Assessment of energy deficiency in university soccer players

Abstract

Abstract Worldwide, athletes have become increasingly concerned about becoming emaciated in recent years. Moreover, university athletes who continue to train at a high intensity are more likely to be undernourished due to intense nutrient depletion and frequent dietary deficiencies. We therefore investigated energy deficits through a dietary survey of athletes in order to determine whether their ability to self-manage food varied according to their athletic ability. Thirty-four participants who were members of a university soccer club were included in this study. To assess self-management ability based on athletic ability, athletes were divided into two groups: a high athletic ability group (group A) and a general athletic ability group (group B). We found that hemoglobin levels were 15.7 (SD 1.3) g/dl for group A and 15.5 (0.8) g/dl for group B, with no anemic subjects in either group. Group A had significantly higher serum ferritin levels than group B. A nutritional assessment showed that group A had significantly higher levels of energy, protein, carbohydrate, iron, vitamin B2, vitamin C, and dietary fiber than group B. When athletes' nutrient intake was compared to their nutritional intake goals, group A met more items than group B. In addition, a comparison of PFC rates (Protein: Fat: Carbohydrate as % of total energy) showed that group A was within the target amounts, whereas group B had a higher percentage of fat. These results suggest that group A was more capable of self-management of their diet than group B.