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The Effects of Diet and Supplementation on Athlete Health and...
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The Effects of Diet and Supplementation on Athlete Health and Sports Performance

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2023) | Viewed by 11625

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Gretchen Casazza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Kinesiology, Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
Interests: exercise physiology of women; exercise metabolism; exercise metabolism; sports nutrition; exercise physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Athletes experience periods of high-volume and high-intensity training that can cause overtraining symptoms, inflammation, fatigue, and muscle damage, affecting health and exercise performance. To overcome this, athletes rely on nutritional information, specialized diets, and supplements to enhance performance, maintain energy for their sport, and aid in recovery. You are invited to submit proposals for manuscripts that fit the objectives and the topics of this Special Issue. The objective of this Special Issue on “The Effects of Diet and Supplementation on Athlete Health and Sports Performance” is to publish selected papers detailing specific aspects of overall nutrition, macronutrient intake, specialized diets, and supplements to support athlete health and exercise performance. Specifically, we are looking for articles including optimal timing, dosing, potential side effects, and sport-specific health and performance benefits of diet and nutritional supplements for athletes competing in all types of sporting events.

Dr. Gretchen Casazza
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energy balance
  • nutrition
  • recovery
  • hydration
  • macronutrients
  • endurance training
  • resistance training
  • anaerobic exercise
  • inflammation
  • muscle damage

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1253 KiB  
Article
A Menthol-Enhanced “Cooling” Energy Gel Does Not Influence Laboratory Time Trial Performance in Trained Runners
by Roxanne M. Vogel, Nicole Varone, Cayla Clark, Kyndall Ramirez, Megan L. R. Ross, Christian Swann and Christopher J. Stevens
Nutrients 2023, 15(15), 3379; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153379 - 29 Jul 2023
Viewed by 2361
Abstract
l-menthol (menthol) is an organic compound derived from peppermint which imparts a refreshing mint flavor and aroma to oral hygiene products, chewing gum, and topical analgesics. Menthol has been identified as a non-thermal sensory cooling strategy for athletes when ingested or mouth-rinsed [...] Read more.
l-menthol (menthol) is an organic compound derived from peppermint which imparts a refreshing mint flavor and aroma to oral hygiene products, chewing gum, and topical analgesics. Menthol has been identified as a non-thermal sensory cooling strategy for athletes when ingested or mouth-rinsed during exercise in hot environments. Therefore, sports nutrition products delivering a controlled concentration of menthol could be beneficial for athletes exercising in the heat. We sought to test the performance and perceptual outcomes of a novel menthol energy gel during treadmill running in the heat (33 °C, 49% RH). Fourteen trained runners (mean ± SD; age: 31 ± 6 years, VO2max: 56.5 ± 10.1 mL·kg−1·min−1, BMI: 23.2 ± 2.4 kg/m2; six female) participated in a randomized, crossover, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. A menthol-enhanced energy gel (0.5% concentration; MEN) or flavor-matched placebo (PLA) was ingested 5 min before and again at 20 and 40 min of a 40 min treadmill exercise preload at 60% VO2max, followed by a 20 min self-paced time trial. The total distance, vertical distance, perceptual measures (thermal comfort, thermal sensation, rating of perceived exertion, and affect), and cognitive performance via computerized neurocognitive assessment were measured. No difference between 20 min self-paced time trial total distance (MEN: 4.22 ± 0.54 km, PLA: 4.22 ± 0.55 km, p = 0.867), vertical distance (MEN: 49.2 ± 24.6 m, PLA: 44.4 ± 11.4 m, p = 0.516), or any perceptual measures was observed (all p > 0.05). Cognitive performance was not different between the trials (all p > 0.05). These results suggest that a menthol energy gel is not superior to a non-menthol gel in terms of performance or perception during treadmill running in the heat. More research is needed to confirm whether these findings translate to ecologically valid settings, including outdoor exercise in ambient heat and during competition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Diet and Supplementation on Athlete Health and Sports Performance)
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19 pages, 1909 KiB  
Article
The Impact of a 24-h Low and High Fermentable Oligo- Di- Mono-Saccharides and Polyol (FODMAP) Diet on Plasma Bacterial Profile in Response to Exertional-Heat Stress
by Stephanie K. Gaskell, Kayla Henningsen, Pascale Young, Paul Gill, Jane Muir, Rebekah Henry and Ricardo J. S. Costa
Nutrients 2023, 15(15), 3376; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153376 - 29 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1062
Abstract
Exertional-heat stress (EHS) compromises intestinal epithelial integrity, potentially leading to the translocation of pathogenic agents into circulation. This study aimed to explore the impact of EHS on the systemic circulatory bacterial profile and to determine the impact of a short-term low (LFOD) and [...] Read more.
Exertional-heat stress (EHS) compromises intestinal epithelial integrity, potentially leading to the translocation of pathogenic agents into circulation. This study aimed to explore the impact of EHS on the systemic circulatory bacterial profile and to determine the impact of a short-term low (LFOD) and high (HFOD) fermentable oligo- di- mono-saccharide and polyol dietary intervention before EHS on this profile. Using a double-blind randomized cross-over design, thirteen endurance runners (n = 8 males, n = 5 females), with a history of exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS), consumed a 24 h LFOD and HFOD before 2 h running at 60% V.O2max in 35.6 °C. Blood and fecal samples were collected pre-EHS to determine plasma microbial DNA concentration, and sample bacteria and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles by fluorometer quantification, 16S rRNA amplicon gene sequencing, and gas chromatography, respectively. Blood samples were also collected post-EHS to determine changes in plasma bacteria. EHS increased plasma microbial DNA similarly in both FODMAP trials (0.019 ng·μL−1 to 0.082 ng·μL−1) (p < 0.01). Similar pre- to post-EHS increases in plasma Proteobacteria (+1.6%) and Firmicutes (+0.6%) phyla relative abundance were observed in both FODMAP trials. This included increases in several Proteobacteria genus (Delftia and Serratia) groups. LFOD presented higher fecal Firmicutes (74%) and lower Bacteroidota (10%) relative abundance pre-EHS, as a result of an increase in Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae family and respective genus groups, compared with HFOD (64% and 25%, respectively). Pre-EHS plasma total SCFA (p = 0.040) and acetate (p = 0.036) concentrations were higher for HFOD (188 and 178 μmol·L−1, respectively) vs. LFOD (163 and 153 μmol·L−1, respectively). Pre-EHS total fecal SCFA concentration (119 and 74 μmol·g−1; p < 0.001), including acetate (74 and 45 μmol·g−1; p = 0.001), butyrate (22 and 13 μmol·g−1; p = 0.002), and propionate (20 and 13 μmol·g−1; p = 0.011), were higher on HFOD vs LFOD, respectively. EHS causes the translocation of whole bacteria into systemic circulation and alterations to the plasma bacterial profile, but the FODMAP content of a 24 h diet beforehand does not alter this outcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Diet and Supplementation on Athlete Health and Sports Performance)
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12 pages, 265 KiB  
Article
An Intervention of Four Weeks of Time-Restricted Eating (16/8) in Male Long-Distance Runners Does Not Affect Cardiometabolic Risk Factors
by Christine E. Richardson, Ashley P. Tovar, Brian A. Davis, Marta D. Van Loan, Nancy L. Keim and Gretchen A. Casazza
Nutrients 2023, 15(4), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15040985 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3814
Abstract
Timing of nutrient intake for athletes may affect exercise performance and cardiometabolic factors. Our objective was to examine the effect of time-restricted eating (TRE) on cardiometabolic health. Using a cross-over study design, 15 endurance-trained male runners were randomized to either a normal dietary [...] Read more.
Timing of nutrient intake for athletes may affect exercise performance and cardiometabolic factors. Our objective was to examine the effect of time-restricted eating (TRE) on cardiometabolic health. Using a cross-over study design, 15 endurance-trained male runners were randomized to either a normal dietary pattern (ND) first (12 h eating/fasting times) followed by time-restricted eating (TRE) pattern (16 h fast; 8 h eating) or the reverse, with a 4-week washout period between interventions. Body composition, resting energy expenditure, blood pressure and serum insulin, glucose and lipids were measured using standard laboratory methods. Exercise training and dietary intake (calories and macronutrients) were similar across interventions. No significant differences were observed in resting energy expenditure, markers of insulin resistance, serum lipids or blood pressure. Body composition did change significantly (p < 0.05) with whole body fat mass (−0.8 ± 1.3 kg with TRE vs. +0.1 ± 4.3 kg with ND), leg fat mass (−0.3 ± 0.5 kg with TRE vs. +0.1 ± 0.4 kg with ND), and percent body fat (−1.0 ± 1.5% with TRE vs. +0.1 ± 1.3% with ND) declining more in the TRE intervention, with no change in fat-free mass. This study is one of a few to investigate the effects of an isocaloric 16/8 TRE eating pattern in trained endurance athletes and confirms no change in cardiometabolic risk factors. In conclusion, TRE is not detrimental to cardiometabolic health in endurance-trained male runners but could be beneficial on exercise performance by reducing fat mass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Diet and Supplementation on Athlete Health and Sports Performance)

