Body composition analysis of athletes from the elite of Brazilian soccer players

This study analyzed the body composition and bone mineral density of elite Brazilian soccer players and compared its differences according to the player position. Eighty-two soccer players competing at Brazilian first division were split according to their field positions: Goalkeepers (GK, n= 10), Back-fielders (BF, n= 10), Lateral-midfielders (LM, n= 15), Central-midfielders (CM, n= 25), Forwards (FW, n= 22), and a Control Group (CG, n= 72) of university students. To estimate fat free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), percentage of body fat (%FM), fat free mass of legs (FFM-Legs) and bone mineral density (BMD), a DEXA was selected. The positions LM (10.5 ± 5.2), CM (9.7 ± 4.0) and FW (9.9 ± 4.4) had lower values of FM and %FM than the GK (17.3 ± 6.0) and the control group (15.0 ± 5.3). Compared to the other positions, FFM was higher in the GK (68.2 ± 10.9) and BF (64.6 ± 6.8) (p< 0.05). All the soccer players were different from the CG (p< 0.05). Soccer players have an FFM, FFM-Legs and BMD significantly higher and FM and %FM lower than the control group. Este estudo analisou a composição corporal e densidade mineral óssea de atletas da elite do futebol brasileiro e comparar as diferenças entre as posições de jogo. Oitenta e dois jogadores de futebol da primeira divisão do Brasil foram divididos de acordo com a posição de jogo. Goleiros (GL, n= 10), Defensores (DF, n= 10), Laterais (LT, n= 15), Centrais (CT, n= 25), Atacantes (AT, n= 22) e um grupo controle (CG, n= 72). Para estimar a massa livre de gordura (MLG), massa gorda (MG), percentual de massa gorda (%MG), massa livre de gordura de pernas (MLG-Pernas) e densidade mineral óssea (DMO), foi usado o DEXA. A posição LT (10.5 ± 5.2), CT (9.7 ± 4.0) e AT (9.9 ± 4.4) apresentaram menores valores de MG e %MG que os GL (17.3 ± 6.0) e GC (15.0 ± 5.3). Comparado a outras posições, a MLG foi maior nos GL (68.2 ± 10.9) e DF (64.6 ± 6.8) (p< 0.05). Todos os jogadores apresentaram diferenças significativas em relação ao grupo controle (p< 0.05). Em suma, conclui-se que atletas da elite do futebol brasileiro apresentaram significativamente maior MLG, MLG-Pernas, DMO e menor MG e %MG que o grupo controle.