Dietary analysis and body composition of male and female Costa Rican college soccer players

Abstract

Purpose: To determine macronutrient consumption and body composition in male and female college competitive soccer players. Methods: Participants were 22 male (mean age = 21.4 ± 1.9 yr.) and 19 female (mean age = 20.1 ± 1.7 yr.) varsity team soccer players who were interviewed for dietary assessment using a 7-day diet history questionnaire. Body composition was obtained by a full-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Total energy and macronutrient analysis was performed following the nutritional interview, and body height, weight, lean mass, fat mass (%), and intermuscular adipose tissue-free skeletal muscle mass (IMAT-SMM) were obtained from the DXA scan. Gender differences were obtained by independent samples t-tests. Results: Energy intake was higher in males (19 377 ± 5 514 kJ) than in females (13 066 ± 4 610 kJ; p ≤ 0.001). Carbohydrate intake was higher in males (10.3 ± 3.2 g/kg) than in females (7.9 ± 3.8 g/kg; p = 0.010). Protein intake was higher in males (2.2 ± 0.8 g/kg) than in females (1.6 ± 0.5; p = 0.031). Fat consumption was similar between males (1.9 ± 0.8 g/kg) and females (1.7 ± 0.6 g/kg; p = 0.117). Body height (176.0 ± 6.1 vs. 160.4 ± 3.4 cm), weight (69.3 ± 7.7 vs. 59.2 ± 6.5 kg), lean mass (26.0 ± 2.0 vs. 16.9 ± 1.4 kg), and IMAT-SMM (31.0 ± 2.3 vs. 20.2 ± 1.6 kg) mean values were higher in males than in females (p ≤ 0.001 for all). Fat mass was higher in females (31.4 ± 6.4 %) than in males (14.8 ± 5.2 %; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: An excessive energy and carbohydrate intake was found in both genders. Protein and fat intake were appropriate for both genders. Body composition in males showed similar values compared to previously reported literature; however, females showed poor body composition compared to international values.