Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the energy expenditure and fulfillment of nutritional needs of female soccer players. Participants in this research were 41 professional soccer players from the three Polish female soccer league levels: Ekstraleague, I League and II League. The participants had their height and body mass measured. Total Energy Expenditure was measured by means of a SenseWear Pro3 Armband device. Data related to the food-intake energy values and the consumption of macro- and micronutrients were obtained through systematic recording of results, which was conducted over a three-day-long period at the start of the competitive season. The average age of the participants was 21 ± 5 years, the average height was 167.5 ± 5 cm, and the average body mass was 62.53 ± 9.8 kg. The average energy expenditure of the participants was 2811 ± 493 kcal/day, and their average energy intake was 1476 ± 434 kcal/day. The average consumption of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins was 199 ± 20.6, 47.3 ± 20.7, and 72.3 ± 24.2 g/day, respectively. There was a prevalence of inadequate intake of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iodine, vitamins D, E and B1, and folate in the diet of the examined group. The remaining micronutrients were consumed in the prescribed amounts by at least 50% of the examined group. The participants demonstrated low energy intakes, and consequently, low consumption of macronutrients and a large number of micronutrients.
Highlights
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world
Data related to the food-intake energy values and the consumption of macro- and micronutrients were obtained through systematic recording of results, which was conducted over a three-day-long period at the start of the competitive season
A total of 95.1% of the examined female soccer players did not fulfil the daily energy demand assessed by means of armbands, and 97.6% of the players did not fulfil the energy demand assessed on the basis of the requirements provided in the work of Brewer [14]
Summary
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. As its popularity is still increasing, the number of both male and female players is on the rise, too. In 2014, there were 30,145,700 women participating this sport, including 4,801,360 registered players [1]. Even though the number of female players is high, the International Federation of Association Football (Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA) is committed to increasing the rates of female soccer players. One of the most important factors benefiting physical efforts is diet. A well-balanced diet, which is calculated to satisfy the increased energy demand of athletes, should provide the body with a sufficient amount of macro- and micronutrients, and guarantee maximal physical efficiency during training and competition [3]. For people participating in competitive sports, proper nutrition constitutes one of main determinants of the achieved results during sports competitions [4], whereas the excess or deficit of some nutrients may negatively affect the results [5]
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