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Nutrients
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Nutritional Intervention and Ergogenic Aids in Sports Performance and Recovery
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Nutritional Intervention and Ergogenic Aids in Sports Performance and Recovery

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2025 | Viewed by 1785

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. David Varillas-Delgado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo, Spain
Interests: sports performance; elite athletes; nutrition; ergogenic aids; genetics; nutrigenomic; microbiome; health sciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue explores the pivotal role of nutritional strategies and ergogenic aids in optimizing athletic performance and enhancing recovery processes. The interplay between individualized nutrition and ergogenic interventions has gained significant attention in sports science, particularly with advancements in precision medicine. We aim to delve into the latest findings on macronutrient and micronutrient timing, supplementation protocols, and their impact on performance metrics such as endurance, strength, and cognitive function during competition and training.

A key focus of this Special Issue is on the integration of genetic insights into nutritional and ergogenic approaches. Emerging evidence suggests that genetic variations influence nutrient metabolism, supplementation efficacy, and recovery dynamics, offering a pathway to personalized interventions. Topics of interest include nutrigenomics, gene–environment interactions, and their implications for tailoring dietary strategies and the selection of ergogenic aids.

This Special Issue invites original research articles, reviews, and meta-analyses on the efficacy and safety of these interventions, as well as the mechanisms underlying them. By bridging the fields of sports nutrition, molecular biology, and genetics, this publication seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how nutritional science and genetic predispositions can be leveraged to maximize sports performance and recovery.

Prof. Dr. David Varillas-Delgado
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

  • ergogenic aids
  • supplements
  • supplementation
  • nutritional intervention
  • sport performance
  • genetics
  • strength performance
  • recovery

