Metabolomics analyses and physical interventions in soccer: a systematic review

Background: Soccer is the most recognized sports worldwide. It is a fertile ground for the use of metabolomics analyses, considering the multifactorial nature of soccer's physical demands on the body. Although scientific studies have tried using it to better understand the impacts of soccer into different contexts of the sport, no systematic review is available on metabolomics analyses in soccer athletes subjected to physical exertion interventions.

Aim of review: Retrieve scientific articles that conducted metabolomics analyses on soccer athletes subjected to physical exertion interventions.

Key scientific concepts of review: Initially, 271 studies were screened, and 48 were retrieved for abstract analysis. Of these, 26 met the eligibility criteria, but 5 failed to meet inclusion criteria. The 21 studies included in this systematic review demonstrate that responses from physical training or acute exercise sessions, followed by the effects of soccer matches, have been the primary focus of researchers to date, highlighting alterations on metabolites from the energy metabolism, immunological pathway, purines, tryptophan/phenylalanine metabolism, as well as oxidative species and antioxidant capacity. Other studies suggest, albeit preliminarily, that organic metabolites have the potential to distinguish soccer players' performance and physical fitness, as well as provide valuable insights into diet, physical condition, training load, and recovery throughout the season. Despite metabolomics great potential to understand physiological alterations provoked by soccer as shown by the included studies, future studies should consider female athletes, explore the cause-and-effect relationship between metabolites and soccer performance more deeply, and examine the effects of different training periodizations on these markers.