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Nutrients
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Sport Nutrition and Performance Strategies for the Female and Male...
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Sport Nutrition and Performance Strategies for the Female and Male Athletes/Performing Artist

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2025) | Viewed by 15547

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Toni Torres-McGehee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
Interests: sport nutrition; feeding and eating disorders; body image; energy availability among female and male athletes/performing artists; prevention programs and screening methods for mental health disorders; the female and male athlete triad for collegiate dancers, athletes, and military personnel
Dr. Dawn M. Emerson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, 1300 Wheat Street, Blatt PE Center Room 102, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
Interests: nutrition; sports nutrition; feeding and eating disorders; body image; therapeutic interventions; primary care; and evaluation and management of emergent condition

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Nutrients, titled "Sport Nutrition and Performance Strategies for the Female and Male Athletes/Performing Artist", emphasizes the critical role of nutrition in athletes' and performing artists' performances, recovery, and overall well-being, irrespective of sex. This Special Issue seeks manuscripts exploring tailored nutritional strategies considering sex-specific differences, hydration and electrolyte balance optimization, evaluation of supplements and ergogenic aids, nutrition for injury prevention and recovery, specialized diets' implications for health and performance, nutritional requirements for youth athletes, body composition optimization, feeding and eating disorders, support for teams and athletes/performing artists with specific dietary needs, and emerging trends in sports nutrition research. Submissions should contribute to advancing our understanding of sport nutrition and performance strategies.

Dr. Toni Torres-McGehee
Guest Editor

Dr. Dawn M. Emerson
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • sport nutrition
  • performance strategies
  • hydration
  • electrolyte balance
  • injury prevention
  • female athlete triad
  • male athlete triad
  • relative energy deficiency in sport
  • energy availability
  • specialized diets
  • feeding and eating disorders
  • low carbohydrate availability
  • supplments and ergogenic aids

