{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T14:28:24Z","timestamp":1785421704302,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"14","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,10]],"date-time":"2026-07-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783641600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100016337","name":"Department for the Economy","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100016337","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/0161w0r98","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: To assess the nutritional knowledge and dietary intake of Gaelic team sport athletes and investigate any association between nutrition knowledge and dietary intake. Methods: Male\/female athletes competing in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie, aged 18\u201340 years and training\/competing at least twice weekly, were recruited. Nutrition knowledge was assessed using the validated Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ). Dietary intake was assessed using a 4-day semi-quantitative food diary. Results: In total, 354 players (male n = 215, female n = 139; elite n = 133, sub-elite n = 221) completed the NSKQ; 53.1% had \u201cpoor\u201d knowledge (score \u226449%). Dietary intake was reported by 139 players (39.3%), whose mean knowledge was also \u201cpoor\u201d (49.9 \u00b1 13.1%), with scoring patterns identical to non-reporters. Participants scored \u201caverage\u201d in weight management, macronutrient, and alcohol subsections, and \u201cpoor\u201d in micronutrient, sports nutrition, and supplement subsections. Dietary intake was sub-optimal; 84.9% under-consumed energy (median deficit 755 kcal\/d [IQR \u22121085, \u2212115]), primarily due to insufficient carbohydrate intake (median 3.2 g\/kg\/d [IQR 2.6, 3.8]; only 20.9% met the 4\u20138 g\/kg\/d recommendation). Most participants met protein and fat recommendations, although few met vitamin D or fibre recommendations, and no female participant met the iron recommendation. Those with average or above knowledge were more likely to meet energy and fibre recommendations; no further significant associations were observed. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Gaelic team sport athletes lack nutrition knowledge, and their dietary intake appears sub-optimal in several respects. In unadjusted analyses, higher knowledge was modestly associated with meeting energy and fibre recommendations. These findings highlight the need for nutrition interventions, combining education with behaviour change strategies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu18142259","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,10]],"date-time":"2026-07-10T13:16:28Z","timestamp":1783689388000},"page":"2259","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Sub-Optimal Nutritional Knowledge and Dietary Intake in Gaelic Team Sport Athletes: Limited Associations Between Knowledge and Dietary Adequacy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-9155-3239","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christopher V.","family":"McDonald","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1861-3991","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emeir M.","family":"McSorley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6050-6415","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea M.","family":"McNeilly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Ulster University, York St., Belfast BT15 1ED, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0479-3314","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pamela J.","family":"Magee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Ipsos, B. (2025). Irish Sports Monitor 2024 Summary Report, Sport Ireland. Available online: https:\/\/www.sportireland.ie\/sites\/default\/files\/media\/document\/2025-09\/ISM%202024%20Summary%20Report%202024.pdf."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2021-0451","article-title":"Defining Training and Performance Caliber: A Participant Classification Framework","volume":"17","author":"McKay","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2505","DOI":"10.1007\/s11332-025-01541-4","article-title":"The Science of Gaelic Football Match-Play and Recommendations for Future Research Directions: A Narrative Review","volume":"21","author":"Timmons","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sport Sci. Health"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2292","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000001309","article-title":"Positional Match Running Performance in Elite Gaelic Football","volume":"30","author":"Malone","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McDonald, C.V., McSorley, E.M., McNeilly, A.M., and Magee, P.J. (2026). Narrative Review of the Nutritional Knowledge and Dietary Intake of Team Sport Athletes Including Potential Interventions for Improving Nutritional Knowledge. Nutr. Rev., nuag042.","DOI":"10.1093\/nutrit\/nuag042"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"690","DOI":"10.1177\/1747954120972841","article-title":"Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Intake of Hurlers","volume":"16","author":"Murphy","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Sci. Coach."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e39","DOI":"10.1017\/jns.2026.10107","article-title":"Nutritional Knowledge of Team Sport Athletes","volume":"15","author":"McDonald","year":"2026","journal-title":"J. Nutr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1465","DOI":"10.1007\/s00394-020-02341-x","article-title":"An Investigation of Dietary Intake, Nutrition Knowledge and Hydration Status of Gaelic Football Players","volume":"60","author":"McCrink","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"O\u2019Brien, L., Collins, K., and Amirabdollhian, F. (2021). Exploring Sports Nutrition Knowledge in Elite Gaelic Footballers. Nutrients, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13041081"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/24733938.2022.2029551","article-title":"Energy Availability and Macronutrient Intake in Elite Male Gaelic Football Players","volume":"7","author":"McGuire","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Med. Footb."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"416","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2019-101961","article-title":"UEFA Expert Group Statement on Nutrition in Elite Football. Current Evidence to Inform Practical Recommendations and Guide Future Research","volume":"55","author":"Collins","year":"2021","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jand.2015.12.006","article-title":"Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance","volume":"116","author":"Thomas","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Acad. Nutr. Diet."