Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Performance of Professional Football Athletes in Slovenia

Abstract

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.

Macronutrients Intake, and Performance of Professional Football Players from Morocco in a Pre-season Training Period

“…These groups exhibited the lowest performances (P < 0.01, F = 25.02) compared to the other groups. Our results were in line with similar studies previously conducted among elite or professional athletes, such as the investigation by Macuh et al [28], which also revealed a negative correlation between the percentage of energy from dietary fats and the distance covered in the Cooper test (p = 0.037). Within this study, it was observed that the proportion of energy derived from fats slightly exceeded the recommended thresholds.…”

The Effects of Nitrate Supplementation on Performance as a Function of Habitual Dietary Intake of Nitrates: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Elite Football Players

“…Some of the athletes reported having heard that beetroot juice could be beneficial but had no knowledge of how and why beetroot juice should be or could be used in the context of improving sports performance. This highlights the need for more structured sports nutrition counseling in the First Division of Slovenian football, which is in line with our previous research on nutrition in elite football players [43].…”

The different association between fat mass distribution and intake of three major nutrients in pre- and postmenopausal women

“…However, despite the growing body of research in this field, the precise relationships between the three major nutrients and body fat distribution in both preand post-menopausal adult women remain uncertain. Previous studies have investigated aspects of nutrient intake and body composition, yet limitations exist, including small sample sizes, inconsistent methodologies, and limited representation of diverse populations [14][15][16]. Many studies have primarily focused on the relationship between dietary factors and overall obesity without delving into the nuanced aspects of fat mass distribution and its implications for health outcomes [17,18].…”