Soccer Training and Influence of Protein and Carbohydrate Ingestion on Health
Soccer Training and Influence of Protein and Carbohydrate Ingestion on Health
The aim of the study was to examine the adaptive response to recreational soccer, conducted
 as small-sided games, and the effect of supplementing with either protein or carbohydrate
 after each training session in 10 weeks.

 One hundred fifty one middle-aged women and men were randomized into a group ingesting
 protein or carbohydrate beverages immediately after recreational soccer and prior to bedtime
 on training days or a control group maintained their normal activities. Training was
 performed 2.1 times per week for 10 weeks.
We hypothesized that recreational soccer training followed by protein supplementation would
 have superior beneficial effects on body composition and health compared to recreational
 soccer training followed by carbohydrate supplementation. The aim of the present study was to
 examine the effects of ingesting beverages rich in either protein or carbohydrate during a
 10-week recreational soccer training period on the adaptive response of lean body mass
 (primary outcome parameter), fat mass, bone mass density, fitness and health related blood
 markers in untrained women and men.

 Three-hundred-twenty-nine middle-aged men and women were enrolled. One-hundred-fifty-one meet
 the inclusion criteria and were randomized to two soccer training groups with supplementation
 of either protein enriched (PG) or carbohydrate enriched (CG) beverages. Prior to the
 intervention period forty-four of these subjects (18 women and 26 men) completed testing
 before and after a 10-week period (CON).

 The study was a double-blinded experiment. All subjects in the training groups were offered
 three training sessions per week. Average attendance were 2.1 sessions per week in both PG
 and CG. Each session lasted around 1 h and was initiated with low to moderate intensity
 warming for 10 min followed by small-sided (4v4 up to 7v7) soccer matches with a duration of
 five min separated by 1-2 min of recovery. The subjects in PG and CG ingested a drink of 250
 ml immediately after completion of training sessions and again in the evening before bedtime.
 Subjects in PG ingested per serving a protein enriched milk-based beverage containing in
 total 750 KJ, 21.0 g protein (milk protein), 15.0 g carbohydrate, 4.5 g fat. Subjects in CG
 ingested per serving an isocaloric carbohydrate-rich beverage containing in total 750 KJ, 0 g
 protein, 0 g fat and 49.2 g carbohydrate (2:1 ratio of maltodextrin: fructose). Before the
 intervention, the participants completed a weighed dietary record on three consecutive days,
 including one weekend day. During week five or six in INT, a weighed dietary record was
 performed on four consecutive days including one weekend day and at least one training day.

 Before and after INT, the subjects carried out a performance test battery consisting of a
 standing long jump, an agility t-test and the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test level 1
 (Yo-Yo IE1) on a grass field. Prior to testing, the subjects refrained from severe physical
 activity for at least 48 h.

 Within five days before and after the start of INT, the subjects arrived to the laboratory
 after an overnight fasting. Fasting blood samples were drawn from the antecubital vein and
 analysed for marker of health such as blood glucose and cholesterol. Body composition,
 including lean body mass (LBM), total fat mass (FM), regional fat mass, bone mineral content
 (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD), was assessed by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  age between 25-55 years

 -  less than two hours of physical training per week over the last two years before
 entering the study

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  biking for transportation more than 40 km/week

 -  diagnosed with severe diseases

 -  medical treatment with a documented effect on body composition

 -  abuse of alcohol/drugs

 -  pregnancy or breastfeeding.