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Nutrients
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Nutrition Strategy and Resistance Training
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Nutrition Strategy and Resistance Training

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 12709

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jungjun Park

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sport Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Interests: exercise physiology; nutrition; lifestyle intervention; metabolism; physical fitness assessment; supplements; muscles

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Resistance training is essential for athletic performance and overall health, promoting muscle hypertrophy, strength development, and metabolic adaptations. Nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting these adaptations by regulating muscle protein synthesis, recovery, and exercise performance. Proper nutritional strategies—including macronutrient intake, supplementation, and meal timing—can enhance the effects of resistance training, while inadequate nutrition may limit progress and impair recovery.

Despite extensive research on the relationship between resistance training and nutrition, several critical aspects remain underexplored. Questions persist regarding optimal protein intake, the efficacy of various supplements, and the influence of specific dietary patterns on resistance training outcomes across diverse populations. Furthermore, growing evidence suggests that individualized nutritional strategies may be necessary to maximize training benefits.

This Special Issue, “Nutrition Strategy and Resistance Training”, aims to advance our understanding of the interplay between nutrition and resistance training. We invite submissions of original research, cohort studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses exploring dietary strategies, supplementation, and their effects on resistance training adaptations. By gathering cutting-edge research, this issue seeks to contribute to evidence-based recommendations that optimize resistance training outcomes.

Prof. Dr. Jungjun Park
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • sports nutrition
  • resistance exercise
  • nutrition
  • dietary supplements
  • supplementation
  • dietary strategy
  • physical fitness

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2511 KB  
Article
The Effect of Short-Term Rhodiola rosea Supplementation on Simulated Game Time, Perceived Fatigue, and Performance in Basketball Players
by Jing Wang, Haotian Zhao, Longqi Yu, Kai Zhao, Wei Jiang, Shuning Liu, Jin Dai, Lina Xu, Peng Sun, Hezhang Yun and Chang Liu
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3694; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233694 - 25 Nov 2025
Viewed by 894
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effects of short-term Rhodiola rosea supplementation on simulated game performance, perceived fatigue, and aerobic capacity in basketball players. Methods: A total of 48 professional male basketball players participated in this study. The participants were [...] Read more.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effects of short-term Rhodiola rosea supplementation on simulated game performance, perceived fatigue, and aerobic capacity in basketball players. Methods: A total of 48 professional male basketball players participated in this study. The participants were randomly divided into a Rhodiola rosea group (RHO group, n = 24) and a Control group (CTR group, n = 24). During the experiment, the RHO group received continuous 28-day Rhodiola rosea supplementation, while the CTR group received empty capsules without being informed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 software. A two-way mixed ANOVA (2 × 2) group (CTR/RHO) × time (Pre-test/Post-test) was conducted to compare differences. Results: In comparison to the CTR group, the RHO group showed significant differences in total completion time in the simulated game (p = 0.046), heart rate 60 s after the simulated game (p = 0.026), 5 km run (p = 0.027), YO-YO test (p = 0.036), VO2max (p = 0.034) and total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.044) compared to the CTR group. Within the RHO group, pre- and post-test comparisons revealed significant improvements in total completion time (p = 0.000), heart rate 30 s (p = 0.021) and 60 s (p = 0.016) after the simulated game, RPE score (p = 0.030), Countermovement jump test (p = 0.036), 5 km run (p = 0.000), YO-YO test (p = 0.000), VO2max (p = 0.000) and Superoxide Dismutase (p = 0.011). Conclusions: Short-term Rhodiola rosea supplementation can improve sprint performance and reduce perceived fatigue in basketball players during simulated games, enhance aerobic work capacity, and delay fatigue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Strategy and Resistance Training)
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Other

