DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION IN ELITE FEMALE FOOTBALLERS

Supplement Consumption by Elite Soccer Players: Differences by Competitive Level, Playing Position, and Sex

Soccer is a sport practiced all over the world and whose practice begins in young athletes. Currently, the consumption of nutritional supplements is essential to achieve the maximum performance of players. The aim of this study was to describe the consumption of sports supplements (CSS) by elite soccer players and its association with their competitive level, playing position, and sex. A comparative descriptive and non-experimental study was performed during the 2021-2022 competitive season. A total of 70 elite players completed one online questionnaire about their CSS. We found that sports drinks (55.7%), sports bars (50.0%), whey protein (48.6%), caffeine (47.1%), and creatine (60.0%) were the most consumed supplements by the total sample. Relative to the categories, the CSS was higher in the senior teams for both men and women. Regarding playing positions, caffeine was more consumed by midfielders and forwards (p = 0.013). Finally, in relation to sex, significant differences were found in the consumption of sports confectionery (p = 0.036), whey protein (p = 0.002), β-alanine (p = 0.013), and melatonin (p = 0.016). Soccer club SS questionnaires gather data to understand patterns, assess effectiveness and risks, and aid research. In conclusion, differences were found in the CSS according to competitive level, sex, and playing position.

Competitive season effects on polyunsaturated fatty acid content in erythrocyte membranes of female football players

BACKGROUND

An optimal and correctly balanced metabolic status is essential to improve sports performance in athletes. Recent advances in omic tools, such as the lipid profile of the mature erythrocyte membranes (LPMEM), allow to have a comprehensive vision of the nutritional and metabolic status of these individuals to provide personalized recommendations for nutrients, specifically, the essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, individuating deficiencies/unbalances that can arise from both habitual diet and sportive activity. This work aimed to study the LPMEM in professional female football players during the football season for the first time and compare it with those defined as optimal values for the general population and a control group.

METHODS

An observational study was carried out on female football players from the Athletic Club (Bilbao) playing in the first division of the Spanish league. Blood samples were collected at three points: at the beginning, mid-season, and end of the season for three consecutive seasons (2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022), providing a total of 160 samples from 40 women. The LPMEM analysis was obtained by GC-FID by published method and correlated to other individual data, such as blood biochemical parameters, body composition, and age.

RESULTS

We observed a significant increase in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p 0.048) and total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (p 0.021) in the first season. In the second season, we observed a buildup in the membrane arachidonic acid (AA) (p < .001) and PUFA (p < .001) contents when high training accumulated. In comparison with the benchmark of average population values, 69% of the football players showed lower levels of omega-6 dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), whereas 88%, 44%, and 81% of the participants showed increased values of AA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and the ratio of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (SFA/MUFA), respectively. Regarding relationships between blood biochemical parameters, body composition, and age with LPMEM, we observed some mild negative correlations, such as AA and SFA/MUFA ratio with vitamin D levels (coefficient = -0.34 p = .0019 and coefficient = -.25 p = .042); DGLA with urea and cortisol (coefficient = -0.27 p < .006 and coefficient = .28 p < .0028) and AA with age (coefficient = -0.33 p < .001).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, relevant variations in several fatty acids of the membrane fatty acid profile of elite female football players were observed during the competitive season and, in comparison with the general population, increased PUFA contents were confirmed, as reported in other sportive activities, together with the new aspect of DGLA diminution, an omega-6 involved in immune and anti-inflammatory responses. Our results highlight membrane lipidomics as a tool to ascertain the molecular profile of elite female football players with a potential application for future personalized nutritional strategies (diet and supplementation) to address unbalances created during the competitive season.

The effects of collagen peptides on exercise-induced gastrointestinal stress: a randomized, controlled trial

PURPOSE

We examined the effects of collagen peptides (CP) supplementation on exercise-induced gastrointestinal (GI) stress.

METHODS

In a randomized, crossover design, 20 volunteers (16 males: [Formula: see text]O_2max, 53.4 ± 5.9 ml·kg^-1) completed 3 trials: a non-exercise rest trial, with no supplement (REST) and then an exercise trial with CP (10 g·day^-1) or placebo control (CON) supplements, which were consumed for 7 days prior to, and 45 min before, a 70 min run at 70-90% of [Formula: see text]O_2max. Outcome measures included urinary lactulose and rhamnose (L/R), intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), anti-LPS antibody, monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin (IL) 6 and 8, cortisol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (measured pre, 10 min post and 2 h post) and subjective GI symptoms.

