Carbs boost sprinting? small study tests pro Footballers' fuel

NCT ID NCT07668726

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether eating more carbohydrates helps professional male football players perform better during pre-season training. Seventeen players followed two different diet plans: one with moderate carbs and one with extra carbs from drinks. Researchers measured how much high-speed running, sprinting, and jumping they did, along with how they felt. The goal is to understand if changing carb intake can improve training output and recovery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

carbohydrate beverage (maltodextrin)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could help coaches and players fine-tune nutrition to maximize training performance and recovery during pre-season.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-stage study with only 17 players, so results may not apply to all athletes or settings. The effect of extra carbs on performance may be small or inconsistent.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Center for Health and Performance, Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science University of Gothenburg, Sweden

    Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden