Discussion
metabolic and neuromuscular response, eating disorders, injuries, anemia
ANEMIA
Given the growing popularity of women’s soccer, its physically demanding nature and the high incidence of injuries, various approaches to optimize performance and decrease injury risk and severity have been explored in the scientific literature. Athletes need to consume enough energy to ensure an effective metabolic and neuromuscular response, and thus, develop sport-specific demands [Regarding energy intake, several studies have also reported an insufficient intake in female soccer players [When implementing any nutritional intervention, previous individual NK should be considered [It is widely known that nutritional interventions lead to significant anthropometric modifications, which are directly related to athletes’ performance. In the case of our intervention, both EG and CG were intended for modify fat mass, since it exceeded previous registers of professional and semi-professional female soccer players [Vertical jump and sprint performance have been shown to be directly related to body composition [In addition to the abovementioned large-scale changes induced by the nutritional approach, large changes also occur at biological level. According to our results in biochemical variables, significant differences were only found in cortisol and haemoglobin. Cortisol is considered a marker of exercise-related stress and balance between anabolic and catabolic processes. The promoted stress at the end of the season, the highest competitive demand and decisive competitions may impact on cortisol levels [Several potential delimitations are worthy of mention. The study was conducted over 12 weeks, and whilst relatively some changes in anthropometric variables and some biochemical values were observed, it would be of interest to test long-term effects after longer intervention periods and in other outcomes, such as measurement of body composition by a gold standard method (e.g., Dual–energy X ray absorptiometry) and evaluation of post-intervention dietary intake. In addition, although the sample was homogeneous with respect to age, sex, training level and training experience, it remains unknown whether similar results would be found in female soccer players of different chronological or training ages. Therefore, future studies need to improve methodological quality (e.g. assessment of adherence) and limit confounders (eg. menstrual cycle) to facilitate a deeper understanding of the effects of a nutritional intervention.The present study revealed the low nutritional knowledge shown by professional soccer players, which may affect their performance and health, since their total energy, CHO, PROT, fiber, and micronutrient intakes were below the current recommendations, while their total fat and saturated fat intakes were higher than those generally recommended. Exchanged diet was found to be more effective in increasing the nutritional knowledge of players. On the other hand, a 12-week controlled diet intervention was associated with an increase in haemoglobin concentration in female soccer players, which may play a crucial role in preventing anemia. Both dietary interventions resulted in a significant decrease in the sum of skinfolds, however, their effects on lean mass are still unknown.As previously stated, the participants’ baseline carbohydrate intake was less than the recommended amount. Considering that female athletes have a high incidence of eating disorders and a strong focus on weight control [