Review

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14 pages, 1975 KiB  
Review
Considerations of Low Carbohydrate Availability (LCA) to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) in Female Endurance Athletes: A Narrative Review
by Melissa T. Lodge, Christie L. Ward-Ritacco and Kathleen J. Melanson
Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4457; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204457 - 20 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3897
Abstract
The purpose of this narrative review is to identify health and performance consequences associated with LCA in female endurance athletes. The intake of carbohydrates (CHO) before, during, and after exercise has been demonstrated to support sport performance, especially endurance activities which rely extensively [...] Read more.
The purpose of this narrative review is to identify health and performance consequences associated with LCA in female endurance athletes. The intake of carbohydrates (CHO) before, during, and after exercise has been demonstrated to support sport performance, especially endurance activities which rely extensively on CHO as a fuel source. However, low energy availability (LEA) and low carbohydrate availability (LCA) are common in female athletes. LEA occurs when energy intake is insufficient compared to exercise energy expenditure, and LEA-related conditions (e.g., Female Athlete Triad (Triad) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)) are associated with a myriad of health and performance consequences. The RED-S model highlights 10 health consequences and 10 performance consequences related to LEA. The independent effect of LCA on health and performance has been under-researched, despite current CHO intake being commonly insufficient in athletes. It is proposed that LCA may not only contribute to LEA but also have independent health and performance consequences in athletes. Furthermore, this review highlights current recommendations for CHO intake, as well as recent data on LCA prevalence and menstrual cycle considerations. A literature review was conducted on PubMed, Science Direct, and ResearchGate using relevant search terms (i.e., “low carbohydrate/energy availability”, “female distance runners”). Twenty-one articles were identified and twelve met the inclusion criteria. The total number of articles included in this review is 12, with 7 studies illustrating that LCA was associated with direct negative health and/or performance implications for endurance-based athletes. Several studies included assessed male athletes only, and no studies included a female-only study design. Overall, the cumulative data show that female athletes remain underrepresented in sports science research and that current CHO intake recommendations and strategies may fail to consider female-specific adaptations and hormone responses, such as monthly fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone throughout the menstrual cycle. Current CHO guidelines for female athletes and exercising women need to be audited and explored further in the literature to support female athlete health and performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Diet and Supplementation on Athlete Health and Sports Performance)
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