Competitive level is associated with dietary practices but not sports nutrition knowledge in collegiate athletes: associations with body composition profiles

BACKGROUND: Sports nutrition knowledge may influence athletes' dietary practices, but its relationship with dietary intake and body composition remains unclear, particularly across different competitive levels. This study examined the associations among sports nutrition knowledge, dietary intake, and body composition and compared these variables between amateur and elite collegiate athletes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 100 male collegiate athletes (60 amateur and 40 elite). Sports nutrition knowledge was assessed using an adapted Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (SNKQ) developed for this study based on the conceptual framework of the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ). Dietary intake was evaluated using three-day food records, and body composition was measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Between-group differences were analyzed using independent-samples t-tests with 95% confidence intervals and Cohen's d. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine associations and identify predictors of body composition. RESULTS: Elite athletes consumed significantly more energy, protein, and carbohydrates and reported higher meal frequency and daily fluid intake than amateur athletes (all p < 0.001). Sports nutrition knowledge scores were similar between groups (p = 0.57). Although elite athletes had lower body fat and higher skeletal muscle mass percentages, these differences were not statistically significant. Dietary intake, particularly protein intake, showed stronger associations with body composition than sports nutrition knowledge. Multiple regression analysis identified protein intake and competitive level as independent predictors of body composition. CONCLUSIONS: Competitive level was associated with healthier dietary practices but not with sports nutrition knowledge among collegiate athletes. Dietary intake, particularly protein intake, was more strongly associated with body composition than nutrition knowledge. These findings suggest that improving dietary behaviors may have greater practical value than increasing nutrition knowledge alone. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to confirm these relationships.