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-020-04516-0","article-title":"Low Energy Availability: History, Definition and Evidence of Its Endocrine, Metabolic and Physiological Effects in Prospective Studies in Females and Males","volume":"121","author":"Areta","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1186\/s12970-017-0182-y","article-title":"The Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ): Development and Validation Using Classical Test Theory and Rasch Analysis","volume":"14","author":"Trakman","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1186\/s12970-019-0293-8","article-title":"Modifications to the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSQK) and Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (ANSKQ)","volume":"16","author":"Trakman","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1186\/s12970-018-0223-1","article-title":"Development and Validation of a Brief General and Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire and Assessment of Athletes\u2019 Nutrition Knowledge","volume":"15","author":"Trakman","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2000). Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic, WHO. Available online: https:\/\/iris.who.int\/handle\/10665\/42330."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (2026, July 07). Saturated Fats and Health, Available online: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/saturated-fats-and-health-sacn-report."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (2026, July 07). Carbohydrates and Health, Available online: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/sacn-carbohydrates-and-health-report."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (2026, July 07). Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom, Available online: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/coma-reports."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (2026, July 07). Vitamin D and Health, Available online: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/sacn-vitamin-d-and-health-report."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1119","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ijo.0801376","article-title":"Critical Evaluation of Energy Intake Using the Goldberg Cut-Off for Energy Intake: Basal Metabolic Rate. A Practical Guide to Its Calculation, Use and Limitations","volume":"24","author":"Black","year":"2000","journal-title":"Int. J. Obes."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cohen, J. (2013). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, Routledge. [2nd ed.].","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203771587"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101831","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2020.101831","article-title":"Athlete Perspectives on the Enablers and Barriers to Nutritional Adherence in High-Performance Sport","volume":"52","author":"Bentley","year":"2021","journal-title":"Psychol. Sport Exerc."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hills, S.P., and Russell, M. (2018). Carbohydrates for Soccer: A Focus on Skilled Actions and Half-Time Practices. Nutrients, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu10010022"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1073","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2023-106994","article-title":"2023 International Olympic Committee\u2019s (IOC) Consensus Statement on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)","volume":"57","author":"Mountjoy","year":"2023","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1577","DOI":"10.1007\/s00394-016-1202-4","article-title":"Vitamin D3 Supplementation Using an Oral Spray Solution Resolves Deficiency but Has No Effect on VO2 Max in Gaelic Footballers: Results from a Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial","volume":"56","author":"Todd","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1861","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jand.2015.09.003","article-title":"Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Health Implications of Dietary Fiber","volume":"115","author":"Dahl","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Acad. Nutr. Diet."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1713","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114514000087","article-title":"Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Intake","volume":"111","author":"Spronk","year":"2014","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"V\u00e1zquez-Espino, K., Rodas-Font, G., and Farran-Codina, A. (2022). Sport Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes, Sources of Information, and Dietary Habits of Sport-Team Athletes. Nutrients, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14071345"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1186\/s12970-015-0082-y","article-title":"Nutritional Knowledge and Eating Habits of Professional Rugby League Players: Does Knowledge Translate into Practice?","volume":"12","author":"Alaunyte","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1123\/ijsnem.2015-0064","article-title":"Room for Improvement in Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Intake of Male Football (Soccer) Players in Australia","volume":"26","author":"Andrews","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Sport Nutr. Exerc. Metab."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fiorini, S., Neri, L.D., Guglielmetti, M., Pedrolini, E., Tagliabue, A., Quatromoni, P.A., and Ferraris, C. (2023). Nutritional Counseling in Athletes: A Systematic Review. Front. Nutr., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2023.1250567"},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"60","article-title":"The Effects of a Sports Nutrition Education Intervention on Nutritional Status, Sport Nutrition Knowledge, Body Composition, and Performance during Off Season Training in NCAA Division I Baseball Players","volume":"16","author":"Rossi","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1186\/1748-5908-6-42","article-title":"The Behaviour Change Wheel: A New Method for Characterising and Designing Behaviour Change Interventions","volume":"6","author":"Michie","year":"2011","journal-title":"Implement. Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113268","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nut.2026.113268","article-title":"A Review of Educational Interventions and Behavior Change Tools to Improve Nutritional Knowledge in Team Sport Athletes","volume":"150","author":"McDonald","year":"2026","journal-title":"Nutrition"},{"key":"ref_37","first-page":"539","article-title":"Methodology of Dietary Assessment in Athletes: Concepts and Pitfalls","volume":"6","author":"Magkos","year":"2003","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care"}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/14\/2259\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T04:42:23Z","timestamp":1784090543000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/14\/2259"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,10]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"14","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]}},"alternative-id":["nu18142259"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu18142259","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,10]]}}}