Dietary Intake of Soccer Players before, during and after an Official Game: Influence of Competition Level and Playing Position.

ABSTRACT

Physical demands in soccer differ according to league level and playing position and may influence nutritional requirements. This study examined the effect of competition level and playing position on dietary intake in male soccer players (SP). Diet was weighed and recorded by 123 SP for 3 days; before, on the day, and the day after an official match. SP in the Super League (SL, n = 33) division reported higher (p < 0.05) average three-day energy (195 ± 36 kJ/kg), carbohydrate (6.0 ± 1.1 g/kg), and protein (2.2 ± 0.5 g/kg) intakes compared to the intakes reported by SP in the 2nd (n = 30) (energy 159 ± 31 kJ/kg; carbohydrate 4.6 ± 1.2 g/kg; protein 1.9 ± 0.4 g/kg), 3rd (n = 30) (energy 153 ± 34 kJ/kg; carbohydrate 4.5 ± 1.2 g/kg; protein 1.7 ± 0.4 g/kg), and 4th (n = 30) (energy 152 ± 36 kJ/kg; carbohydrate 4.2 ± 1.2 g/kg; protein 1.7 ± 0.5 g/kg) national leagues (mean ± SD). Furthermore, when data were analyzed by playing position (pooled data), wide midfielders reported higher (p < 0.05) energy (183 ± 33 kJ/kg), carbohydrate (5.4 ± 1.2 g/kg), and fat (1.5 ± 0.4 g/kg) intakes compared to central defenders (energy 147 ± 37 kJ/kg; carbohydrate 4.1 ± 1.1 g/kg; fat 1.2 ± 0.4 g/kg). The dietary intake of SP may differ according to the playing position and competition level, possibly due to different metabolic demands in training and competition.