McHaffie, SJ, Langan-Evans, C, Strauss, JA, Areta, JL, Rosimus, C, Evans, M, Waghorn, R and Morton, JP (2023) Under-Fuelling for the Work Required? Assessment of Dietary Practices and Physical Loading of Adolescent Female Soccer Players during an Intensive International Training and Game Schedule. Nutrients, 15 (21). pp. 1-15. ISSN 2072-6643

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Abstract

Previous studies demonstrate that “under-fuelling” (i.e., reduced carbohydrate (CHO) and energy intake (EI) in relation to recommended guidelines) is prevalent within adult female soccer players, the consequence of which may have acute performance and chronic health implications. However, the dietary practices of adolescent female soccer players, a population who may be particularly at risk for the negative aspects of low energy availability (LEA), are not well documented. Accordingly, we aimed to quantify EI and CHO intake, physical loading and estimated energy availability (EA) in elite national team adolescent female soccer players (n = twenty-three; age, 17.9 ± 0.5 years) during a 10-day training and game schedule comprising two match days on day six (MDa) and nine (MDb). The players self-reported their EI via the remote food photography method, whilst the physical loading and associated exercise energy expenditure were assessed via GPS technology. The relative CHO intake was significantly greater (all p < 0.05) on the day before the first match (MD-1a) (4.1 ± 0.8 g·kg−1), on the day before the second match (MD-1b) (4.3 ± 1.1 g·kg−1), MDa (4.8 ± 1.2 g·kg−1) and MDb (4.8 ± 1.4 g·kg−1) in comparison to most other days (<4 g·kg−1). The mean daily measured EA over the 10-day period was 34 ± 12 kcal·kg FFM−1·day−1 (with six players, i.e., 34%, presenting LEA), though, when adjusting the energy intake for potential under-reporting, these values changed substantially (44 ± 14 kcal·kg FFM−1·day−1, only one player was classed as presenting LEA). Such data suggest that the prevalence of LEA amongst female team sport athletes may be over-estimated. Nonetheless, players are still likely under-fuelling for the work required in relation to the daily CHO recommendations (i.e., >6 g·kg−1) for intensive training and game schedules. These data provide further evidence for the requirement to create and deliver targeted player and stakeholder education and behaviour change interventions (especially for younger athletes) that aim to promote increased daily CHO intake in female soccer players.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans; Dietary Carbohydrates; Physical Examination; Exercise; Energy Metabolism; Energy Intake; Soccer; Adolescent; Adult; Female; carbohydrate; energy availability; energy intake; Adult; Humans; Adolescent; Female; Soccer; Dietary Carbohydrates; Energy Intake; Physical Examination; Exercise; Energy Metabolism; 0908 Food Sciences; 1111 Nutrition and Dietetics
Subjects:	T Technology > TX Home economics > TX341 Nutrition. Foods and food supply R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport & Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	MDPI
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	10 Apr 2024 14:53
Last Modified:	10 Apr 2024 15:00
DOI or ID number:	10.3390/nu15214508
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/23008

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