CDR CDR Sports Nutrition 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A distance runner asks about iron supplementation. Which form of dietary iron has the highest bioavailability?
- Non-heme iron from plant sources
- Heme iron from animal sources (Correct answer)
- Ferric iron from supplements
- Non-heme iron enhanced with vitamin C
Correct answer: Heme iron from animal sources
Heme iron from meat, poultry, and fish is absorbed at 15–35%, significantly higher than non-heme iron at 2–20%.
Question 2: What is the recommended fluid intake guideline for athletes exercising in a warm environment?
- Drink only when thirsty
- Consume 400–800 mL per hour based on sweat rate (Correct answer)
- Drink 2–3 L of plain water per hour
- Avoid fluids to train thirst response
Correct answer: Consume 400–800 mL per hour based on sweat rate
Current guidelines recommend 400–800 mL/hour of fluid to prevent dehydration without causing overhydration.
Question 3: Which ergogenic aid has the strongest evidence base for improving high-intensity, short-duration exercise performance?
- Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)
- Creatine monohydrate (Correct answer)
- HMB (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate)
- Glutamine
Correct answer: Creatine monohydrate
Creatine monohydrate has the most robust evidence for enhancing power output and lean mass in high-intensity, short-duration activities.
Question 4: A collegiate swimmer complains of fatigue and low ferritin levels. This presentation is MOST consistent with which condition common in endurance athletes?
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Sports anemia (dilutional pseudoanemia) (Correct answer)
- Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
- Aplastic anemia
Correct answer: Sports anemia (dilutional pseudoanemia)
Sports anemia is a benign dilutional effect of plasma volume expansion that can lower hemoglobin concentration without true iron deficiency.
Question 5: Which macronutrient should comprise the largest proportion of total calories in the diet of an endurance athlete?
- Protein (40–50%)
- Carbohydrates (55–65%) (Correct answer)
- Fat (50–60%)
- Equal distribution of all three
Correct answer: Carbohydrates (55–65%)
Carbohydrates are the primary fuel for endurance performance and should constitute 55–65% of total energy intake.
Question 6: What is the minimum energy availability threshold below which the Female Athlete Triad risk significantly increases?
- 55 kcal/kg FFM/day
- 45 kcal/kg FFM/day
- 30 kcal/kg FFM/day (Correct answer)
- 20 kcal/kg FFM/day
Correct answer: 30 kcal/kg FFM/day
Energy availability below 30 kcal/kg fat-free mass per day is associated with menstrual dysfunction, low bone density, and other health consequences.
CDR CDR Sports Nutrition 2
A distance runner asks about iron supplementation.
Which form of dietary iron has the highest bioavailability?