Sports Nutrition

It is recommended that students have basic knowledge of Clinical Nutrition.

Theoretical lectures presenting the syllabus content, based on robust and up-to-date scientific evidence, and the corresponding application of this content in the practical dimension, including discussion of scientific articles with students.

The theory-practice classes will be primarily based on the resolution of case studies and the use of questioning methods, incorporating project-based and problem-based learning methodologies.

Within the theoretical framework of the Course Unit (CU), the objectives and competencies to be developed are as follows:

1. Understand the physiological, metabolic, and nutritional bases of physical exercise and sport;
2. Understand the specific and individual nutritional needs of different sporting contexts, in accordance with training and competition demands;
3. Identify the various nutrients and substances used as energy substrates during physical exercise;
4. Identify the main macronutrients, their composition, food sources, and functions within the body;
5. Understand hydration recommendations for athletes, considering the specificities of thermoregulation in a sports context;
6. Understand the basic concepts underlying fat mass loss and muscle mass gain, as well as nutritional recommendations for altering body composition;
7. Understand recommendations for nutritional supplement intake in sports, identifying the various physiological mechanisms of action, dosage, and timing of administration, as well as adverse effects and specific conditions for their appropriate use;
8. Identify and master the stages of planning and implementing nutritional education initiatives in a sports context;
9. Know the specific nutritional recommendations for the treatment and rehabilitation of various types of sports injuries;
10. Understand nutritional approaches for specific target populations, particularly young athletes.

Within the theoretical-practical framework of the CU, the objectives and competencies to be developed are as follows:

1. Apply specific and individual nutritional recommendations-tailored to the sporting context and training/competition demands-to concrete clinical cases;
2. Master the calculation of estimated energy and macronutrient needs for athletes and individuals engaged in physical exercise;
3. Develop a nutritional plan aligned with the athletes’ competition schedule and the specific sport;
4. Be able to create a nutritional plan that meets recommendations for various body composition goals;
5. Master the application of individualized supplementation protocols;
6. Develop and implement nutritional education strategies within a sports context;
7. Design a nutrition plan for injured athletes during the rehabilitation period.

In the theoretical and theoretical-practical frameworks of the CU, the syllabus content to be covered is as follows:

1. Physiological and biochemical bases of nutritional intervention in sports
2. Energy metabolism and fatigue factors in physical exercise
3. Nutritional assessment of athletes
4. Nutritional requirements (energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, and hydration) in different sports (endurance, intermittent, and strength/power)
5. Nutritional intervention for fat mass reduction and muscle hypertrophy
6. Supplementation in sports
7. Nutrition and sports injury (prevention and treatment)
8. Nutrition in the young athlete
9. Nutrition on competition day
10. Nutrition education in the sports context
11. Data management and organization tools in the context of sports nutrition

Students may enrol in one of the following Assessment Schemes for the attribution of a final grade in the present CU:

Assessment Scheme A - Continuous Assessment

Under this assessment scheme, the final grade is obtained through the weighted average of two assessment components: a theoretical component and a theoretical/practical component.

The theoretical assessment component consists of a written test conducted during class time, accounting for 60% of the final CU grade. A minimum grade of 9.5 out of 20 is required in this component for students to pass the CU.

The theoretical/practical component of the Continuous Assessment accounts for 40% of the final CU grade and is divided into several assessment subcomponents with different weightings:

• Analysis and presentation of a scientific article (15%)
• Preparation of supporting materials for the field trip (15%)
• Participation and active involvement in practical tasks during theoretical-practical classes (10%)
• Resolution and presentation of a clinical case study (60%)

A minimum grade of 9.5 out of 20 is required in each of these four subcomponents of the theoretical/practical Continuous Assessment component for students to pass the CU.

Assessment Scheme B - Final Exame (Written Exam)

Under this assessment scheme, students will complete a written exame, consisting of one section assessing the content taught in the theoretical classes and another section requiring the resolution of problems/practical cases, similar to the assignments carried out during the theoretical-practical classes. The first part of the exam, related to the content taught in the theoretical classes, will account for 60% of the final grade, while the other part, corresponding to the resolution of problems/practical cases, will account for 40% of the final grade.

Students must obtain a minimum grade of 9.5 out of 20 in either theoretical and theoretical-practical parts of the Final Exame in order to pass the CU.

NAO