Assessment of Vitamin and Mineral Intakes in Paralympic Athletes in Tabriz, Iran

Paralympic games are the most important competitions for disabled people in the world. Nowadays the role of nutrition is undeniable in physical exercises and the deficiency of micronutrients leads to poor performance by athletes, so the purpose of this study was to assess vitamin and mineral intakes in elite Paralympic athletes of Tabriz.
Thirty five elite Paralympic athletes (24 men and 11 women) took part in this study. Three-day self-reported food diaries were analyzed for vitamins and minerals and compared with the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Data are analyzed by Shapiro-Wilk, one sample test and independent sample test for checking normality, are compared the intake nutrients with DRIs, and a comparison is made between men and women athletes.
The results indicated that the intake of vitamin E and D, potassium, fluorine, chromium, molybdenum in all athletes, vitamin K, magnesium, folate in men, biotin and calcium in women was significantly lower than DRIs (p The intake of several important vitamins and minerals by these Paralympic athletes was lower than the standard value. Given the importance of vitamins and minerals for repairing muscle tissue, recovering in exercises and improving performance in competitive levels, athletes need to pay attention to their diets and improve food choices.