Presenters: Brayden Koch
Authors: Brayden Koch, Jason Hailes, Alexa Lord
Faculty Advisor: Paul Pillitteri
Institution: Southern Utah University
Nutritional supplements are commonly used by collegiate athletes to improve their training and performance. Given the great variety of supplements and their benefits, many athletes consume multiple different supplements during their competitive season. These supplements, along with a vigorous training regimen, have the potential to put added stress on the kidneys, which can be measured using an athlete’s albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Albumin, a natural protein in the blood responsible for maintaining osmotic pressure, along with creatinine, a byproduct of muscle metabolism, are normally found in the urine at a ratio of <30 mg/g. Increased albumin levels producing an ACR >30 mg/g could suggest renal dysfunction in the subject. To understand the lifestyle choices of each athlete, each participant will complete a survey representing their individual supplement and exercise habits. A urine sample will be taken from each participant and analyzed to determine their ACR. Data will be analyzed to identify the potential correlation between lifestyle and renal health from the participants. From this study, we hope to better understand possible protein-induced renal dysfunction in athletes and demonstrate possible connections between protein supplements, exercise, and kidney function to help improve the health of today’s athletes.