RESULTS

There were no differences in heart rate, perceived exertion, thermal comfort, or core temperature during exercise in the CP and CON trials (all P > 0.05). I-FABP was higher in CP (2538 ± 1221 pg/ml) and CON (2541 ± 766 pg/ml) vs. REST 2 h post (1893 ± 1941 pg/ml) (both P < 0.05). LPS increased in CON vs. REST 2 h post (+ 71.8 pg/ml; P < 0.05). Anti-LPS antibody decreased in CON and CP vs. REST at post (both P < 0.05). There were no differences in MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 between the CP and CON trials (all P > 0.05), and no differences in L/R or GI symptoms between CON and CP (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Collagen peptides did not modify exercise-induced changes in inflammation, GI integrity or subjective GI symptoms but LPS was higher in CON 2 h post-exercise and thus future studies may be warranted.

Vitamin D deficiency in athletes: Laboratory, clinical and field integration

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in athletes. Increased utilisation and storage depletion may be key contributing factor. We found a higher prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy (deficiency/ insufficiency) in power than endurance sport athletes, which may be related to vitamin D utilisation and reserve in skeletal muscles.

Lower limb injuries in an english professional football club: injury analysis and recommendations for prevention

BACKGROUND

Lower limb injuries constitute a problem in the sport of football. Our aim is to explore patterns and trends of lower limb injuries in an English professional football club.

METHODS

This is a descriptive epidemiological study. Reports provided by the club's physical therapy team were screened for injuries among professional football players sustained over four seasons, from 2015/2016 to 2018/2019. Data included setting of injury (in-match or training), anatomical location of injury, type of injury, number of days off and month of injury.

RESULTS

A total of 296 lower limb injuries were recorded in our study, with a rate of 11.14 per 1000 football hours. Injury rate during games was 51.38 per 1000 football hours, significantly greater than that during training at 3.81 per 1000 football hours (p = 0.021). The thigh was significantly the most commonly injured location at 4.67 per 1000 football hours (p < 0.001). Grade I tears were the most common injury type at 1.73 per 1000 football hours, significantly greater than grade III tears (p = 0.027), contusions (p = 0.043), fractures (p = 0.02), and lacerations (p = 0.019). Injury rates were found to be greatest during preseason and declined as season progressed. On average, an injury sidelined the affected footballer for a total of 20 days.

CONCLUSION

Lower limb injuries were more common during matches than training. The thigh is the most common injury location, and grade I muscle tear was the most common type of injury. Injury rates were higher early on in the season. Potential prevention strategies include spacing out competition, adopting training and exercise regimens that cater for recovery, and increasing research regarding injury mechanisms.

Sportsmen's Attitude towards Dietary Supplements and Nutrition Knowledge: An Investigation in Selected Roman Area Gyms

The non-professional sport environment is a grey zone not as widely assessed as that of elite athletes. The purpose of this research was to investigate the dietary supplementation habits and the nutrition knowledge on sport (NKS) in a sample of gym users. The level of adequacy of NKS was set at ≥60% of correct answers. Almost half (46.4%) of respondents stated they used food supplements, in particular multivitamins (31.0%), amino acid pills (29.5%), minerals (29.1%), and protein powders (28.7%). Supplements were used to increase muscle mass (36.9%) and to repair muscle (35.1%). Gym trainers were the preferred source of information on the use of supplements, especially in males (84%). The NKS correct response rate was 57.1% and the proportion of respondents with a sufficient level of NKS was 47.3%. The prevalence of correct answers was highest in males (61.5%) and for respondents with the highest educational attainment levels (44.5% and 53%). This study demonstrated that non-professional sportsmen do not have sufficient knowledge of nutrition and that the gym environment does not facilitate the circulation of the correct information on the role of supplementation. Considering the importance of nutrition for sportsmen, it is necessary to put in place actions aimed at increasing the knowledge of nutrition of gym users and their trainers.