Effect of nutritional guidelines on the dietary profile and in the body composition of professional football players in the period between seasons

In the period in between seasons (vacation), the energetic demands of football athletes can be reduced, which, without proper dietary intake, can generate negative changes in body composition. This period, nutritional orientation can be effective to maintain the dietary profile and body composition of athletes. Objective: To investigate the effect of nutritional orientation on the dietary profile and body composition of football athletes in the period between seasons. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 19 professional football players (23.8 +/- 5.1 years). Orientations were provided to participants prior to the start of the vacation. The athletes were submitted to nutritional and anthropometric assessments 48 hours before and 48 hours after the vacations. To compare macronutrient intake (dietary profile) and body composition parameters (total body mass, lean mass, fat mass and fat percentage) before and after vacations, the paired t-test was used (p<0.05). Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the dietary profile. However, there was a statistically significant increase in the total body mass (p=0.01), the fat mass (p<0.001), the fat percentage (p<0.001) and the lean mass reduction (p<0.01). Discussion: Nutritional orientation may be effective in maintaining the adequacy of macronutrient intake but may not promote adjustments in the amount of energy intake. Thus, individual food plans may be required. Conclusion: Nutritional orientation may promote nutritional profile maintenance but may be ineffective in maintaining body composition of professional football athletes in the in between seasons period.