Autor(es):
Giro, Rita ; Monteiro, Cristina P. ; Oliveira, Catarina B. ; Rebelo, Pedro ; Gonçalves, Joana ; Fernandes, Talita M. ; Borges, Nuno ; Teixeira, Vitor H. ; Brito, João
Data: 2026
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/206215
Origem: Repositório Institucional da UNL
Assunto(s): Appetite sensations; Appetite-regulating hormones; Food order; Glycaemic excursion; Second-meal effect; Soccer; Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism; Nutrition and Dietetics; SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Descrição
Background & aims Food intake sequence can influence postprandial glycaemia and appetite in non-athletic populations. However, it remains unclear whether these effects extend to athletes, who often consume high-carbohydrate diets and exhibit distinct metabolic responses. This study aimed to compare postprandial metabolic and appetite responses to two food intake sequences in athletes. Methods In a randomised, counterbalanced, outcome assessor-blinded crossover trial, 14 highly trained male football players [22.9 (3.1) y, 23.4 (1.7) kg.m−2, 5.3 (0.4)% HbA1c] consumed a standardised breakfast in a carbohydrate-last or carbohydrate-first meal pattern, separated by 1–2 weeks. The primary outcome was postprandial glucose; secondary outcomes included postprandial insulin, total GLP-1, GIP, ghrelin, PYY, triglycerides, NEFA, and appetite ratings serially measured over 3 h, and subsequent 3-6-h ad libitum dietary intake. Postprandial responses were analysed as summary statistics and time course data. Results The carbohydrate-last intervention elicited lower glucose incremental area under the curve (iAUC) from 0 to 60 min (−54 [-79 to −29] mmol.L−1 × min, p < 0.001) and incremental peak (−1.7 [-2.4 to −1.0] mmol.L−1, p < 0.001), higher GIP iAUC0–60min (1705 [46 to 3363] pg.mL−1 × min, p = 0.045), lower ghrelin total area under the curve from 0 to 180 min (−14542 [-28804 to −279] pg.mL−1 × min, p = 0.046), and higher triglyceride iAUC0–180min (10.80 [0.04 to 21.56] mmol.L−1 × min, p = 0.049). Despite lower ghrelin, participants reported greater mean hunger (5 [1 to 9] mm, p = 0.007), desire for sweet (−6 [-9 to −2] mm, p = 0.001) and salty foods (−5 [-9 to −2] mm, p = 0.002), and lower satiety (−5 [-8 to −2] mm, p = 0.002) than after the carbohydrate-first condition. Conclusions In highly trained male football players, a carbohydrate-last meal pattern elicited lower postprandial glycaemia and ghrelin, but greater GIP, triglycerides, hunger, and cravings, without affecting 3-6-h ad libitum intake. Food intake sequence may alter short-term metabolic and appetite regulation in athletic populations. Trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06365385 .
