Long-term changes of body composition in an elite soccer player and its association with cognition: a ten-year retrospective study

BACKGROUND: In soccer, understanding of long-term body composition changes associated with training and competition would be useful for both players and coaches. However, studies of this kind are hampered by frequent interclub transfer, changes in club policy or continued availability of the relevant facilities.METHODS: In this work we tracked lean and fat mass of an elite soccer player along ten consecutive years by means of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, which was carried out at preseason, mid-season, and end-season. Cognitive performance was also evaluated.RESULTS: Correlation analysis showed that whole-body and regional fat mass increases with age (P=0.009 or less). Repeated measure ANOVA showed that whole-body lean soft tissue mass tended to cycle along the competitive season (P=0.059) with an increase at mid-season and, to a lesser extent, end-season vs. preseason. Fat mass and lean soft tissue mass respectively increased (P=0.018) and tended to decrease (P=0.083) during off-season. Several seasonal changes in body composition were statistically meaningful (i.e., >least significant change). Average reaction time in visual attention task test increased with fat mass (r=0.866, P=0.001).CONCLUSIONS: These novel results highlight body composition trajectories and their relationship with cognition in an elite soccer player.