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 2395 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Beetroot Juice Supplementation Enhances Strength, Reduces Fatigue, and Promotes Recovery in Physically Active Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Trial
by Atef Salem, Achraf Ammar, Mohamed Kerkeni, Mohamed Ali Boujelbane, Ayse Merve Uyar, Leonard Moritz Köbel, Saranya Selvaraj, Reza Zare, Katie M. Heinrich, Haitham Jahrami, Slim Tounsi, Piotr Zmijewski, Wolfgang I. Schöllhorn, Khaled Trabelsi and Hamdi Chtourou
Nutrients 2025, 17(10), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17101720 - 19 May 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Beetroot juice (BJ), a natural source of dietary nitrate, has gained increasing attention for its potential to improve exercise performance and cardiovascular function. While its benefits are well documented in endurance contexts, less is known about its short-term effects on resistance training [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Beetroot juice (BJ), a natural source of dietary nitrate, has gained increasing attention for its potential to improve exercise performance and cardiovascular function. While its benefits are well documented in endurance contexts, less is known about its short-term effects on resistance training performance and recovery. Thus, this study investigated the effects of short-term BJ supplementation on strength performance, cardiovascular responses, muscle oxygenation, and post-exercise recovery in resistance-trained males. Methods: Twelve healthy men (age: 21.3 ± 1.9 years; body mass index: 21.42 ± 2.36 kg/m2) completed two supplementation protocols involving BJ, providing 450 mg of nitrate per day, and a nitrate-free placebo (PLA). Each protocol consisted of two laboratory visits, one to assess the acute ergogenic effects and another to evaluate recovery after 72 h, resulting in a total of four sessions over a two-week period. During the three consecutive days of supplementation, participants ingested a single 900 mL dose (15 g BJ powder/PLA) 2 h before the first session, followed by three daily 300 mL doses (5 g BJ each/PLA) over the next two days, and a final dose (15 g BJ powder/PLA) taken 2 h before the second session (72 h post-first session). Each testing session involved incremental back squat (BS) and bench press (BP) exercises at 60%, 70%, and 80% of the one-repetition maximum (1RM) performed to failure, with three-minute rest intervals between sets. Repetition to failure, movement velocity, peak power, peak heart rate (HR), and muscle oxygenation (SmO2) were recorded during BP and BS exercises. Heart rate variability (HRV) and blood lactate were assessed before and after each training session. Lower-limb strength (CMJ and SJ) and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) were assessed daily during the 3-day supplementation period. Results: BJ significantly increased repetitions completed at 80% 1RM during BP and BS (p < 0.05) compared to the PLA. Peak movement velocity improved across all intensities using BJ with higher values compared to the PLA at 60–80% 1RM (p < 0.05). SmO2 was higher in BJ at 70–80% 1RM) and further improved after 72 h of BJ supplementation (p < 0.05). Cardiovascular strain was reduced in BJ, evidenced by lower peak HRs and smaller post-exercise declines in HRV indices (p < 0.05). Post-exercise recovery favored BJ, with faster recovery in jump performance at 24 h and reduced upper-limb DOMS at 24–48 h (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Short-term BJ supplementation enhances high-intensity resistance performance, improves muscle oxygenation, attenuates cardiovascular strain, and accelerates neuromuscular recovery. These benefits highlight its potential as a practical strategy for athletes seeking to optimize training performance and recovery during periods of intense resistance training. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Intervention and Ergogenic Aids in Sports Performance and Recovery)
16 pages, 545 KiB  
Article
Iron’s True Weight: Does the Amount of Iron in the Body Equate to the Amount of Iron on the Bar in Australian Football League Women’s Players?
by Michael Pengelly, Kate L. Pumpa, David Bruce Pyne and Naroa Etxebarria
Nutrients 2025, 17(10), 1691; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17101691 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 45
Abstract
Background: The physiological requirements of a successful team sport performance partly depend on iron-facilitated mechanisms. However, how low iron stores affect team sport athletes remains unclear. Purpose: To explore the influence of iron status on strength and power performance in elite female Australian [...] Read more.
Background: The physiological requirements of a successful team sport performance partly depend on iron-facilitated mechanisms. However, how low iron stores affect team sport athletes remains unclear. Purpose: To explore the influence of iron status on strength and power performance in elite female Australian Rules Football players. Methods: Iron indices were measured in 30 players (age 23 ± 4 y; body mass 70 ± 6 kg) at the start and end of the 10-week preseason. Players were categorized as iron deficient (ID; serum ferritin (sFer) < 40 µg/L) or iron sufficient (sFer > 40 µg/L). Over this period, three-repetition maximum and sport-specific performance measures were evaluated. Results: Approximately 80% of all the sFer samples primarily ranged between 9 and 60 µg/L. Strength (e.g., squat, bench press) was up to 13% lower in ID players in week 1, with no substantial differences between groups during week 10. There were marginal differences (ID: −1% to +3%) in performance for all the remaining measures between groups (e.g., 10-m sprint). Very weak to moderate correlations were observed between all the performance measures and fixed effects (e.g., sFer, other strength assessments), increasing to moderate to very strong correlations when accounting for random effects (athlete). Conclusions: Iron deficiency may compromise strength performance, but this shortcoming may not translate to measures of power and speed. Individualized iron monitoring practices for athlete health and performance are encouraged. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Intervention and Ergogenic Aids in Sports Performance and Recovery)
