Title: Dietary practices of soccer athletes registered at the University of Limpopo, limpopo province, South Africa

Abstract

Background: There is a growing number of athletes participating in soccer sports within the higher institutions of learning. However, studies involving the dietary practices of these athletes remain relatively scarce. Objective: To determine the dietary practices of soccer athletes registered at the University of Limpopo, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methodology: This was a descriptive quantitative study, which adopted a purposive sampling technique to obtain 31 out of 40 registered soccer athletes representing the University of Limpopo as a team. The approval was obtained from the Turfloop Research and Ethics Committee (TREC). Data were collected at the University of Limpopo sports grounds in the afternoons before the commencement of the training. The demographic status which included the gender, weight, and duration of athletes involved in sports of soccer at the University were collected. The weights of the athletes were also measured using a digital scale from SECA to calculate the nutrient requirements. The dietary practices of athletes were collected using the modified 24-h recall questionnaire on three different days. Athletes were required to recall all food items consumed in the previous 24h. The researchers used household measuring utensils and food models to assist athletes in estimating food quantities. Athletes were required to recall incidences that took place in the previous to associate with food items taken. Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to determine the regularity of consumption of different food items. The nutrient intake for the athletes was obtained from the average analysis of the three 24-h recall questionnaires through MRC Food Finder (version 3.0). The SPSS software (24.0) was then used to determine descriptive tests expressing variables as percentages, means, standard deviations (±SD), and minimum and maximum values. The obtained test results were then compared to the recommendations by the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2018). Results: Majority (81.0%) of athletes engaged in soccer sport for ≤2 years while at University. Overall, 61% of athletes consumed three meals/day. Only 65% consumed meals 2–3h before the training. Majority of the athletes (≥61%) consumed carbohydrates, protein, and fat below the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) recommendations. Additionally, more than 65% of the same athletes consumed vitamins and minerals below the recommendations. None of the athletes consumed any food immediately after training. Conclusion: The dietary intakes were below the ISSN recommendations. The dietary practices of athletes involved in the sport of soccer at the University of Limpopo were not adhering to soccer nutritional guidelines. Therefore, athletes need to receive nutrition support through the appointment of nutrition experts or dietitians to assist in nutrition and dietary related practices of athletes. Involvement of other multidisciplinary members is also warranted in sports of soccer and other sports categories to improve athletes’ performance without compromising their health.