assessment of dietary intake among elite jordanian football players

Background: with elite players often competing in matches and facing limited recovery time, dietary strategies must be optimized to support energy availability, enhance recovery, and reduce the risk of fatiguerelated injuries. this study assessed dietary intake of macronutrients and micronutrients among elite jordanian football players and the adequacy of their intake in relation to international sports nutrition guidelines.methods: a cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 30 male professional football players from the jordanian national team. dietary intake was assessed using a 7-day food record, and nutrient analysis was performed using specialized dietary analysis software. macronutrient and micronutrient intakes were compared to established reference values for athletic populations.results: significant differences in carbohydrate and fat intake were noticed. approximately 74% of players consumed less than recommended carbohydrate intake, and 70% had low fat intake despite falling within the acceptable macronutrient distribution range (31%). additionally, 63% of players failed to meet their estimated energy requirements. protein intake was generally adequate, with most players meeting or slightly exceeding the recommended levels. most micronutrients showed statistically significant differences, indicating that the majority of players consumed levels below the recommended dietary intakes, except significantly for vitamin c and vitamin b5. intakes of vitamins a, d, k, biotin, choline, calcium, iodine, magnesium, and potassium were significantly below recommended.conclusion: elite jordanian football players present with suboptimal intake levels of calories, carbohydrates, and multiple essential micronutrients. these findings underscore the need for targeted nutrition education and intervention to optimize high-level athletes' performance, recovery, and metabolic health.