International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolismJan 5, 2017

Energy Use and Food Intake of English Premier League Soccer Players Showing Carbohydrate Timing

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 19, 2026

Abstract

Mean daily energy intake (EI) of elite soccer players was 3186 ± 367 kcals.

Energy expenditure (EE) averaged 3566 ± 585 kcals daily, showing no significant difference from EI (p > .05).
Energy intake was significantly higher on match days (3789 ± 532 kcal) compared to training days (2956 ± 374 kcal, p < .05).
Carbohydrate intake was greater on match days (6.4 ± 2.2 g.kg) than on training days (4.2 ± 1.4 g.kg, p < .05).
Exogenous carbohydrate intake during matches (32.3 ± 21.9 g.h) was significantly higher than during training sessions (3.1 ± 4.4 g.h, p < .01).
Daily protein (205 ± 30 g.kg, p = .29) and fat intake (101 ± 20 g, p = .16) did not show significant variation between training and match days.

Simplified

In an attempt to better identify and inform the energy requirements of elite soccer players, we quantified the energy expenditure (EE) of players from the English Premier League (n = 6) via the doubly labeled water method (DLW) over a 7-day in-season period. Energy intake (EI) was also assessed using food diaries, supported by the remote food photographic method and 24 hr recalls. The 7-day period consisted of 5 training days (TD) and 2 match days (MD). Although mean daily EI (3186 ± 367 kcals) was not different from (p > .05) daily EE (3566 ± 585 kcals), EI was greater (p < .05) on MD (3789 ± 532 kcal; 61.1 ± 11.4 kcal.kgLBM) compared with TD (2956 ± 374 kcal; 45.2 ± 9.3 kcal.kgLBM, respectively). Differences in EI were reflective of greater (p < .05) daily CHO intake on MD (6.4 ± 2.2 g.kg) compared with TD (4.2 ± 1.4 g.kg). Exogenous CHO intake was also different (p < .01) during training sessions (3.1 ± 4.4 g.h) versus matches (32.3 ± 21.9 g.h). In contrast, daily protein (205 ± 30 g.kg, p = .29) and fat intake (101 ± 20 g, p = .16) did not display any evidence of daily periodization as opposed to g.kg, Although players readily achieve current guidelines for daily protein and fat intake, data suggest that CHO intake on the day before and in recovery from match play was not in accordance with guidelines to promote muscle glycogen storage. -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

Energy Use and Food Intake of English Premier League Soccer Players Showing Carbohydrate Timing

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief