Dietary assessment of elite orienteering athletes

Orienteering is an endurance sport requiring prolonged aerobic effort and high cognitive load, and adequate nutrition is essential to optimise performance, recovery, and long-term health. This cross-sectional study characterised dietary intake in Elite Orienteering Athletes (EOAs) and compared macronutrient and micronutrient intakes with current sports nutrition recommendations. Twenty EOAs (eight males and 12 females) were assessed during the orienteering competition "35° Trofeo Internacional Murcia Costa Cálida" in Spain. Dietary intake was recorded using a four-day weighed food record, including solid and liquid consumption, and compared with Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Nutritional adequacy was expressed as the prevalence of athletes meeting DRIs (95% CI, Wilson method). Mean daily energy intake was 2134 ± 715 kcal/day, with only 5% of athletes meeting the recommended intake. Carbohydrate intake was below recommendations (42.5 ± 6.5% TEI), whereas protein (22.5 ± 15.0% TEI) and fat (37.9 ± 6.0% TEI) were consumed in excess. Calcium and zinc intakes were below DRIs, while phosphorus and sodium exceeded recommended values. Vitamin intakes were generally adequate, although vitamin D intake was insufficient, with only 30% of athletes meeting the DRI. These findings indicate notable nutritional imbalances among EOAs and highlight the need for individualised nutritional strategies to improve energy and carbohydrate availability and optimise key micronutrients to support performance and health.