Sports Nutrition and Metabolism
Module title | Sports Nutrition and Metabolism |
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Module code | ESS2509 |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Dr Mary O'Leary (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 120 |
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Module description
Nutrition is currently a very popular subject in relation to the enhancement of exercise and sports performance, in part because of the power of the advertising surrounding these products. However, for many of these nutritional products there is little if any empirical evidence to support their performance enhancing effects. You will learn to critically evaluate dietary advice and nutritional products related to optimising sports performance and training, including topics such as carbohydrate manipulation, protein supplementation, nutritional supplements such as caffeine, β-alanine, antioxidants and polyphenols. You will be able to assess nutritional intake and then suggest practically how diets can be manipulated. On this module you will conduct investigations to test the claims associated with a number of nutritional ergogenic aids.
Module aims - intentions of the module
In recent years nutrition has become a very popular subject in relation to the enhancement of exercise and sports performance, not least because of the power of advertisers who market these products. However, the practice of these nutritional products has seldom been tested sufficiently to confirm an enhancement in sports performance. This module will concentrate on the critical evaluation of dietary advice and products related to sports performance, using laboratory investigations to directly test product claims. Detailed consideration will be given to carbohydrate manipulation, protein supplementation and antioxidants as well as other nutritional ergogenic aids. This module also equips you to use a variety of methods to assess nutritional intake and then to suggest practically how diets can be manipulated.
You will develop a number of important graduate attributes through this module:
• Team working and people skills – you will be required to form a team of four or five students with whom you will work throughout the module to complete two randomised controlled trials for the laboratory element of the module.
• Ethical awareness/thinking and strategic thinking and problem solving – running your own research trial, and gaining vital hands on experience of using a range of key physiological testing equipment.
• Data management skills – you will develop your experience of working with data sets and applying your statistical analysis skills.
• Enquiring mind and application of knowledge – you will complete a range of tasks in the seminar sessions that will require you to apply knowledge gained during the lectures.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe in detail nutrition applied to sport
- 2. Appraise the nutritional habits of a sportsperson
- 3. Evaluate the claimed effect of nutritional practice on sports performance
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Analyse and evaluate new data objectively
- 5. Synthesise the research literature
- 6. Work within a laboratory setting using standard nutritional techniques
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Plan and implement a course of scientific investigation
- 8. Study autonomously with minimal direction
Syllabus plan
• Introduction and overview
• Integration of metabolism
• Carbohydrate supplementation and optimising performance
• Fat intake – ω-3, ω-6 fatty acids and fat loading
• Protein requirements for endurance athletes
• Protein requirements for strength athletes
• Ergogenic aids: stimulants
• Ergogenic aids: anti-oxidants
• Ergogenic aids: alkalisers/buffers
• Ergogenic aids: recovery
• Ergogenic aids: training adaptation
In addition, as part of the practical component of the module, students will conduct at least 1 randomised controlled trial testing the efficacy of different nutritional supplementation approaches.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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44 | 106 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | Lectures |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | Seminar and laboratory sessions |
Guided Independent Study | 44 | Reading |
Guided Independent Study | 62 | Preparation for assessments |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Abbreviated laboratory report | 2 PowerPoint slides | 1, 3-5 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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60 | 40 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Laboratory report based on one of the two experimental investigations conducted during the laboratory sessions. The aim of this scientific report is to present a detailed analysis and discussion of the effects of the selected ergogenic aid. | 60 | Maximum of 1750 words | 1-6, 8 | Written |
Examination short answer questions | 40 | 1 hour | 1-5, 7 | Written |
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0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Laboratory report | Laboratory report | 1-6, 8 | August/September assessment period |
Examination short answer questions | Examination short answer questions | 1-5, 7 | August/September assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
The essential texts are on temporary reserve in the library. Given the advanced nature of the module, you are encouraged to use recent journal publications for follow-up reading, some of which will be available on ELE, rather than relying solely on standard texts. Below is a list of texts held on temporary reserve within the library:
- Jeukendrup, A.E., Gleeson, M (2018) Sports Nutrition 3rd edition. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, USA
- Burke, L.M., Deakin, V. (2015). Clinical Sports Nutrition, 5th edition. McGraw-Hill, London.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Credit value | 15 |
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Module ECTS | 7.5 |
Module pre-requisites | ESS1606 Nutrition and Metabolism |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 5 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 24/04/2013 |
Last revision date | 10/02/2023 |