Table 5. Population characteristics of the selected studies. Study n Age (years) Sex Training age Training level Type of sport BMI (kg/m2) Body fat (%) VO2max (ml/kg/min) Daily dietary intake Arent et al., 2010 22 19.5±1.5 Male N/A Division I college team Soccer players 24.4 N/A 49.8±4.1 N/A Betts et al., 2009 17 26 ± 5 Male N/A Highly trained Cyclists (n=8), Team sport players(n=9) N/A N/A 61 ± 5 9992±3077 kJ 53±13% CHO 32±10% Fat 15±5% PRO Cockburn et al., 2013 14 24 ± 4 Male N/A Semi-professional Soccer players 23.9 N/A N/A N/A Gentle et al., 2014 10 22 ± 2 Male N/A Well-trained Basketball players 24.4 9.5±2.7 N/A N/A Gilson et al., 2010 13 19.5±0.3 Male N/A NCAA Division I Soccer players 23.5 N/A N/A N/A Gunnarsson et al., 2013 19 24 ± 1 Male N/A First & second division in Denmark Soccer players 24.3 N/A 58.4±1.4 N/A Highton et al., 2013 9 23.4±1.8 Male N/A University-Standard athletes Soccer players (n=7) rugby players (n=2) 24.0 N/A 52.5±3.8 2086±279 kcal 282.5±67 g CHO 55.3±17 g Fat 114.8±32 g PRO Naclerio et al., 2014 10 25 ± 3.8 Male N/A Recreationally active Team sports 24.0 N/A N/A 31.2±1.6 kcal/kg 4.2±0.18 g CHO/kg 1. ±0.20 g PRO/kg 1.04±0.15 g Fat/kg Naclerio et al. 2015 16 24 ± 3.7 Male N/A Amateur Soccer players 23.7 N/A N/A 33.5±1.3 kcal/kg 5.51±0.21 g CHO/kg 1.4 0.26 g PRO/kg 1.15±0.16 g Fat/kg Poulios ets al. 2018 20 20.6±1.1 Male N/A Semi-professional Soccer players 24.0 9.9±2.2 57.7±3.4 Game days6.7 g CHO/kg 1.3 g PRO/kg Training days 5.1 g CHO/kg 1.2 g PRO/kg BMI, body mass index; VO2max, maximal oxygen consumption; N/A, not applicable; CHO, carbohydrates; PRO, protein.