Professional volleyball players need a customized nutritional plan to achieve top results, tailored to the demands of high-intensity trainings. Our study aimed to assess the dietary intake and body composition (BC) of a group of volleyball players and conduct a nutritional intervention (NI) to improve their body composition and performance. We included 14 volleyball players competing in the First Slovenian Volleyball League. The study was approved by The National Medical Ethics Committee of the Republic of Slovenia (number: 0120-206/2024-2711-6). Participants completed a 3-day food record, which we analyzed using the Open Platform for Clinical Nutrition program. The group of volleyball players was than randomly divided in the intervention (N = 7) and control group
(N = 7) and NI was performed with the first group. During the 6-week NI, we held two lectured on optimal nutrition for elite athletes. After the NI, both groups of volleyball players again completed a 3-day food record to compare dietary intake between groups. BC was measured before and after NI using a bioimpedance analysis scale (Akern BIA 101 BIVA®, Akern S.r.l., Italy).The results of both measurements
were used to assess the impact of the NI on BC parameters such as fat-free mass, fat mass and phase angle. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in BC parameters between the first and the second measurements within the intervention group. Significant changes were observed in fat-fre mass (p = 0,03) , fat mass (p = 0,03), and total body water (p = 0,34), body cell mass (p = 0,08), or extracellular water (p = 0,91). In the control group, no significant differences , there were no statistically significant differences when comparing the 1st and 2nd BC measurements: fat-free mass (p = 0,69), fat mass (p = 0,65), total body water (p = 0,74). The study showed the appropriate NI can be used to improve the TS of the elite wolleyball players. This is the first study of its kind to assess the dietary intake and BC of elite wolleyball
players in Slovenia. The sample size in our study was too small to draw more concrete conclusions, and we suggest conducting this type of study in larger sample of people.
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