Effects of dietary supplements on athletic performance in elite soccer players: a systematic review

Abstract

Dietary supplements are widely used among athletes, and soccer players are no exception. Nevertheless, evidence supporting the use of dietary supplements aiming to enhance performance in soccer is somewhat contradictory, scarce, or even nonexistent. Thus, the present study aimed to systematically review and synthesize the effects of dietary supplements on athletic performance (e.g. distance covered, sprinting, jump performance) in elite soccer players. Studies enrolling highly trained, elite, and world-class soccer players using dietary supplements were searched in MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO databases in June 2022. In total, 1043 studies were identified, and 18 met the eligibility criteria. The studies evaluated the impacts on athletic performance of several dietary supplements, including caffeine, creatine, protein, beverages with carbohydrates and electrolytes, tart cherry juice, nitrate-rich beetroot juice, sodium bicarbonate with minerals, yohimbine, and a proprietary nutraceutical blend. Caffeine supplementation in doses between 3 and 6 mg/kg of body mass may improve jump height and sprint ability, particularly in female players, but individual response to caffeine must be considered. Creatine may improve sprint, agility, and in female players, jump performance. Protein supplementation can improve sprint and jump performance between matches, especially if protein ingested from food is not up to recommendations. Beverages containing carbohydrates and electrolytes can be used as part of the strategies to achieve carbohydrate intake during training and match-days but used alone do not benefit athletic performance. Tart cherry juice might be useful for maintaining athletic performance after matches that produce higher force loss and exercise-induced muscle damage, although polyphenols from the diet might attenuate the effects of tart cherry supplementation. Nitrate-rich beetroot concentrate can attenuate performance decrease in the days following matches. Further investigation with sodium bicarbonate alone is necessary, as supplementation protocols with elite players included other substances. Finally, the available data does not support yohimbine supplementation or the use of Resurgex Plus® to improve athletic performance in elite soccer players. Still, more well-designed research with elite soccer players is needed to improve support and advice regarding the use of dietary supplements for athletic performance enhancement.

Advances in Understanding the Interplay between Dietary Practices, Body Composition, and Sports Performance in Athletes

“…Also, carbohydrates are crucial for refilling glycogen stores, and complex alternatives are preferred [ 156 ]. Incorporating nutritious fats from sources such as avocados, almonds, and olive oil enhances overall well-being and facilitates the process of recuperation [ 157 ]. Additionally, proper hydration is essential, necessitating the replenishment of lost fluids through water or sports drinks in order to maximize performance and facilitate recovery.…”

Personality Determinants Related to the Use of Selective and Effective Dietary Supplements by Elite Polish Team Sport Athletes

“…The high prevalence of isotonic drink consumption is justified by its significance in effective hydration of the body, and also maintaining water as well as electrolyte balance in conditions of physical effort, while accelerating post-workout glycogen resynthesis [ 34 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. Gel (65–70% carbohydrates) and carbohydrate bars used by the studied athletes were justified in the context of their significance for the rapid replenishment and levelling of energy reserves and losses.…”

“…This could be conducive to effective muscle work, delaying fatigue of the central nervous system and intensifying the pace of post-performance recuperation. In turn, the intake of protein nutrients as a source of building ingredients, in a condensed and well-absorbed form, could be conducive to effectively balancing cell protein losses and post-workout muscle regeneration [ 27 , 34 ]. Also, the frequent intake of vitamin and mineral supplements was important, given the role of the components in regulating the maintenance and restoration of the body’s homeostasis in conditions of physical exertion [ 34 , 49 ].…”

“…Antioxidant vitamins and polyphenols increase the antioxidant potential of cells while providing protection against the effects of intensified oxidative stress which tends to develop in athletes. Mineral salt supplementation could have a significant impact on the regulation of water, electrolyte and acid–base management as well as neuromuscular excitability and haematopoietic processes [ 34 , 49 ]. The significance of vitamins D and E for well-being and regeneration was confirmed among basketball players [ 54 ].…”

“…The literature available on the functional properties of individual supplements, including ergogenic aids, is highly extensive [ 11 , 12 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. In numerous studies, the use of supplements by athletes of various disciplines is described in detail [ 34 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. However, there are fewer research works on the individual conditions of athletes using these measures.…”