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25 pages, 3278 KiB  
Article
Influence of Genetic Polymorphisms and Biochemical Biomarkers on Response to Nutritional Iron Supplementation and Performance in a Professional Football Team: A Pilot Longitudinal Study
by David Varillas-Delgado
Nutrients 2025, 17(8), 1379; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081379 - 19 Apr 2025
Viewed by 361
Abstract
Background: Iron deficiency is a prevalent issue among elite athletes, particularly in endurance-based sports like football, where optimal iron status is crucial for aerobic capacity and performance. Despite the well-documented role of iron in oxygen transport and energy metabolism, the interplay between genetic [...] Read more.
Background: Iron deficiency is a prevalent issue among elite athletes, particularly in endurance-based sports like football, where optimal iron status is crucial for aerobic capacity and performance. Despite the well-documented role of iron in oxygen transport and energy metabolism, the interplay between genetic polymorphisms, biochemical markers, and iron supplementation remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and iron status in professional football players, assess the impact of iron supplementation on athletic performance, and develop a predictive model for iron supplementation based on genetic and biochemical profiles. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted over three seasons (2021–2024) with 48 male professional football players. Participants underwent genotyping for polymorphisms in ACE (rs4646994), ACTN3 (rs1815739), AMPD1 (rs17602729), CKM (rs8111989), HFE (rs1799945), and MLCK (rs2700352, rs28497577). Biochemical markers (ferritin, haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum iron) and performance metrics (GPS-derived data) were monitored. Iron supplementation (105 mg/day ferrous sulphate) was administered to players with ferritin <30 ng/mL. A Total Genotype Score (TGS) was calculated to evaluate genetic predisposition. Results: Players with “optimal” genotypes (ACE DD, ACTN3 CC, AMPD1 CC, HFE GC) required less iron supplementation (TGS = 51.25 vs. 41.32 a.u.; p = 0.013) and exhibited better performance metrics. Iron supplementation significantly improved haemoglobin and haematocrit in deficient players (p < 0.05). The TGS predicted supplementation need (AUC = 0.711; p = 0.023), with a threshold of 46.42 a.u. (OR = 5.23, 95% CI: 1.336–14.362; p = 0.017 for non-supplemented players). Furthermore, performance data revealed that iron-supplemented players had significantly lower competition time (1128.40 vs. 1972.84 min; p = 0.003), total distance covered (128,129.42 vs. 218,556.64 m; p = 0.005), and high-speed running in the 18–21 km/h (7.58 vs. 10.36 m/min; p = 0.007) and 21–24 km/h (4.43 vs. 6.13 m/min; p = 0.010) speed zones. They also started fewer matches (11.50 vs. 21.59; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Genetic profile combined with biochemical monitoring effectively predicts iron supplementation needs in athletes. Personalized nutrition strategies, guided by TGS, can optimize iron status and enhance performance in elite football players. This approach bridges a critical gap in sports science, offering a framework for precision nutrition in athletics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Intervention and Ergogenic Aids in Sports Performance and Recovery)
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17 pages, 1197 KiB  
Article
Capsaicin’s Role in Mitigating Muscle Soreness and Enhancing Futsal Players’ Recovery After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage
by Mina Rashki, Mohammad Hemmatinafar, Kousar Safari, Babak Imanian, Rasoul Rezaei, Maryam Koushkie Jahromi and Katsuhiko Suzuki
Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050813 - 26 Feb 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 975
Abstract
Background: Capsaicin, known for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, may mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation associated with exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). This study evaluates the efficacy of capsaicin supplementation in reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and enhancing strength and power in collegiate male [...] Read more.
Background: Capsaicin, known for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, may mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation associated with exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). This study evaluates the efficacy of capsaicin supplementation in reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and enhancing strength and power in collegiate male futsal players. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design was used. Twelve male futsal players participated in three testing sessions: baseline (BL), followed by capsaicin (12 mg) or placebo (PLA), with a 7-day washout period. Participants consumed the supplement 45 min before completing an EIMD protocol of 200 plyometric jumps with a 10% body-weight vest. Metrics including vertical jump height (VJH), pressure pain threshold (PPT), thigh circumference (TCM), and isokinetic and isometric strengths were assessed 48 h post-EIMD. DOMS was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline and 12, 24, and 48 h post-EIMD. Results: Capsaicin supplementation significantly improved VJH (p = 0.009), PPT (p = 0.004), and reduced TCM (p = 0.015) compared to baseline, with superior performance in PPT and TCM reduction (p < 0.05). Capsaicin also significantly decreased VAS scores for DOMS immediately, 12, 24, and 48 h post-EIMD (p < 0.001) compared to PLA and BL. No significant differences were found in isokinetic and isometric strength metrics (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Acute capsaicin supplementation can mitigate DOMS and enhance performance markers such as VJH and PPT in collegiate futsal players. Its benefits suggest a viable nutritional strategy for recovery and performance optimization in high-intensity sports. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Intervention and Ergogenic Aids in Sports Performance and Recovery)
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