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Nutrients
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Nutritional Supplementation in Health and Sports Performance
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Nutritional Supplementation in 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 April 2025) | Viewed by 7163

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mojtaba Kaviani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
Interests: macronutrient manipulations and sport performance; sport supplements and recovery; sport bars and drinks for endurance, strength, and power; functional food and weight loss; glycemic control and diabetes; active aging strategies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the upcoming Special Issue on "Nutritional Supplementation in Health and Sports Performance." Nutritional supplements play a crucial role in enhancing athletic performance, speeding up recovery, and supporting overall health. Common supplements such as proteins, creatine, amino acids, and electrolytes are increasingly being used to improve endurance, strength, and recovery in athletes. These supplements offer a variety of health benefits from muscle repair to balancing fluid levels during high intensity training and continuous physical activities.

As the supplement industry continues to grow, understanding proper usage, dosage, and individual needs is essential for maximizing benefits and minimizing risks. While whole foods remain essential, supplements provide a practical and efficient means to achieve optimal nutrient intake for peak performance. Additionally, the co-ingestion of different sports supplements, such as proteins with creatine or amino acids, is an emerging area that requires further research to understand their combined effects on performance and recovery. We invite submissions exploring the latest research and innovations in nutritional supplementation, including the impact on sports performance, health, and new formulations. We encourage manuscripts on these topics and more to advance the conversation on supplementation in health and performance.

Dr. Mojtaba Kaviani
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

  • endurance
  • metabolism
  • bioavailability
  • macronutrients
  • adaptation
  • hydration
  • synergy
  • optimization
  • muscle synthesis
  • ergogenic aids

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1492 KiB  
Article
γ-Aminobutyric Acid Intake Improves Psychological State and Performance in Esports: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Crossover Study
by Yoshihiro Hara, Utano Nakamura, Keita Koga, Yusuke Yamashita, Youngil Kim, Goichi Hagiwara and Ryousuke Furukado
Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1870; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111870 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 1186
Abstract
Objective: This study focused on the effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) intake on psychological state and game performance during esports gameplay. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted with eight healthy male university students aged 20–24 years who regularly [...] Read more.
Objective: This study focused on the effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) intake on psychological state and game performance during esports gameplay. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted with eight healthy male university students aged 20–24 years who regularly play esports. The participants ingested either 200 mg of GABA or a placebo prior to gameplay and then completed a standardized esports task using the Mobalytics Proving Ground™ (MPG), a perceptual-cognitive task within “League of Legends” designed to train and evaluate player performance. Subjective psychological states were assessed pre- and post-gameplay using the Profile of Mood States 2 (POMS2®) short version. Esports task performance was evaluated based on MPG scores. Results: GABA intake significantly reduced psychological confusion–bewilderment and fatigue in the POMS 2® short version during esports gameplay. Furthermore, the game scores were significantly higher in the GABA group compared to the placebo group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that GABA intake may serve as a potential strategy to enhance both the mental state and performance of esports players. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Supplementation in Health and Sports Performance)
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23 pages, 2928 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Magnesium Supplementation Has Modest Detrimental Effects on Cycle Ergometer Exercise Performance and Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria and Negligible Effects on the Gut Microbiota: A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial
by Matthew C. Bomar, Taylor R. Ewell, Reagan L. Brown, David M. Brown, Beatrice S. Kwarteng, Kieran S. S. Abbotts, Hannah M. Butterklee, Natasha N. B. Williams, Scott D. Wrigley, Maureen A. Walsh, Karyn L. Hamilton, David P. Thomson, Tiffany L. Weir and Christopher Bell
Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 915; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050915 - 6 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5406
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Although the importance of magnesium for overall health and physiological function is well established, its influence on exercise performance is less clear. The primary study objective was to determine the influence of short-term magnesium supplementation on cycle ergometer exercise performance. The hypothesis [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Although the importance of magnesium for overall health and physiological function is well established, its influence on exercise performance is less clear. The primary study objective was to determine the influence of short-term magnesium supplementation on cycle ergometer exercise performance. The hypothesis was that magnesium would elicit an ergogenic effect. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover design was used to study men and women who were regular exercisers. Fifteen participants ingested either a placebo or magnesium chloride (MgCl2 300 mg) twice per day, for 9 days, separated by a 3-week washout. During days 8 and 9, participants completed a battery of cycle ergometer exercise tests, and whole blood, vastus lateralis, and stools were sampled. The primary outcomes were the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), a simulated 10 km time trial, and the sprint exercise performance. Additional outcomes included skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration, and, on account of the known laxative effects of magnesium, the gut microbiota diversity. Results: Compared with a placebo, MgCl2 supplementation increased the circulating ionized Mg concentration (p < 0.03), decreased the VO2max (44.4 ± 7.7 vs. 41.3 ± 8.0 mL/kg/min; p = 0.005), and decreased the mean power output during a 30 s sprint (439 ± 88 vs. 415 ± 88 W; p = 0.03). The 10 km time trial was unaffected (1282 ± 126 vs. 1281 ± 97 s; p = 0.89). In skeletal muscle, MgCl2 decreased mitochondrial respiration in the presence of fatty acids at complex II (p = 0.04). There were no significant impacts on the gut microbiota richness (CHAO1; p = 0.68), Shannon’s Diversity (p = 0.23), or the beta-diversity (Bray–Curtis distances; p = 0.74). Conclusions: In summary, magnesium supplementation had modest ergolytic effects on cycle ergometer exercise performance and mitochondrial respiration. We recommend that regular exercisers, free from hypomagnesemia, should not supplement their diet with magnesium. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Supplementation in Health and Sports Performance)
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Review

