International Journal of Nutrition Sciences

International Journal of Nutrition Sciences

The Effect of an Athletic Nutritional Program on Performance and Physiological Variables of Volleyball Players in Iraq

Document Type : Short Communication

Authors
Aseel Hashim Majeed 1
Haider Neamah Abbas 2
1 Student Activities Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Mustansiriyah University, Iraq
2 Student Activities Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Iraq
10.30476/ijns.2026.107023.1474
Abstract
Background: Nutrition represents the only and main source of energy for the athlete, which helps him to move. This study designed a nutritional program for volleyball players and examined its effect on their performance and physiological variables.
Methods: In an experimental design with pre- and post-testing in 2024, 32 volleyball players were randomly enrolled in this study. Pre-tests assessed physical abilities, including muscular strength, speed, coordination, agility, flexibility, balance, and general physical indicators, in addition to relevant physiological variables. Following the implementation of the proposed nutritional program, post-tests by using the same measurement tools and procedures determined the changes from the interventions.
Results: Significant improvement in physical abilities and selected physiological variables of the post-tests was noticed when compared to the pre-tests indicating that the proposed nutritional program had a significantly positive effect on volleyball players’ performances.
Conclusion: Significant differences were seen between the pre-test and post-test mean scores for the experimental group, revealing improvement in physical tests of muscular strength, speed, coordination, agility, flexibility, balance and body indicators in addition to physiological variables such as resting heart rate, post-exercise heart rate, vital capacity, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures and respiratory rate per minute.
Keywords
Nutrition
Athletes
Volleyball
Performance
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