Nutritional interventions for gymnasts: bridging the gap between performance and health

Sterkowicz-Przybycień K, Sterkowicz S, Biskup L, Żarów R, Kryst Ł, Ozimek M. Somatotype, body composition, and physical fitness in artistic gymnasts depending on age and preferred event. PLoS One. 2019;14(2):e0211533. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211533

Mathisen TF, Ackland T, Burke LM, Constantini N, Haudum J, Macnaughton LS, et al. Best practice recommendations for body composition considerations in sport to reduce health and performance risks: a critical review, original survey and expert opinion by a subgroup of the IOC consensus on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Br J Sports Med. 2023;57(17):1148–60. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-106812

Ruscello B, Morganti G, De Fano A, Mancina F, Lunetta L, Di Mauro G, et al. Comparing the anthropometrics, body composition, and strength performance of male and female Italian breaking athletes: a pilot study. Sports. 2024;12(7):197. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12070197

Burt LA, Greene DA, Naughton GA. Bone health of young male gymnasts: a systematic review. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2017;29(4):456–64. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2017-0046

Jakše B, Jakše B, Mis NF, Jug B, Šajber D, Godnov U, Čuk I. Nutritional status and cardiovascular health in female adolescent elite-level artistic gymnasts and swimmers: a cross-sectional study of 31 athletes. J Nutr Metab. 2021;2021:8810548. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8810548

Torres W, Maillane-Vanegas S, Urban JB, Fernandes RA. Impact of sports participation on cardiovascular health markers of children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Clin Pediatr. 2022;11(4):375. https://doi.org/10.5409/wjcp.v11.i4.375

Hongyan Y. Effect of gymnastics on heart rate and physique of male college students. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2023;29:e2022_0795. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202329012022_0795

Grabitz C, Sprung KM, Amagliani L, Memaran N, Schmidt BM, Tegtbur U, et al. Cardiovascular health and potential cardiovascular risk factors in young athletes. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023;10:1081675. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1081675

Lee BL. Low energy availability (LEA) in male athletes: a review of the literature. Sport J. 2024.

Kuhlman NM, Jones MT, Jagim AR, Magee MK, Wilcox L, Fields JB. Dietary intake, energy availability, and power in men collegiate gymnasts. Front Sports Active Living. 2024;6:1448197. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1448197

Smith-Ryan AE, Hirsch KR, Saylor HE, Gould LM, Blue MN. Nutritional considerations and strategies to facilitate injury recovery and rehabilitation. J Athl Train. 2020;55(9):918–30. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-550-19

Villa M, Villa-Vicente JG, Seco-Calvo J, Mielgo-Ayuso J, Collado PS. Body composition, dietary intake and the risk of low energy availability in elite-level competitive rhythmic gymnasts. Nutrients. 2021;13(6):2083. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13062083

Francisco R, Alarcão M, Narciso I. Aesthetic sports as high-risk contexts for eating disorders – Young elite dancers and gymnasts perspectives. Span J Psychol. 2012;15(1):265–74. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_sjop.2012.v15.n1.37333

Mense N. Sports nutrition for the student athlete: gymnastics. Am Dairy Assoc North East [Internet]. 2022 [updated 2025 Apr; cited 2025 Jun 02]. Available from:]. Available from: https://www.americandairy.com/dairy-diary/sports-nutrition-for-the-student-athlete-gymnastics/

GymnasticBodies Forum. What is the recommended bodyfat level for male gymnasts? GymnasticBodies [Internet]. 2017 [updated 2025 Apr; cited 2025 Jun 02]. Available from: https://www.gymnasticbodies.com/forum/topic/30853-what-is-the-recommended-bodyfat-level-for-male-gymnasts/page/2/

Manna T, Goswami A, Karmakar Chatterjee S, Dhingra M, Dey SK. Comparison of various physical and body composition profiles between Indian elite male and female gymnasts. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2017;9(2):4. https://doi.org/10.29359/bjhpa.09.2.04

Kaufmann S, Ziegler M, Werner J, Noe C, Latzel R, Witzany S, et al. Energetics of floor gymnastics: aerobic and anaerobic share in male and female sub-elite gymnasts. Sports Med Open. 2022;8:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-021-00396-6

Johansson JK, Kujala UM, Sarna S, Karanko H, Puukka PJ, Jula AM. Cardiovascular health in former elite male athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2016;26(5):535–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12474

Paszkiewicz JA. Relationship between daily protein distribution and body composition in elite gymnasts [Master’s Thesis]. 2014.

Gymnastics HQ. Nutrition for gymnasts [Internet]. 2019 [updated 2025 Apr; cited 2025 Jun 02]. Available from: https://gymnasticshq.com/nutrition-for-gymnasts/

Comments (0)

No login
gif