{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,9]],"date-time":"2026-07-09T04:22:43Z","timestamp":1783570963977,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,29]],"date-time":"2025-01-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738108800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Ultramarathon runners exceed the physical activity guidelines and in doing so are constantly exposed to physical and metabolic demands, requiring strategic dietary practices to support training, performance, and recovery. This study aimed to assess the diet quality and nutrient intake in runners enrolled in an Australian-based ultramarathon. Methods: A 3-day food diary was collected using the Australian smartphone application \u2018Easy Diet Diary\u2019 during both peak and taper periods. Macronutrient and micronutrient intakes were analysed using the AUSNUT 2011\u20132013 food composition database within the Foodworks professional software, and diet quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index for Australians (HEIFA-2013). Results: A total of 26 runners participated in the study. The results revealed that, although runners met or exceeded protein recommendations, their carbohydrate intake fell short of endurance-specific guidelines, whilst total dietary fat intake exceeded recommendations (excluding long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids). Diet quality scores averaged 63.1 out of 100, reflecting moderate alignment with dietary recommendations. Fruit, vegetable, and wholegrain food groups were inadequately consumed. Conclusions: The findings indicate that ultramarathon runners who easily exceed physical activity recommendations, may paradoxically consume suboptimal diets, characterized by insufficient intake of core food groups such as whole grains and fruits, alongside excessive consumption of discretionary items. This dietary pattern may not only elevate their risk of chronic disease but also impair optimal performance by compromising recovery and adaptation to training. Further research is warranted to better understand the dietary behaviors and nutritional needs of this population.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17030485","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,29]],"date-time":"2025-01-29T03:26:10Z","timestamp":1738121170000},"page":"485","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The Diet Quality of Ultramarathon Runners Taking Part in an Australian Event: A Cross-Sectional Explorative Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5290-3952","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joel C.","family":"Craddock","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabriel","family":"Walker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Chapman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"My Health Pledge, Kittani St, Kirrawee, NSW 2232, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5935-7328","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kelly","family":"Lambert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8279-1787","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gregory E.","family":"Peoples","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.32855\/fcapital.201301.006","article-title":"The Spirit of the Trail: Culture, Popularity and Prize Money in Ultramarathoning","volume":"10","author":"David","year":"2013","journal-title":"Fast Capital."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"851","DOI":"10.1080\/13813455.2020.1733025","article-title":"Nutritional interventions for improving the endurance performance in athletes","volume":"128","author":"Ravindra","year":"2022","journal-title":"Arch. 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