Fueling Performance of Female Soccer Players: Appraisal of the Likelihood of Between-Sex Differences in Carbohydrate Requirements

Skeletal muscle glycogen depletion is considered one of the key contributing factors toward fatigue and associated performance decrements in soccer. Ensuring adequate carbohydrate availability before and during training and matches is widely advised as a priority for players, and for that reason, carbohydrate-based fueling guidelines for soccer have been developed. However, the lack of female-specific research used to inform the development of these guidelines raises important questions regarding their applicability for female soccer players. This review critically appraises the likelihood of there being between-sex differences in carbohydrate requirements for soccer performance. Males and females exhibit differences in substrate utilization during exercise, substrate storage capacity, relative quantities of fat and fat-free mass, and running demands of soccer match-play, but the extent to which these differences translate into practically meaningful differences in carbohydrate requirements for soccer performance remains unclear. Based on current evidence, we consider it premature to suggest that female players will require sex-specific guidelines in relation to carbohydrate-based fueling strategies for performance in soccer. However, intervention studies in female players investigating carbohydrate-based fueling strategies before and during soccer match-play or simulated soccer protocols are warranted.