From Science to Dressing Room: Dietary Supplements for Elite Soccer Performance

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Nutritional Science
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Elite soccer performance relies on optimizing physical and cognitive attributes.
• Dietary supplements are widely researched for their potential ergogenic effects.
• A gap exists between scientific evidence and practical implementation of supplements in soccer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the effects of common dietary supplements on soccer performance.
• To identify barriers to the practical application of supplements by practitioners working with elite soccer players.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of major scientific databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science).
• Cross-sectional online questionnaire distributed to practitioners (nutritionists, physicians, sport scientists, coaches) in elite European men's soccer.
• Survey assessed practitioner background, beliefs, and real-world supplementation practices.

Main Results:

• Caffeine enhances endurance, sprint, power, and cognitive function. Creatine boosts high-intensity efforts. Beta-alanine and sodium bicarbonate aid repeated sprint performance by buffering acidity. Nitrates improve blood flow, and glycerol aids hydration.
• Protein and tart cherry support recovery and adaptation.
• High adoption rates for creatine (>90%) and caffeine (>90%), moderate for protein (>80%). Beta-alanine (30%), tart cherry (32%), and nitrates (48.5%) show partial integration. Sodium bicarbonate (24%) and glycerol (10.5%) are used by a minority.

Conclusions:

• Scientific evidence supports the efficacy of various supplements for soccer performance and recovery.
• Practical implementation is hindered by cultural factors, taste, side effects, routines, and player preferences.
• Targeted education, individualized plans, and interdisciplinary collaboration are crucial to bridge the evidence-practice gap in elite soccer supplementation.