Resting Energy Expenditure and Body Composition of an Elite Water

Polo Team

M. Marra

, R. Sammarco

, E. Speranza

O. Di Vincenzo

, I. Cioffi

, D. Morlino

and F. Pasanisi

1,2

Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy

Interuniversity Center of Obesity and Eating Disorders, Federico II University, Naples, Italy

1 OBJECTIVES

In the field of sport, it could be useful to evaluate the

changes in body composition and energy

consumption that may occur mainly in elite athletes.

(NIH Consensus Statement 1996, Gudivaka R 1999)

Bioelectrical impedance is a non-invasive and rapid

method for the evaluation of body water, since both

in literature and in scientific evidence a close

correlation was found between the variation of the

distribution of water in the various body

compartments (Marra M 2005, Marra M 2009) and

changes in muscle strength and hence the

performance-sports competitions.

On the other hand, the assessment of resting energy

expenditure in athletes could define more accurately

the dietary requirements of athletes.

Water polo is a dynamic and intermittent team sport,

requiring a high anaerobic effort. In the pool, players

swim from an extreme to the other of the swimming-

pool and perform high-intensity actions, such as

jumping, wrestling and sprinting.

The aim of this study was to evaluate resting energy

expenditure and body composition in an elite water

polo team national first league and to compare them

with a control group.

2 METHODS

We studied an elite water polo team formed by 10

male players (23.8±6.1 years, weight 89±5.2 kg,

height 185±3 cm, BMI 25.9±1.9 kg/m

) and 16

controls (25.8±8.8 years, weight 82.2±6.3 kg, height

179±5 cm, BMI 25.7±2.3 kg/m

)

Data were collected during the championship 2013-

2014; body weight, resting energy expenditure,

segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA),

hand grip muscle strength (Jamar dynamometer) were

measured early in the morning following standard

procedures. No special advice has been given as far

as food and water intake.

Height was measured to the nearest 0.1cm with a

stadiometer and body weight to the nearest 0.1 kg on

a balance beam scale with the subject barefoot and

wearing only light undergarments.

REE was measured by indirect calorimetry using a

canopy system (V max29; Sensormedics, Anaheim,

California) at an ambient temperature of 23 C-25C.

The instrument was checked by burning ethanol, and

oxygen and carbon dioxide analyzers were calibrated

using nitrogen and standardized gases (mixtures of

nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen). Subjects were

fasting (12-14 hours) and lying down on a bed in a

quiet environment. Females were in the

postmenstrual phase. After a 15-minute adaptation

period, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide

production were determined for 45 minutes. The

inter-day coefficient of variation (as determined in 6

obese individuals on subsequent days) was always

less than 3%. Energy expenditure was then calculated

employing the abbreviated Weir formula, neglecting

protein oxidation (Weir)

Bia parameters (resistance, reactance and phase

angle) were measured at 50 kHz (Human IM Plus II -

DS Medica srl, Milan, Italy) in the post-absorptive

state, at ambient temperature of 22–24°C, after

voiding and after being in the supine position for 20

min. with use of disposable pregelled adhesive

electrodes supplied with the instrument (validated by

DS Medica srl, Milan, Italy).

Body composition (Fat Free Mass: FFM, Fat Mass:

FAT) was evaluated by BIA while phase angle (PA)

was use to estimate the body water distribution

between the intra/extracellular spaces in total body

and limb (arms and legs).

The statistical analysis was performed using software

SPSS vers. 18. All data are presented as means ±

standard deviations (SD) and the statistical

significance level is defined as p < 0.05. One-way

ANOVA was used to compare data between groups.

Marra, M., Sammarco, R., Speranza, E., Vincenzo, O., Ciofﬁ, I., Morlino, D. and Pasanisi, F.

Resting Energy Expenditure and Body Composition of an Elite Water Polo Team.

In Extended Abstracts (icSPORTS 2018), pages 38-39

3 RESULTS

In table 1 are reported the individual characteristics

of the 28 participants.

Table 1: Individual characteristics in elite water polo

players and in control group.

Water Polo

(n. 12)

Control Group

(n. 16)

Age

years

23.8

6.1

25.8

8.8

Height

185*

179

Weight

89.0

5.2

82.2

6.3

BMI

kg/m²

25.7

1.9

25.7

2.3

*p < 0.05 vs Controls

REE measured and corrected for FFM (REE /FFM

kcal/kg/d) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than

control group (REE: 2255±297 vs 1936±256 kcal/d;

REE/FFM 31.3± 4.2 vs 29.3±1.9 kcal/kg). (Table 2)

FFM resulted (p< 0.05) higher in water polo team

than control group (FFM: 74.4±4.1 vs 65.9±7.2 kg)

whereas FAT mass resulted lower (p<0.05) in water

polo team than control group (FAT 14.6±2.8 vs

16.3±4.1 kg; 16.3±2.6 vs 19.9±5.1 %).

Table 2: Body composition and Resting Energy

Expenditure in elite water polo players and in control group.

Water Polo

(n. 12)

Control Group

(n. 16)

FFM

74.4*

4.1

65.9

7.2

FAT

14.6*

2.8

16.3

4.1

FAT

16.3*

2.6

19.9

5.1

REE

kcal/die

2255*

297

1936

256

0.845

0.05

0.857

0.07

REE/FFM

kcal/kg

31.3*

4.2

29.3

1.9

*p<0.05 vs Control group

Phase angle was significantly (p<0.05) higher in

water polo team than control group (PA: total 8.1±0.6

vs 6.8±0.6 degrees; legs 9.3±0.5 vs 6.7±1.0 degrees;

arms 6.2±0.6 vs 5.5±0.5 degrees).(Table 3) Mean

Hand grip maximal strength (48.2 ±2.9 kg) was

correlated (r= 0.762; p= 0.01) with FFM but not with

phase angle (r= 0.762; p= 0.01)

Table 3: Total and segmental (arm and leg) phase angle in

elite water polo players and in control group.

Water Polo

(n. 12)

Control Group

(n. 16)

Phase

Angle

Total

8.1*

0.6

6.8

0.6

Arms

6.2*

0.6

5.5

0.5

Legs

9.3*

0.5

6.7

1.0

*p < 0.05 vs Controls

4 DISCUSSION

In conclusion this study highlights how the BIA

analysis and in particular the phase angle can be used

to track changes in athletes, mainly in long-term

competitions or championships. (Silva 2010, Silva

2011). This preliminary study indicates a clear

modification both in body water distribution (total

and limb), both body composition (FFM and FAT)

and REE in absolute values also after correction with

FFM. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the

effect of body water distribution on athletes’

metabolism

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Resting Energy Expenditure and Body Composition of an Elite Water Polo Team