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Special Issue "Hydration and Body Composition in Sports Practice"

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2023 | Viewed by 6488

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francesco Campa

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Guest Editor

Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Interests: anthropometry; body composition; exercise testing; growth; sports performance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Analyzing hydration status and monitoring body composition is an important topic when discussing the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle, due to its influence on health status and sports performance. In the last few years, the scope of research in sports has become increasingly wide and detailed, laying the foundations for the development of innovative evaluation approaches aimed at improving body composition, health, and physical function. The articles published in this research collection highlight the relationship among these specific parameters through longitudinal and transversal experimental designs as well as systematic literature reviews. Contemporary researchers have contributed to the field of research on improving health and sports performance through the development of new measurement methods for assessing hydration status and training strategies for improving body composition and sports performance. The aim of this research collection is to add information on:

1) Effect of hydration status and body composition on sports performance and benefits on health status;

2) Exercise programs for improving body composition and hydration in athletes, taking into account their sport practice;

3) New evidence for hydration and body composition measurement techniques;

Investigators that have conducted studies on these topics are invited to submit manuscripts for consideration for this Special Issue in Nutrients.

Dr. Francesco Campa
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 2600 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

body composition
exercise training
hydration
physical health
nutrition
athletes
physical performance

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Consumption of Sports Supplements in Open Water Swimmers According to the Competitive Level

Rubén Jiménez-Alfageme

Raúl Domínguez

Antonio Jesús Sanchez-Oliver

Paola Tapia-Castillo

José Miguel Martínez-Sanz

and

Isabel Sospedra

Nutrients 2022, 14(24), 5211; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14245211 - 07 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1304

Abstract

Background: Sports supplements (SS) are widely consumed by many types of athletes to improve their performance. These SS are classified according to their level of scientific evidence, by the ABCD system from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). In open water swimming, their use may be necessary due to the physiological challenges posed by this sport discipline. However, there is currently little literature on the use of SS in open water swimmers. The aim of this work is to analyze the pattern of consumption of SS by open water swimmers, by studying the differences according to the competitive level (regional vs. national). Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study on the consumption and use of SS by federated open water swimmers in Spain in the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons. The data were collected through a validated questionnaire. Results: 79.5% of the participants consumed SS, with significant differences according to their level, being higher in athletes at the national level. The most-consumed SS by the swimmers studied were sports drinks, energy bars, caffeine, vitamin C, and vitamin D. Conclusions: It was observed that the consumption of SS in open water swimmers was high, and of the five most-consumed SS, four of them belonged to the category of greatest scientific evidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydration and Body Composition in Sports Practice)

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Open AccessArticle

Development and Validation of an Anthropometric Equation to Predict Fat Mass Percentage in Professional and Semi-Professional Male Futsal Players

and

Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4514; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214514 - 27 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1284

Abstract

This study aimed to (i) characterise the body composition of professional and semi-professional male futsal players, (ii) assess the validity of commonly used equations to estimate FM%, (iii) develop and cross-validate a futsal-specific FM% prediction equation. In a cross-sectional design, 78 adult male futsal players were assessed for body mass, stature, skinfolds, and girths as per the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry protocol and completed a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan for reference body composition data. Using paired-sample t-tests, the FM% from the DXA and nine published equations were compared. New sport-specific models were developed by stepwise multiple regression. Existing equations were cross-validated using the least squares regression, concordance correlation coefficient, and the Bland–Altman analyses. New equations were further cross-validated using the PRESS approach. None of the existing equations accurately predicted the DXA-derived FM% (p < 0.001; R² ≤ 0.76, SEE ≥ 1.59; CCC ≤ 0.83; bias = −8.2% to −1.3%, limited agreement, and varying trends). The novel Bettery^® equation: −0.620 + (0.159 ∗ Σ4SKF [triceps, abdominal, iliac crest, and front thigh (mm)]) + (0.120 ∗ waist girth (cm)), demonstrated a high accuracy (R² = 0.85, SEE = 1.32%), a moderate strength of agreement (CCC = 0.92), no bias (0.2%), good agreement (±2.5%), and no trend (r = −0.157; p = 0.170) against the DXA. The Bettery^® equation is the first to allow for a valid and sport-specific assessment of FM% in male futsal players. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydration and Body Composition in Sports Practice)

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Open AccessArticle

Fluid Balance and Carbohydrate Intake of Elite Female Soccer Players during Training and Competition

Caroline A. Tarnowski

Ian Rollo

James M. Carter

Maria Antonia Lizarraga-Dallo

and

Nutrients 2022, 14(15), 3188; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153188 - 03 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1607

Abstract

This study examined sweat rate, sweat sodium concentration [Na⁺], and ad-libitum carbohydrate and fluid intakes in elite female soccer players during training (n = 19) and a match (n = 8); eight completed both for comparisons. Body mass (kg) was obtained before and after exercise to calculate sweat rate. The sweat [Na⁺] was determined from absorbent patches on the thigh or back. Sweat rate, percentage body mass change, and sweat [Na⁺] for 19 players during training were 0.47 ± 0.19 L·h⁻¹, +0.19 ± 0.65%, and 28 ± 10 mmol·L⁻¹, respectively. Sweat rate was higher during a match (0.98 ± 0.34 L·h⁻¹) versus training (0.49 ± 0.26 L·h⁻¹, p = 0.007). Body mass losses were greater post-match (−1.12 ± 0.86%) than training (+0.29 ± 0.34%, p = 0.003). Sweat [Na⁺] was similar for training (29 ± 9 mmol·L⁻¹) and a match (35 ± 9 mmol·L⁻¹) (p = 0.215). There were no differences in match versus training carbohydrate intakes (2.0 ± 2.3 g·h⁻¹, 0.9 ± 1.5 g·h⁻¹, respectively, p = 0.219) or fluid intakes (0.71 ± 0.30 L·h⁻¹, 0.53 ± 0.21 L·h⁻¹, respectively, p = 0.114). In conclusion, female soccer players’ sweat rates were higher during a match than during training, and carbohydrate intakes were below recommendations for matches and training. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydration and Body Composition in Sports Practice)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

The Effects of Physical Activity on the Gut Microbiota and the Gut–Brain Axis in Preclinical and Human Models: A Narrative Review

Angela Di Baldassarre

and

Francesco Fischetti

Nutrients 2022, 14(16), 3293; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14163293 - 11 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1813

Abstract

Increasing evidence supports the importance of the gut microbiota (GM) in regulating multiple functions related to host physical health and, more recently, through the gut–brain axis (GBA), mental health. Similarly, the literature on the impact of physical activity (PA), including exercise, on GM and GBA is growing. Therefore, this narrative review summarizes and critically appraises the existing literature that delves into the benefits or adverse effects produced by PA on physical and mental health status through modifications of the GM, highlighting differences and similarities between preclinical and human studies. The same exercise in animal models, whether performed voluntarily or forced, has different effects on the GM, just as, in humans, intense endurance exercise can have a negative influence. In humans and animals, only aerobic PA seems able to modify the composition of the GM, whereas cardiovascular fitness appears related to specific microbial taxa or metabolites that promote a state of physical health. The PA favors bacterial strains that can promote physical performance and that can induce beneficial changes in the brain. Currently, it seems useful to prioritize aerobic activities at a moderate and not prolonged intensity. There may be greater benefits if PA is undertaken from a young age and the effects on the GM seem to gradually disappear when the activity is stopped. The PA produces modifications in the GM that can mediate and induce mental health benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydration and Body Composition in Sports Practice)

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