Panacea Index Logo

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

Effects of dietary supplements on athletic performance in elite soccer players: a systematic review.

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
December 1, 2023
Rodrigo Abreu et al. (5 authors)
Systematic ReviewJournal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Extracted Claims (9)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Caffeine supplementation in doses between 3 and 6 mg/kg of body mass
increase
jump height and sprint ability
female players
-
may improve
#1
Creatine
increase
sprint, agility
-
-
may improve
#2
Creatine
increase
jump performance
female players
-
may improve
#3
Protein supplementation
increase
sprint and jump performance between matches
-
-
can improve
#4
Beverages containing carbohydrates and electrolytes
no change
athletic performance
-
-
do not benefit
#5
Tart cherry juice
no change
athletic performance after matches that produce higher force loss and exercise-induced muscle damage
-
-
might be useful for maintaining
#6
Nitrate-rich beetroot concentrate
decrease
performance in the days following matches
-
-
can attenuate performance decrease
#7
yohimbine supplementation
no change
athletic performance
elite soccer players
-
does not support
#8
Resurgex Plus®
no change
athletic performance
elite soccer players
-
does not support
#9
Abstract

Dietary supplements are widely used among athletes, and soccer players are no exception. Nevertheless, evidence supporting the use of dietary supplements aiming to enhance performance in soccer is somewhat contradictory, scarce, or even nonexistent. Thus, the present study aimed to systematically review and synthesize the effects of dietary supplements on athletic performance (e.g. distance covered, sprinting, jump performance) in elite soccer players. Studies enrolling highly trained, elite, and world-class soccer players using dietary supplements were searched in MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO databases in June 2022. In total, 1043 studies were identified, and 18 met the eligibility criteria. The studies evaluated the impacts on athletic performance of several dietary supplements, including caffeine, creatine, protein, beverages with carbohydrates and electrolytes, tart cherry juice, nitrate-rich beetroot juice, sodium bicarbonate with minerals, yohimbine, and a proprietary nutraceutical blend. Caffeine supplementation in doses between 3 and 6 mg/kg of body mass may improve jump height and sprint ability, particularly in female players, but individual response to caffeine must be considered. Creatine may improve sprint, agility, and in female players, jump performance. Protein supplementation can improve sprint and jump performance between matches, especially if protein ingested from food is not up to recommendations. Beverages containing carbohydrates and electrolytes can be used as part of the strategies to achieve carbohydrate intake during training and match-days but used alone do not benefit athletic performance. Tart cherry juice might be useful for maintaining athletic performance after matches that produce higher force loss and exercise-induced muscle damage, although polyphenols from the diet might attenuate the effects of tart cherry supplementation. Nitrate-rich beetroot concentrate can attenuate performance decrease in the days following matches. Further investigation with sodium bicarbonate alone is necessary, as supplementation protocols with elite players included other substances. Finally, the available data does not support yohimbine supplementation or the use of Resurgex Plus® to improve athletic performance in elite soccer players. Still, more well-designed research with elite soccer players is needed to improve support and advice regarding the use of dietary supplements for athletic performance enhancement.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansFemaleSoccerCaffeineSodium BicarbonateCreatineNitratesAthletic PerformanceDietary SupplementsElectrolytesCarbohydrates
Study Links
Citation Metrics
Total Citations18
Citations/Year9.0
Relative Citation Ratio8.28
NIH Percentile97%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Related Supplements