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23 pages, 680 KiB  
Review
Use of Nutritional Strategies, Bioactive Compounds, and Dietary Supplements in Young Athletes: From Evidence to Potential Risks—A Narrative Review
by Diego De Zan, Francesca Eletti, Giulia Fiore, Elisa Di Girolamo, Gaia Giulia Maria Bozzini, Veronica Perico, Martina Tosi, Lorenzo Norsa, Gianvincenzo Zuccotti and Elvira Verduci
Nutrients 2025, 17(13), 2194; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132194 - 30 Jun 2025
Viewed by 87
Abstract
Young athletes face unique nutritional challenges due to their simultaneous engagement in intensive physical training and ongoing growth and development. Standard adult-based dietary recommendations often fail to meet the specific needs of this population. While the role of macronutrients and micronutrients is well [...] Read more.
Young athletes face unique nutritional challenges due to their simultaneous engagement in intensive physical training and ongoing growth and development. Standard adult-based dietary recommendations often fail to meet the specific needs of this population. While the role of macronutrients and micronutrients is well recognized, increasing attention is being paid to bioactive compounds—non-essential food-derived elements with potential health benefits. This review aims to summarize current evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and potential benefits of bioactive compounds in the nutritional management of young athletes. Methods: A narrative review of the literature published over the last 30 years was conducted across PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases to identify relevant studies published in English. The inclusion criteria covered original research articles, clinical trials, cohort and case-control studies, and meta-analyses focusing on individuals aged 8–20 years. Studies addressing supplementation strategies, physiological effects, and safety concerns of bioactive compounds in young athletes were selected. Preclinical data and adult-based studies were also included to contextualize molecular mechanisms and support clinical findings. Results: The review highlights that bioactive compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin, caffeine, and creatine as well as antioxidant vitamins may play a beneficial role in improving recovery, immune function, and performance in young athletes. Of these 21 studies, 8 focused on recovery and muscle soreness, 6 addressed immune function or antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects, and 7 investigated direct performance enhancement. However, most of the available evidence derives from adult populations, and pediatric-specific data remain limited. Concerns remain about the misuse of supplements, lack of professional guidance, and potential contamination with banned substances. Conclusions: While some bioactive compounds show promising potential to support the health and performance of young athletes, current evidence is insufficient to support routine use in this population. More pediatric-specific research is necessary to establish safety, efficacy, and appropriate supplementation protocols tailored to young athletes’ unique physiological needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Supplementation in Health and Sports Performance)
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