ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite the well-documented importance of nutrition in optimizing performance and health, the dietary intake of soccer players has attracted little attention. AIM: We aimed to assess the pre-season dietary intake of professional soccer players and its adequacy in macro and micronutrients. METHODS: The pre-season dietary intake of 19 male athletes was assessed using a semi-structured 3-day food record. To determine dietary adequacy and excess, energy and macronutrient intake were compared with the Brazilian dietary reference values for athletes, and micronutrients were compared with the Estimated Average Requirement - EAR (minimum recommendation) and Tolerable Upper Intake Level - UL (maximum recommendation). RESULTS: Mean daily energy intake (40.74±12.81 kcal/kg) was adequate. However, there was a low carbohydrate intake (5.44±1.86 g/kg/day) and a high amount of protein and fat (1.91±0.75 and 1.27±0.50 g/kg/day, respectively). Sodium intake (3141.77±939.76 mg/day) was higher than UL (2300 mg/day), while the majority of players showed daily intake of vitamin A (74%), vitamin D (100%), folate (58%), calcium and magnesium (68%) below the EAR (625, 10 and 320 µg/day, 800 and 330 mg/day, respectively). CONCLUSION: The dietary intake of professional soccer players was adequate in energy, but inadequate in macro and micronutrients, which suggests the need to improve nutritional practices to sustain the physical demands of soccer during pre-season.
Subject(s)
Athletes , Diet, Healthy , Patient Compliance , Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Adolescent , Adult , Brazil/epidemiology , Deficiency Diseases/epidemiology , Deficiency Diseases/etiology , Deficiency Diseases/physiopathology , Deficiency Diseases/prevention & control , Diet Records , Diet, High-Protein Low-Carbohydrate/adverse effects , Energy Intake , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Recommended Dietary Allowances , Risk , Seasons , Severity of Illness Index , Soccer , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Many factors can influence an athlete to consume dietary supplements, such as age, sex and sports, among others. Few studies regarding the prevalence and associated factors are available for athletes, especially in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the factors associated with the consumption of dietary supplements among Brazilian athletes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 182 athletes of both sexes. The athletes answered a questionnaire containing sociodemographic and sports information, current consumption of supplements, consumption of pharmacological substances and information on body image disorder (Body Shape Questionnaire) and muscle dysmorphia (Muscle Appearance Satisfaction Scale). Analyses were performed using Pearson's Chi-squared test, the crude prevalence ratio (PR) and Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: In the bivariate analysis, the male gender, age between 25-29 years, engaging in a remunerated activity, consumption of pharmacological substances, body image disorder, risk of muscle dysmorphia, power modality athletes and lack of medical care were factors associated with supplement intake. After the regression analysis, the consumption of supplements was associated with the male gender (PR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.01; 2.78; p = 0.044), use of pharmacological substances (PR: 1.77; 95 %: 1.37; 2.27; p < 0.001) and the risk of muscle dysmorphia (PR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.37; 2.23; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this research clearly demonstrate the importance of professionals working closely with athletes to continuously monitor their use of supplements, since it was an alimentary behavior associated with other risk behavior (pharmacological use) as well as image disorders (muscle dysmorphia).
