Legume-Enriched Mediterranean Diet and Cellular Hydration in Competitive Swimmers

Overview

This study investigates whether increasing legume consumption within a Mediterranean diet framework improves cellular hydration, autonomic regulation, and functional performance in competitive swimmers. Thirty-nine adolescent and young adult swimmers were monitored over a five-month competitive season under standardized training conditions. Participants were allocated to three groups according to habitual legume intake: a control group (\<1 serving/week, no dietary change), a moderate-intake group (≈2 servings/week increased to 3/week), and a high-intake group (≈3-4 servings/week increased to 6/week). Dietary counseling focused exclusively on adjusting legume intake, while overall training load and other dietary components were maintained. Primary outcomes include bioelectrical impedance-derived phase angle and body water distribution indices (extracellular water, intracellular water, ECW/ICW ratio) as markers of cellular health and hydration. Secondary outcomes include heart rate variability, cardiac coherence as indices of autonomic balance, and critical swim speed as a performance-related measure. The study aims to clarify whether a simple, sustainable increase in legume intake can support athletes' cellular integrity, autonomic function, and functional status without altering standard training programs.

This interventional study was conducted in competitive swimmers to evaluate the impact of higher legume consumption, within a Mediterranean diet framework, on markers of cellular health, body water distribution, autonomic regulation, and functional performance. Thirty-nine competitive swimmers (mean age approximately 20 years; both males and females) were enrolled and followed for five months during the first half of the competitive season. All athletes trained under similar standardized conditions, completing six weekly sessions that combined dry-land pre-activation, in-water training, and, in some sessions, gym-based strength work. At baseline, participants completed an online dietary assessment using the validated MEDI-LITE questionnaire to quantify adherence to the Mediterranean diet and habitual legume intake. Based on baseline legume consumption, swimmers were assigned to one of three groups: a control group (\<1 serving/week, no change in diet), a moderate-intake group (≈2 servings/week increased to 3 servings/week), and a high-intake group (≈3-4 servings/week increased to 6 servings/week). A qualified nutrition professional provided counseling to adjust only legume intake, while other aspects of diet were kept stable. Dietary adherence and legume consumption were monitored regularly throughout the study, and the MEDI-LITE questionnaire was repeated at the end of the intervention. The primary endpoints are phase angle and hydration indices derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis, including extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), and the ECW/ICW ratio, which are considered integrated markers of cellular integrity, cell mass, and fluid compartmentalization. Secondary endpoints include measures of autonomic function-heart rate variability and cardiac coherence-assessed with a standardized device, and a critical swim speed test performed in an indoor pool as a functional performance indicator. Anthropometric data and basic clinical information were also collected. The study was approved by the Lazio Area 5 Territorial Ethics Committee (Approval Code: N.57/SR/23) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki; all participants provided written informed consent before enrollment. By focusing on a feasible dietary modification (greater legume intake) within an otherwise stable Mediterranean-style eating pattern and unchanged training load, the study is designed to generate sport-specific evidence on whether plant-based protein sources such as legumes can enhance cellular hydration, autonomic regulation, and performance-related parameters in competitive athletes.