Sports Dietitians Knowledge And Perception Of Nutritional Genomics And The Enhancement Of Athletic Performance

The purpose of this study was to investigate sports dietitians' knowledge of nutritional genomics and their perceptions of nutritional genomics for enhancing athletic performance. The study was an online voluntary response sampling of Registered Dietitians (n=6219) from the membership database of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Participants completed a questionnaire composed of 3 sections designed to investigate: (1) Demographics; (2) Knowledge of genetics and diet-gene interactions; (3) Perceptions of nutritional genomics for enhancing athletic performance. For statistical analysis, participant demographic characteristics were used to differentiate between Sports Dietitians (SRDs) and Non-Sports Dietitians (NSRDs). Results of the study indicate that Total Knowledge Scores (TKS) among SRDs were significantly greater than NSRDs; however, there were only six knowledge questions to which >50% of the participants answered correctly. Increases in TKS correlated with increases in Perception scores, and SRDs responses to the six Perception items were significantly greater than responses from NSRDs. Overall, there was a weak to moderate positive correlation for SRDs and NSRDs between TKS and the six Perception items. The results indicate that more knowledge of genetics and diet-gene interactions is needed for all dietitians in order for them to feel comfortable and confident in the advancing field of nutritional genomics. Both SRDs and NSRDs agree that there is a need for continuing research in nutritional genomics.