Author(s): QUARESMA, M., NAKAMOTO, F.P., GARCIA, B.F., MELO, C.C., FREIBERG, A.K., VAINI, R., FERREIRA, R.S.F., EID, R., DEGANI-COSTA, L.H., Institution: CENTRO UNIVERSITÁRIO SÃO CAMILO, Country: BRAZIL, Abstract-ID: 2620

INTRODUCTION:
The rapid expansion and professionalization of electronic sports (eSports) have raised concerns regarding the metabolic and nutritional health of professional players, given their prolonged sedentary training routines, irregular sleep patterns, and potential reliance on energy-dense convenience foods. To compare metabolic health, body composition, and sleep-related outcomes between professional eSports athletes and matched non-eSports controls.
METHODS:
This is a cross-sectional study (Ethics Committee n. 6.658.033). The eSports athletes and non-eSports individuals matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were invited to participate. Athletes were recruited through direct contact with team managers, whereas control participants were recruited via university advertisements and social media. We excluded individuals with ongoing orthopedic or muscle injuries, uncontrolled hypertension or arrhythmias, and clinically significant cardiopulmonary or neuromuscular diseases that could compromise aerobic capacity or increase health risks. We assessed body mass, height, body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis), and resting metabolic rate (RMR; indirect calorimetry). We determined serum iron, ferritin, hemoglobin, glycated hemoglobin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4), vitamin B12 (VitB12), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (VitD) concentrations.
RESULTS:
Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. We compared professional eSports athletes (n = 35) with matched controls (n = 30) and observed no significant differences between groups for body mass (80.2 ± 18.3 vs. 80.5 ± 14.0 kg; p = 0.95; d = 0.02), BMI (25.3 ± 5.3 vs. 26.3 ± 3.9 kg/m²; p = 0.38; d = 0.22), fat-free mass (63.5 ± 11.8 vs. 66.2 ± 7.6 kg; p = 0.30; d = 0.26), absolute (15.6 ± 8.7 vs. 15.7 ± 9.9 kg; p = 0.96; d = 0.01), or relative (18.1 ± 7.1 vs. 17.2 ± 9.5%; p = 0.67; d = 0.11) fat mass. The RMR did not differ between groups (2012.5 ± 324.3 vs. 2085.9 ± 236.8 kcal/day; p = 0.31; d = 0.26). Moreover, we detected no significant differences for serum iron (111.1 ± 28.9 vs. 104.3 ± 37.9 µg/dL; p = 0.43; d = 0.20), ferritin (223.9 ± 104.6 vs. 230.2 ± 109.9 ng/mL; p = 0.82; d = 0.06), hemoglobin (15.18 ± 0.94 vs. 15.27 ± 1.10 g/dL; p = 0.74; d = 0.09), glycated hemoglobin (5.21 ± 0.31 vs. 5.23 ± 0.43%; p = 0.80; d = 0.07), TSH (2.39 ± 1.14 vs. 2.21 ± 1.78 µIU/mL; p = 0.64; d = 0.12), or VitB12 (577 ± 226 vs. 581 ± 146 pg/mL; p = 0.94; d = 0.02). In contrast, we identified higher T4 (1.43 ± 0.17 vs. 1.34 ± 0.15 ng/dL; p = 0.036; d = 0.55) and lower VitD (21.6 ± 5.7 vs. 26.9 ± 7.5 ng/mL; p = 0.003; d = 0.79) levels in the eSports group when compared to controls. Finally, we found no difference in sleep quality between groups (6.69 ± 2.76 vs. 6.14 ± 2.92; p = 0.45; d =0.19).
CONCLUSION:
eSports athletes exhibited body composition, RMR, and most biochemical parameters comparable to controls. However, they demonstrated significantly lower vitD concentrations and higher T4 levels.