Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Performance of Professional Football Athletes in Slovenia
This is the first study to examine the nutritional status of professional Slovenian football players. This study aimed to analyze the dietary intake of elite football players during their preparation phase of the season and to investigate whether there is a relationship between energy and macronutri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/1/82 |
| _version_ | 1797431357212721152 |
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| author | Matjaž Macuh Jana Levec Nenad Kojić Bojan Knap |
| author_facet | Matjaž Macuh Jana Levec Nenad Kojić Bojan Knap |
| author_sort | Matjaž Macuh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This is the first study to examine the nutritional status of professional Slovenian football players. This study aimed to analyze the dietary intake of elite football players during their preparation phase of the season and to investigate whether there is a relationship between energy and macronutrient intake with body composition and physical performance. Twenty-three footballers completed a three-day dietary and physical activity diary and underwent body composition measurements via bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA). Fifteen participants also took part in the Cooper treadmill test to assess their physical performance in correlation with their nutritional intake. Football players had an energy intake that was significantly too low for their needs, reflecting low energy availability. The average carbohydrate (CHO) intake was below the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) recommendations, i.e., <4 g CHO/kg body weight (BW). Additionally, players had adequate intakes of protein and fat, and inadequate intakes of saturated fat, fiber, calcium and vitamin D. There was a positive correlation between protein intake and lean body mass. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between body fat mass and carbohydrate intake as well as between performance with the percentage of energy intake from fat. Results of this study highlight what aspects of nutrition might be improved upon in professional football players to maximize performance, longevity and body composition of athletes, as well as the necessity of a nutritionist role in this process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:43:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d1d93831d884b96a6f94c3af44b9070 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:43:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d1d93831d884b96a6f94c3af44b90702023-12-02T00:45:48ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-12-011518210.3390/nu15010082Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Performance of Professional Football Athletes in SloveniaMatjaž Macuh0Jana Levec1Nenad Kojić2Bojan Knap3Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 10, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 10, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 10, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Nephrology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloška 7, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaThis is the first study to examine the nutritional status of professional Slovenian football players. This study aimed to analyze the dietary intake of elite football players during their preparation phase of the season and to investigate whether there is a relationship between energy and macronutrient intake with body composition and physical performance. Twenty-three footballers completed a three-day dietary and physical activity diary and underwent body composition measurements via bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA). Fifteen participants also took part in the Cooper treadmill test to assess their physical performance in correlation with their nutritional intake. Football players had an energy intake that was significantly too low for their needs, reflecting low energy availability. The average carbohydrate (CHO) intake was below the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) recommendations, i.e., <4 g CHO/kg body weight (BW). Additionally, players had adequate intakes of protein and fat, and inadequate intakes of saturated fat, fiber, calcium and vitamin D. There was a positive correlation between protein intake and lean body mass. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between body fat mass and carbohydrate intake as well as between performance with the percentage of energy intake from fat. Results of this study highlight what aspects of nutrition might be improved upon in professional football players to maximize performance, longevity and body composition of athletes, as well as the necessity of a nutritionist role in this process.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/1/82low energy availabilityrelative energy deficiency in sportenergy imbalancesports performancebody composition measurement |
| spellingShingle | Matjaž Macuh Jana Levec Nenad Kojić Bojan Knap Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Performance of Professional Football Athletes in Slovenia Nutrients low energy availability relative energy deficiency in sport energy imbalance sports performance body composition measurement |
| title | Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Performance of Professional Football Athletes in Slovenia |
| title_full | Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Performance of Professional Football Athletes in Slovenia |
| title_fullStr | Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Performance of Professional Football Athletes in Slovenia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Performance of Professional Football Athletes in Slovenia |
| title_short | Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Performance of Professional Football Athletes in Slovenia |
| title_sort | dietary intake body composition and performance of professional football athletes in slovenia |
| topic | low energy availability relative energy deficiency in sport energy imbalance sports performance body composition measurement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/1/82 |
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