Nutritional assessment of competitive rowers

Rowing started out as a means of survival, transport or way of performing in wars. Nowadays it is a sport modality that uses the upper and lower limbs to propel the boat, using both aerobic and anaerobic pathways. This review aims to describe the dietetic, anthropometric and biochemical factors that could help in the nutritional assessment and orientation of rowers, with the objective of improving their performance. Since it is a high intensity (approximately 85% of the maximal oxygen uptake) and short duration (5 to 8 minutes) exercise, it is very important to have an adequate daily intake of carbohydrates, although several studies have shown that rowers eat less carbohydrate than the recommended amount, possibly compromising their glycogen stores, performance and immunity. The categories are divided according to gender, age and body weight. Thus, the anthopometric variables are a criterion for the selection of rowers to participate in competitions at the national and international levels. Due to the high volume and intensity of the training, the athlete is susceptible to the plasmatic alteration of some metabolites, such as urea and creatinine, which can be diagnosed by biochemical assessment. Thus, any factor that could contribute to the optimization of the nutritional assessment and orientation of rowers should be studied.

anthropometry; athletes; biochemical assessment; nutritional assessment