and 11.98mg which represented 53.1% and 79.8% of the RDA respectively. The iron intake by men and women was found to have significant difference (P<0.001). The average calcium intake for the two groups was 708.9mg and 827.23mg which represented 59% and 68.8% of the RDA respectively. Calcium intake by both men and women had no significant difference (P<0.229). The food supplement developed for this study constituted of Soya, Pearl millet and Skimmed milk powder as ingredients. According to the proximate composition analysis done on the most acceptable product, the results showed that the product developed contained 228.2mg of calcium, 3.95mg of iron, 71.97g carbohydrate, 8.72g fat, 17.37g protein, 435.84 Kcal, 8.22g moisture and 1.42g of total ash content per 100g of the product. On sensory evaluation results, the study formulation was rated highest with 50% of the respondents rating Overall acceptability of the formulation as Liked very much. Body composition results showed a significant increase in the mean body weight in the supplemented male group as compared to the unsupplemented/control group (P< 0.001).The results showed similarly, there was a corresponding significant increase of the mean Body mass Index for the same group as compared with the control group (P< 0.001). The same results also indicated a significant increase in the mean Fat Free Mass in the supplemented group as compared with the control group (P< 0.008). In the women supplemented group, the mean percentage body fat significantly reduced from 19.79 to 19.72 %

(P=.0.049) as opposed to the unsupplemented group. In both men and women however, there was insignificant change in percentage bone mass. In conclusion the findings indicate that there was inadequate food and nutrient intake according to recommended Dietary Allowance values. it is therefore recommended that sports‘ nutrition education be incorporated of in training camps to sensitize athletes about good dietary habits for improved performance. These research results should be used to justify and avail Dietary supplement developed in line with the findings to the athletes, to enhance their nutritional status and physical endurance even as more research in this area need to be done.