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 434 KiB  
Article
The Diet Quality of Ultramarathon Runners Taking Part in an Australian Event: A Cross-Sectional Explorative Study
by Joel C. Craddock, Gabriel Walker, Michael Chapman, Kelly Lambert and Gregory E. Peoples
Nutrients 2025, 17(3), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030485 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 2002
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Ultramarathon runners exceed the physical activity guidelines and in doing so are constantly exposed to physical and metabolic demands, requiring strategic dietary practices to support training, performance, and recovery. This study aimed to assess the diet quality and nutrient intake in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Ultramarathon runners exceed the physical activity guidelines and in doing so are constantly exposed to physical and metabolic demands, requiring strategic dietary practices to support training, performance, and recovery. This study aimed to assess the diet quality and nutrient intake in runners enrolled in an Australian-based ultramarathon. Methods: A 3-day food diary was collected using the Australian smartphone application ‘Easy Diet Diary’ during both peak and taper periods. Macronutrient and micronutrient intakes were analysed using the AUSNUT 2011–2013 food composition database within the Foodworks professional software, and diet quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index for Australians (HEIFA-2013). Results: A total of 26 runners participated in the study. The results revealed that, although runners met or exceeded protein recommendations, their carbohydrate intake fell short of endurance-specific guidelines, whilst total dietary fat intake exceeded recommendations (excluding long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids). Diet quality scores averaged 63.1 out of 100, reflecting moderate alignment with dietary recommendations. Fruit, vegetable, and wholegrain food groups were inadequately consumed. Conclusions: The findings indicate that ultramarathon runners who easily exceed physical activity recommendations, may paradoxically consume suboptimal diets, characterized by insufficient intake of core food groups such as whole grains and fruits, alongside excessive consumption of discretionary items. This dietary pattern may not only elevate their risk of chronic disease but also impair optimal performance by compromising recovery and adaptation to training. Further research is warranted to better understand the dietary behaviors and nutritional needs of this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Nutrition and Performance Strategies for the Female and Male Athletes/Performing Artist)
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20 pages, 2434 KiB  
Article
Boosting Recovery: Omega-3 and Whey Protein Enhance Strength and Ease Muscle Soreness in Female Futsal Players
by Mina Ahmadi, Niksa Hoorang, Babak Imanian, Mohammad Hemmatinafar, Rasoul Rezaei, Javad Nemati, Fereshte Eftekhari and Walaa Jumah Alkasasbeh
Nutrients 2024, 16(24), 4263; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244263 - 11 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 9436
Abstract
Background: Adequate nutrition is crucial for athletes to enhance performance and recovery. This study investigates the acute effects of omega-3 and whey protein supplementation before and after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) on lower-body strength, explosive power, and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in female [...] Read more.
Background: Adequate nutrition is crucial for athletes to enhance performance and recovery. This study investigates the acute effects of omega-3 and whey protein supplementation before and after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) on lower-body strength, explosive power, and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in female futsal players. Method: A randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled, double-blind study involved 15 female futsal players (Age: 22.93 ± 0.54 years; Height: 159.60 ± 1.16 cm; Weight: 56.95 ± 1.79 kg). Participants completed three conditions: pre-EIMD (1000 mg fish oil, 30 g whey protein, 2 h before EIMD), post-EIMD (same supplementation, within 2 h after EIMD), and placebo (PLA, 2 g starch). EIMD involved 200 vertical jumps with 15% body-weighted vests. Metrics including Sargent jump height (VJH), thigh swelling (Sw-T), pressure pain threshold (PPT), V-sit and reach flexibility test (VSFT), range of motion (ROM), relative peak torque (RPT), average power (AP), and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) were recorded 48 h post-EIMD. DOMS was assessed via a visual analog scale (VAS) multiple times. A one-week washout period was employed. Results: Pre-EIMD supplementation significantly increased VJH (p = 0.001) compared to PLA and Post-EIMD (p = 0.033). MVIC45° improved significantly in Pre-EIMD vs. PLA (p = 0.001). Improvements were observed in muscle strength metrics, with significant increases in APflx60°/s (pre-EIMD vs. PLA, p = 0.001; pre-EIMD vs. post-EIMD, p = 0.008), APext60°/s (Pre-EIMD vs. PLA, p = 0.030), and APext180°/s (Post-EIMD vs. PLA, p = 0.023). DOMS was lower in both Pre-EIMD and Post-EIMD conditions immediately and at 12 h post-EIMD (p = 0.009; p = 0.030) than PLA. No significant differences were found in Sw-T, PPT, VSFT, ROM, or APflx180°/s. Conclusions: Acute omega-3 and whey protein supplementation, particularly before EIMD, improves strength and power and reduces DOMS in female futsal players. Supplement timing may be critical for optimizing recovery and performance in high-demand sports. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Nutrition and Performance Strategies for the Female and Male Athletes/Performing Artist)
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13 pages, 445 KiB  
Article
Male Endurance Athletes: Examination of Energy and Carbohydrate Availability and Hormone Responses
by Erin M. Moore, Clemens Drenowatz, Brittany T. Williams, Thaddeus C. Brodrick, David F. Stodden and Toni M. Torres-McGehee
Nutrients 2024, 16(21), 3729; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16213729 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1620
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the effects of decreased energy availability (EA) and carbohydrate availability (CA) on reproductive and metabolic hormones in male endurance-trained athletes. Methods: Thirteen athletes (age: 26.08 ± 4.3 years; weight: 70.9 ± 6.5 kg; height: 179.9 ± 4.2 cm) participated [...] Read more.
Background: This study investigated the effects of decreased energy availability (EA) and carbohydrate availability (CA) on reproductive and metabolic hormones in male endurance-trained athletes. Methods: Thirteen athletes (age: 26.08 ± 4.3 years; weight: 70.9 ± 6.5 kg; height: 179.9 ± 4.2 cm) participated in two training weeks with varying training volumes (low [LV] and high [HV]). The participants logged their diet and exercise for seven days and provided blood samples to measure hormone levels (Testosterone [T], insulin, leptin, cortisol, and interleukin-6 [IL-6]). Results: Results showed that 46.2% (HV) and 38.5% (LV) of participants were at risk for low EA (≤25 kcal/kg FFM·d-1), while 53.8% (HV) and 69.2% (LV) had low CA (<6 g/kg). Strong positive correlations were found between leptin and body fat percentage (DXABFP) in both weeks (HV: r(11) = 0.88, p < 0.001; LV: r(11) = 0.93, p < 0.001). Moderate correlations were observed between T and DXABFP (r(11) = 0.56, p = 0.05) and negative correlations between leptin and fat intake (r(11) = −0.60, p = 0.03). Regression analyses indicated significant relationships between DXABFP and T (F(1,11) = 4.91, p = 0.049), leptin (HV: F(1,11) = 40.56, p < 0.001; LV: F(1,11) = 74.67, p < 0.001), and cortisol (F(1,11) = 6.69, p = 0.025). Conclusions: These findings suggest that monitoring body composition and macronutrients can be clinically useful for male athletes, especially those without access to blood testing. Ultimately, a greater understanding of health and performance outcomes for male athletes is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Nutrition and Performance Strategies for the Female and Male Athletes/Performing Artist)
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Review

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19 pages, 893 KiB  
Review
What Do We Know About the Energy Status and Diets of Pre-Professional and Professional Dancers: A Scoping Review
by Alessandra Rigoli, Emily Dang, Victoria Michael, Janelle Gifford and Alyse Davies
Nutrients 2024, 16(24), 4293; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244293 - 12 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1723
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Dancers require adequate nutrition support for growth and development during the pre-professional stage, as well as to fuel classes and rehearsals and to enhance performance for both pre-professional and professional dancers. The aim of this study is to understand the energy status [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Dancers require adequate nutrition support for growth and development during the pre-professional stage, as well as to fuel classes and rehearsals and to enhance performance for both pre-professional and professional dancers. The aim of this study is to understand the energy status and diet of pre-professional and professional dancers in the genres of ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, and opera. Methods: Electronic databases (n = 9) and grey literature were searched for primary studies with no time limit. Screening and data extraction were completed by two reviewers. Results: Twelve studies were included for pre-professional (n = 7) and professional (n = 5) dancers. The genres identified were ballet (n = 11) and contemporary (n = 1), with no studies on musical theatre or opera. Studies on pre-professional ballet and contemporary dancers indicated a negative energy balance and low energy availability. Pre-professional ballet dancers had lower energy intakes than professional dancers. Professional dancers had lower BMI and body fat percentages. Macronutrients were mostly reported using the acceptable macronutrient distribution range for carbohydrates (38–56%E), protein (12–17%E), and total fat (26–42%E). Iron and calcium were the main micronutrients of concern. Conclusions: Accredited sports dietitians are recommended to support pre-professional and professional dancers to optimize their diet for health and performance. Further investigation is needed to quantify and assess dancers’ dietary intake using sports nutrition guidelines for reference. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Nutrition and Performance Strategies for the Female and Male Athletes/Performing Artist)
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