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26 pages, 2212 KB  
Systematic Review
Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Explosive Lower Limb Performance in Volleyball Players: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
by Haoyu Du, Shuning Liu, Mu Li, Kai Zhao, Wei Jiang, Ting You, Zheng Wang, Dixin Zou, Jingdan Shu and Chang Liu
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3702; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233702 - 26 Nov 2025
Viewed by 879
Abstract
Background: Explosive lower limb power, a critical determinant of success in volleyball, is a prime candidate for focused research. Consequently, nutritional supplements are commonly employed to gain an ergogenic edge. Despite this widespread practice, a comprehensive and evidence-based ranking of supplements for improving [...] Read more.
Background: Explosive lower limb power, a critical determinant of success in volleyball, is a prime candidate for focused research. Consequently, nutritional supplements are commonly employed to gain an ergogenic edge. Despite this widespread practice, a comprehensive and evidence-based ranking of supplements for improving this key attribute is lacking, leaving athletes and practitioners without targeted evidence to guide decisions. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and Embase were searched from inception to 1 August 2025. We included RCTs in volleyball athletes (≥14 years) with ≥1-week interventions and relevant explosive lower limb performance outcomes. A Bayesian NMA estimated effects with 95% credible intervals (CrIs) and SUCRA; certainty was appraised with CINeMA. Results: A total of 35 RCTs (n = 838 volleyball athletes) examining 13 different supplements were included. The results indicated that β-alanine was associated with the greatest improvement in vertical jump (MD 4.6; 95% CrI 1.2–7.8), followed by creatine (MD 3.7; 0.57–6.9) and caffeine (MD 2.1; 0.06–4.1). It also appeared to be the most promising method for substantially increasing lower limb peak power (SMD 1.1; 0.21–2.0). No statistically significant improvement was found in lower limb mean power, and no serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Among volleyball athletes, β-alanine appeared most promising effective supplement for enhancing key components of explosive lower limb performance, specifically vertical jump height and peak power. Creatine and caffeine are also effective for improving vertical jump height. However, these findings are based on low-to-moderate certainty of evidence; they should be interpreted with caution and regarded as preliminary. Supplement strategies should be individualized by age and competitive level; further, high-quality, standardized randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate these initial observations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Strategy and Resistance Training)
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21 pages, 1657 KB  
Systematic Review
Effect of Plant-Based Proteins on Recovery from Resistance Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Healthy Young Adults—A Systematic Review
by Karuppasamy Govindasamy, Koulla Parpa, Borko Katanic, Cain C. T. Clark, Masilamani Elayaraja, Ibnu Noufal Kambitta Valappil, Corina Dulceanu, Vlad Adrian Geantă, Gloria Alexandra Tolan and Hassane Zouhal
Nutrients 2025, 17(15), 2571; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152571 - 7 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 10360
Abstract
Background: Plant-based protein supplementation in supporting muscle recovery following resistance exercise remains an area of growing interest, particularly among vegan athletes, as a potential alternative to animal-based proteins. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of plant-based proteins on recovery from resistance [...] Read more.
Background: Plant-based protein supplementation in supporting muscle recovery following resistance exercise remains an area of growing interest, particularly among vegan athletes, as a potential alternative to animal-based proteins. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of plant-based proteins on recovery from resistance exercise-induced muscle damage in healthy young adults. Methods: A systematic and comprehensive search was administered in eight databases up to 1 May 2025, identifying 1407 articles. Following deduplication and screening, 24 studies met the eligibility criteria, including 22 randomized controlled trials and 2 non-randomized studies, with the majority from high income western countries. Results: Interventions primarily involved soy, pea, rice, hemp, potato, and blended plant protein sources, with doses ranging from 15 to 50 g, typically administered post resistance exercise. Outcomes assessed included muscle protein synthesis (MPS), delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), inflammatory biomarkers, muscle function, and fatigue. The review findings reaffirm that single-source plant proteins generally offer limited benefits compared to animal proteins such as whey, particularly in acute recovery settings, a limitation well-documented consistently in the literature. However, our synthesis highlights that well-formulated plant protein blends (e.g., combinations of pea, rice, and canola) can stimulate MPS at levels comparable to whey when consumed at adequate doses (≥30 g with ~2.5 g leucine). Some studies also reported improvements in subjective recovery outcomes and reductions in muscle damage biomarkers with soy or pea protein. However, overall evidence remains limited by small sample sizes, moderate to high risk of bias, and heterogeneity in intervention protocols, protein formulations, and outcome measures. Risk of bias assessments revealed concerns related to detection and reporting bias in nearly half the studies. Due to clinical and methodological variability, a meta-analysis was not conducted. Conclusion: plant-based proteins particularly in the form of protein blends and when dosed appropriately, may support muscle recovery in resistance-trained individuals and offer a viable alternative to animal-based proteins. However, further high-quality, long-term trials in vegan populations are needed to establish definitive recommendations for plant protein use in sports nutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Strategy and Resistance Training)
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