2008 Woodie Awards
Swim team selected for protein tests
Sara Nylin
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: Health
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The biology and athletic training departments will be conducting a series of new tests on the swim team.
Robert J. Sullivan, M.D., medical technology professor and Sally Perkins, M.D., chair of the athletic training department have joined together and created a pre-albumin test. If the project is successful, athletes will know if they are getting enough protein in their diet or if they should be taking supplements to improve their performance.
The test is being conducted on 14 volunteer swimmers under strict confidentiality. It consists of three separate blood tests at the beginning, middle and end of their rigorous season. Three days before each test, the swimmers must record everything that they put into their body, including meals, snacks, water, and even drugs or supplements.
"Even alcohol will affect the nutritional status," said Sullivan.
The confidentiality factor of the testing is stressed because it allows for complete honesty from the students, which is necessary to get accurate data. Each swimmer is identified by a number and Sullivan is the only one who knows which number matches with which athlete.
Swimmer Joe Pilewski said that the hardest part was just remembering what you ate for the three days before the test.
"But with the amount of effort we put in, the results could definitely be worth it," said Pilewski. "It's good to know the do's and dont's of eating and how it really impacts me."
Although referred to as the pre-albumin test, Sullivan explained that it has nothing to do with albumin. It involves thyroid binding globulin, which stores thyroid hormones until they are needed.
"It's one of the more important macromolecules and can be used as a tool to estimate if they (athletes) need to take a supplement to improve performance," said Sullivan.
Perkins and Sullivan developed the project from Sullivan's healthcare background and Perkins' strong connection with Marist athletes. They considered all the athletic teams, and finally decided on the swim team.
Robert J. Sullivan, M.D., medical technology professor and Sally Perkins, M.D., chair of the athletic training department have joined together and created a pre-albumin test. If the project is successful, athletes will know if they are getting enough protein in their diet or if they should be taking supplements to improve their performance.
The test is being conducted on 14 volunteer swimmers under strict confidentiality. It consists of three separate blood tests at the beginning, middle and end of their rigorous season. Three days before each test, the swimmers must record everything that they put into their body, including meals, snacks, water, and even drugs or supplements.
"Even alcohol will affect the nutritional status," said Sullivan.
The confidentiality factor of the testing is stressed because it allows for complete honesty from the students, which is necessary to get accurate data. Each swimmer is identified by a number and Sullivan is the only one who knows which number matches with which athlete.
Swimmer Joe Pilewski said that the hardest part was just remembering what you ate for the three days before the test.
"But with the amount of effort we put in, the results could definitely be worth it," said Pilewski. "It's good to know the do's and dont's of eating and how it really impacts me."
Although referred to as the pre-albumin test, Sullivan explained that it has nothing to do with albumin. It involves thyroid binding globulin, which stores thyroid hormones until they are needed.
"It's one of the more important macromolecules and can be used as a tool to estimate if they (athletes) need to take a supplement to improve performance," said Sullivan.
Perkins and Sullivan developed the project from Sullivan's healthcare background and Perkins' strong connection with Marist athletes. They considered all the athletic teams, and finally decided on the swim team.