Nurul Ichsania, Yade K Yasin, Nurfaidah Nurfaidah, Nur Alam
Adequate micronutrient intake is essential for supporting physiological processes related to aerobic capacity and speed performance in athletes, yet evidence regarding its association with cardiorespiratory endurance and sprint performance remains limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between selected micronutrient intake and cardiorespiratory endurance (VO2 max) and sprint speed in Sahabat Basketball Club athletes. A cross-sectional design was applied involving 20 athletes aged 17-19 years. Daily intake of iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, vitamin B1, and vitamin C was assessed using a 3×24-hour dietary recall. Cardiorespiratory endurance was evaluated using estimated VO2 max, while speed performance was measured through a 30-m sprint test. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the associations between micronutrient intake and performance outcomes. The results showed that iron and magnesium intake were strongly and positively correlated with VO2 max and negatively correlated with sprint time, indicating better aerobic capacity and faster sprint performance. Calcium intake was also significantly associated with both VO2 max and sprint speed. Zinc and vitamin B1 intake demonstrated moderate but significant relationships with aerobic capacity and speed, whereas vitamin C intake showed a weak association with VO2 max and no significant relationship with sprint performance. In conclusion, adequate intake of key micronutrients, particularly iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B1 is associated with improved cardiorespiratory endurance and sprint performance in athletes, highlighting the importance of micronutrient adequacy in sports nutrition strategies aimed at optimizing athletic performance. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2026.
Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia
