Volume 31, Issue 1 (3-2024)
RJMS 2024, 31(1): 1-11 |
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Research code: Review article
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Ghalavand A, Behzadinejad H, Mohammadpour M, Rahmani Ghobadi M, Rajai GhasemGheshlagi N, Shirzadi M. A Review of Football Players' Sports Nutrition: Protein. RJMS 2024; 31 (1) :1-11
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-8053-en.html
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-8053-en.html
Akbar Ghalavand * 
, Hafez Behzadinejad , Mehdi Mohammadpour , Marya Rahmani Ghobadi , Niloofar Rajai GhasemGheshlagi , Mohammad Shirzadi
, Hafez Behzadinejad , Mehdi Mohammadpour , Marya Rahmani Ghobadi , Niloofar Rajai GhasemGheshlagi , Mohammad Shirzadi
PhD in Exercise Physiology, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran , akbarghalavand@gmail.com
Abstract: (17 Views)
Bakcground & Aims: Physical training and competition in soccer significantly increase the need to receive macronutrients and micronutrients (1, 2). One of the environmental factors that can affect the performance of football players is nutritional factors, and nutritional strategies are among the most popular and available methods for improving performance, recovery and improving physiological changes in certain sports such as football (2). It should be noted that adaptations, initiated by exercise, can be enhanced or weakened by nutrition (3). The nutrition of football players should include the use of nutrition knowledge in a practical nutrition program that can guarantee adequate energy supply in accordance with the player's physical activity, the occurrence of recovery processes in the body, improving sports performance and proper health and well-being (2). Proteins and amino acids are an important part of a diet, and for this reason, they are the subject of much debate and controversy among athletes (4, 5). Considering the importance of nutrition in football and considering the importance of protein as one of the most important macronutrients in nutrition, the purpose of this research is to review the nutrition of football players, especially the role of protein in the nutrition of football players.
Methods: In the present review study, by searching the keywords of football, nutrition and protein from databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, etc., they were searched without time limit and the studies that met the conditions of entering the research were selected. The articles collected in this review were independently searched and reviewed by the authors, and the selected articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected and included in the study. Inclusion criteria included the specific relevance of protein in sports and studies on soccer players. The articles were screened based on PRISMA. In the first step, repeated studies were excluded. In the next step, the title and abstract of the articles were done by two authors (the first author and the responsible author) based on the entry and exit conditions, and the articles that were unrelated were removed. In the next step, the selected articles were reviewed by the authors.
Results: Protein intake should be optimized in all athletes to increase the efficiency of skeletal muscle's adaptive response to exercise to maximize performance capacity. Protein requirements in athletes have been investigated mainly by nitrogen balance methodology or by measuring the increase or decrease in muscle mass during dietary interventions (21). In addition, dietary protein is a key variable for lean body mass (LBM), which in turn can confer performance benefits to soccer players by improving strength and power output (22). Proteins play an important role in the diet of athletes and play a role in regulating muscle protein synthesis (MPS), weight control, growth stimulation and post-workout recovery. Among group sports athletes, proteins and amino acids are considered very important for performance (23). Despite the reports that show that there are comparable protein needs in athletes and adults with less activity, many studies have been conducted that show that the amount of protein in athletes is significantly higher (24). Protein intake should be optimized in all athletes to increase the efficiency of skeletal muscle's adaptive response to exercise to maximize performance capacity. Most studies evaluating dietary protein requirements have been conducted in men and have mostly involved resistance exercise. Protein requirements in athletes have been investigated mainly by nitrogen balance methodology or by measuring the increase or decrease in muscle mass during dietary interventions (21). According to the UEFA, to increase training adaptation, support recovery and stimulate MPS, the recommended protein intake is 1.6-2.2 g/kg body mass per day (25). Daily football training leads to skeletal muscle tissue and tendon damage. Due to the important role of protein in muscle growth and maintenance, football players should consume higher amounts of protein than the general population. According to the "food first" philosophy, it is easy to achieve the recommended level of protein intake (1.6-2.2 g/kg body weight per day) with a combined diet. The food-first philosophy states that nutrient consumption should come from whole foods and beverages, and there are situations where a “food-only” approach may not always be optimal for athletes (26). Under certain conditions (eg, dietary energy restriction, post-injury rehabilitation), athletes require a higher proportion of protein in the diet (27) to achieve the recommended amounts of nutrients in an athlete's diet and to Because of the difficulty in consuming large meals immediately after exercise, periodical supplementation with supplements may be considered. There is also evidence that protein nutrition may more effectively restore performance and strength in football players and provide antioxidant protection during a heavy game (4). In a recent study by Kwon et al., they examined protein intake characteristics among a group of NCAA D1 soccer players and assessed differences between male and female athletes. The results of this research showed that breakfast, lunch and dinner constitute 81.4% of the total daily protein intake. Most of the athletes (78.8%) consumed optimal amounts of protein at dinner, but these optimal amounts of protein were less at breakfast (11.1%) or lunch (47.2%). In addition, statistically significant gender-based differences in daily dietary protein intake, meal-specific protein amounts, and protein quality measures were identified. Findings indicate inadequate dietary protein intake patterns among collegiate football athletes (22).
Conclusion: In general, the present study shows the importance of protein in sports nutrition of football players. However, according to the UEFA statement, to increase training adaptation, support recovery and stimulate MPS, a protein intake of 1.6-2.2 g/kg body mass per day is recommended. However, various factors such as dietary protein digestion and amino acid absorption, visceral nitrogen retention, plasma amino acid availability, muscle perfusion and amino acid delivery to muscle, amino acid absorption by muscle, and intramuscular signaling that lead to to the activation of the protein kinetics of the muscle. As a result, the consumed amount, source and type of protein differently affects the profile of plasma amino acids and thus affects the amount and duration of the increase in muscle protein synthesis after a meal. In addition, the need for protein can be affected by various factors, including the amount of physical activity and training intensity, age, gender, and health of the digestive system. Accordingly, there is a need for more descriptive and interventional research to understand the needs of football players regarding the amount of consumption and the quality of proteins on the health and performance of football players.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Exercise Physiology
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