Respiratory Health and Nutritional Strategy for Competitive Swimmers

Abstract

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese. There is growing interest in the potentially harmful effects in swimming pools, and the potential for swimming-related health hazards, which is gaining importance in competitive swimmers. This review was focused to discuss the following topics: (1) prevalence of respiratory difficulties in swimmers; (2) the possible factors and mechanisms which lead to the development of airway disorders in elite swimmers; (3) diet and nutrient supplementation for the management and prevention of airway problems. Summaries were concluded in this review according to the current knowledge of the respiratory problems in swimmers: (1) a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms and respiratory diseases in the elite swimmer population; (2) the potentially harmful effects in airway epithelial damage and lung permeability may caused by exposure in cold air, chlorinated products in swimming pools, and high intensity training in swimmers. (3) Observational studies have reported associations between airway symptoms and nutritional intervention (i.e. polyunsaturated fatty acid, dietary antioxidants, and vitamin D), which may have application for promoting health and sports performance for swimmers. 運動選手(如游泳選手)發生呼吸系統疾病問題逐漸受到重視，本篇綜評旨在討論下列課題：(1)選手發生呼吸道疾病之發生率；(2)發生呼吸疾病之可能原因及機轉；(3)飲食與營養補充對減低呼吸疾病症狀之探討。統整相關文獻後，獲以下結語：(1)游泳選手發生呼吸道疾病之情形高於其他運動者(如：冬季運動項目、短跑與長跑等)；(2)長期處於含氯物質及其氯產物環境，對吸呼道黏膜及肺組織將有所傷，而冷空氣環境及高強度訓練模式，亦是增加游泳選手發生呼吸道不適症狀的影響因素；(3)多元不飽和脂肪酸、抗氧化物質及維生素D等營養素，在減低呼吸疾病臨床研究上證實有改善效益，對於呼吸道疾病發生率較高的游泳選手而言，應是不錯的飲食及營養補充介入不錯的選擇。