Metabolomic profiles and antioxidant intake in female soccer players:a cross‑sectional study
A summary of the research:
This study looked into the diet and body chemistry of professional female soccer players to understand how their intake of important antioxidants affects their health and performance. When athletes play intensely, their bodies produce unstable molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause stress and hurt performance or recovery. A diet rich in antioxidants helps the body fight this stress. However, there isn't much specific research on female athletes, and many nutritional guidelines are based on studies of male players, even though male and female athletes have different physical demands and responses. The researchers aimed to see if female players were getting enough antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, as well as minerals like selenium, zinc, and magnesium, and how these nutrients related to markers of oxidative stress in their bodies.
The study involved 14 professional female soccer players, tracking their food intake for 11 days during preseason and collecting urine samples before and after six games over a 10-week season. The results showed that most athletes were not consuming enough of certain antioxidant micronutrients, specifically vitamins A, E, magnesium, and zinc, though vitamin C and selenium intake were generally adequate. Using advanced testing called metabolomics, the study found that specific markers of oxidative stress, such as malonic acid, pyruvate, and glycine, were strongly linked to the athletes' intake of these vitamins and minerals, especially before games. This suggests that what female players eat daily has a direct impact on their body's ability to manage stress and recover from intense soccer matches.
Here are three key practical takeaways from the article's results for women's soccer coaches and administrators:
Prioritize Individualized Nutritional Assessment for Antioxidant Intake: The study found that most female professional soccer players had inadequate intake of key antioxidant micronutrients, including vitamins A, E, zinc, and magnesium. This highlights a significant gap where current dietary habits are likely not supporting optimal health and performance. Coaches and administrators should work with qualified nutritionists to conduct thorough dietary assessments for their female athletes and implement individualized nutritional plans or targeted supplementation to ensure adequate intake of these crucial antioxidants, which can help counteract the oxidative stress from intense training and games.
Recognize the Direct Link Between Diet and Oxidative Stress Management: The research revealed clear associations between the athletes' habitual intake of antioxidants and specific metabolites (like malonic acid, pyruvate, and glycine) related to oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses. This means that what athletes eat directly influences their body's ability to manage the physiological stress of soccer. Coaches should emphasize the importance of a nutrient-dense diet rich in antioxidants as a fundamental strategy for performance, recovery, and injury prevention, rather than just focusing on macronutrients.
Avoid Generalizing Male-Based Nutritional Guidelines to Female Athletes: The study reinforces that nutritional guidelines for male athletes should not simply be applied to female athletes due to inherent biological differences, including how their bodies experience and respond to oxidative stress. Furthermore, the study points out that menstrual cycle and hormonal fluctuations, which influence antioxidant function, were not controlled for in this research, indicating a known complexity unique to female physiology that is often overlooked in sports science. Coaches and administrators should advocate for and support female-specific nutritional research and guidance, and encourage discussions with athletes and nutrition staff about how factors like the menstrual cycle might impact dietary needs and performance.
Authors: M. M. S. Gouveia, M. B. A. Nascimento, A. C. Crispim, E. R. da Rocha Jr., M. P. P. Santos, E. S. Bento, T. M. Aquino, P. Balikian Jr., N. A. Rodrigues, T. Ataide‑Silva, G. G. de Araujo, & F. A. B. Sousa
You can read the entire article here.
