The Study
Consumption of ultra-processed foods does not affect neuromuscular and cardiovascular fitness but alters gut microbiota in elite basketball players
This study looked at what basketball players ate and checked their guts and fitness, but didn’t change anything on purpose. So we can only say that players who ate more processed foods also had different gut bacteria—but we don’t know if the food caused it, or if something else (like sleep or training) did.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Even top basketball players eat a lot of processed snacks like cakes and processed meats, but these didn't make them weaker or slower.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Their performance didn't drop, but their gut bacteria changed—this might affect long-term health or recovery, even if they feel fine now.
- 2Players eating more junk food (up to 49% of calories) had 25% less of two helpful gut bacteria (Veillonellaceae and Agathobacter), even though they ate enough fiber.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Croatian journal of food science and technology
Year
2024
Authors
Edin Hadžić, A. Ilić, Jurica Žučko, Antonio Starčević, Dario Novak, I. Rumbak
Related Content
Claims (6)
Among elite male basketball players, eating ultra-processed foods up to 49% of daily calories does not change body composition, explosive power, sprint speed, or aerobic endurance during the competitive season.
Elite male basketball players who eat more ultra-processed foods have lower levels of specific gut bacteria linked to short-chain fatty acid production, even when their athletic fitness is unchanged.
Elite male basketball players get about 30.6% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods, primarily from biscuits, cakes, sweet bakery items, and reconstituted meat products.
Elite male basketball players who eat more ultra-processed foods have lower levels of Agathobacter bacteria in their gut, even when they consume the recommended amount of dietary fiber.
About one-quarter of the American diet consists of ultra-processed foods with additives and flavor combinations that alter gut microbiota and lead to metabolic dysfunction.
Elite male basketball players who eat more ultra-processed foods have lower levels of certain gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.