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Nutrients
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Nutrition–Sleep Interactions in Sports and Exercise: Timing, Recovery, and Adaptation
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Nutrition–Sleep Interactions in Sports and Exercise: Timing, Recovery, and Adaptation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2026 | Viewed by 3193

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Angelos Vlahoyiannis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2417, Cyprus
Interests: sleep; carbohydrate intake; chrono-nutrition; meal timing; exercise timing; circadian rhythm; body composition; athletic performance; sleep quality
Dr. Oussama Saidi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory Youth—Physical Activity and Sports—Health (J-AP2S), Toulon University, F-83041 Toulon, France
Interests: sleep; chrono-nutrition; meal timing; circadian rhythm; exercise timing; adolescents; obesity; energy balance; eucaloric diet; athletes; sleep quality; actigraphy; time-restricted eating; intermittent fasting; chronotype
Prof. Dr. Christoforos D. Giannaki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2417, Cyprus
Interests: sleep; exercise, fitness and health; sleep disorders; hemodialysis; exercise and nutrition in chronic diseases; lifestyle medicine; exercise physiology; recovery strategies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sleep is a central determinant of athlete health, recovery, and performance, and nutrition modulates sleep and circadian biology in actionable ways. For this Special Issue, we invite original research and reviews examining the bidirectional links between dietary patterns and timing (chrono-nutrition) and sleep outcomes in sport. We welcome trials and field studies that test the effects of macronutrient composition and within-day timing, hydration and supplement strategies (e.g., caffeine, tryptophan-rich foods), and feeding–fasting windows on sleep duration, quality, macro- and micro-architecture, circadian alignment, and next-day performance and recovery. Equally, we welcome research on how sleep quantity/quality interrelates with energy availability, glycemic control, appetite regulation, injury risk, and training adaptation. Priority areas include but are not limited to the following: sex and age differences (e.g., female and adolescent athletes), travel and jet lag, heat/humidity, training load, intensified training,  and congested schedules. Methodological papers using polysomnography, actigraphy/wearables, dietary assessment, biomarkers, and -omics are encouraged, alongside systematic reviews/meta-analyses and practitioner-focused translations. The aim of this Special Issue is to integrate mechanistical pathways with day-to-day practice, to refine evidence-based guidelines for coaches, clinicians, and sport organizations.

Dr. Angelos Vlahoyiannis
Dr. Oussama Saidi
Dr. Christoforos D. Giannaki
Guest Editors

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

  • chrono-nutrition
  • athletes
  • sleep
  • circadian rhythms
  • REM sleep
  • slow-wave sleep
  • macronutrient timing
  • energy availability
  • recovery
  • performance
  • actigraphy
  • polysomnography
  • dietary supplements
  • naps

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 992 KB  
Article
Probiotic Supplementation Can Alter Inflammation Parameters and Self-Reported Sleep After a Marathon: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
by Valdir Aquino-Lemos, Geovana S. F. Leite, Edgar T. Silva, Helena A. P. Batatinha, Ayane S. Resende, Antônio H. Lancha-Junior, José C. R. Neto, Sergio Tufik and Ronaldo V. Thomatieli-Santos
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3762; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233762 - 29 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2009
Abstract
Background: Sleep is essential for athletes’ physical performance and recovery. However, strenuous exercise has the potential to increase inflammation and worsen sleep. This study evaluated the effect of probiotic supplementation on self-reported sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and inflammatory profile 24 h after a [...] Read more.
Background: Sleep is essential for athletes’ physical performance and recovery. However, strenuous exercise has the potential to increase inflammation and worsen sleep. This study evaluated the effect of probiotic supplementation on self-reported sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and inflammatory profile 24 h after a marathon. Methods: 27 marathon male runners were divided into the Probiotic group (Probiotic n = 14) or the Placebo group (Placebo n = 13). The Probiotic group consumed 1 × 1010 CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus, 1 × 1010 CFU of Bifidobacterium lactis + 5 g/day maltodextrin for 30 days prior to the marathon. The Placebo group received a sachet of 5 g/day maltodextrin during the same period. Sleep and inflammatory status were assessed before supplementation, before the marathon, and 1 h and 24 h after the marathon. Data were analyzed using Statistic 13.3 and expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Tukey’s post hoc test was followed by a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: In the Placebo group, daytime sleepiness, sleep latency, and global sleep score increased 24 h after the marathon, while total sleep time and sleep efficiency decreased. In the Probiotic group, daytime sleepiness, sleep latency, and global sleep scores were lower 24 h after the marathon compared to the Placebo group. Total sleep time and sleep efficiency were higher in the Probiotic group compared to the Placebo group 24 h after the marathon. IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations decreased compared to Basal in both groups. IL-1β levels were lower 24 h after treatment compared to pre-treatment in the Placebo group. IL-6 was lower 24 h after the marathon in both groups. LPS concentrations were lower 1 h and 24 h after the marathon in the Probiotic group compared to the Basal group. There was no difference in cytokines and LPS between the groups. Conclusions: Supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis for 30 days changes self-reported sleep and reduces LPS concentration after the marathon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition–Sleep Interactions in Sports and Exercise: Timing, Recovery, and Adaptation)
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Review

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22 pages, 786 KB  
Review
Travel-Induced Circadian and Microbiota Disturbances: Implications for Athlete Health and Performance: A Narrative Review
by Karol Biliński, Kacper Wiśniewski, Laura Rafner, Paweł Witko and Dagmara Gaweł-Dąbrowska
Nutrients 2026, 18(10), 1523; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18101523 - 11 May 2026
Viewed by 578
Abstract
High-performance athletes are increasingly exposed to frequent trans-meridian travel, leading to profound circadian desynchronization and gastrointestinal distress. This review examines the complex interplay between the host’s central circadian system and the gut microbiota (GM), both of which exhibit synchronised daily oscillations essential for [...] Read more.
High-performance athletes are increasingly exposed to frequent trans-meridian travel, leading to profound circadian desynchronization and gastrointestinal distress. This review examines the complex interplay between the host’s central circadian system and the gut microbiota (GM), both of which exhibit synchronised daily oscillations essential for homeostasis. Rapid time-zone transitions, such as those anticipated for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, induce a state of “gut jet lag,” characterised by the loss of rhythmic microbial functions and impaired intestinal barrier integrity. Circadian misalignment is associated with increased systemic inflammation and disrupted metabolic regulation, which may contribute to impairments in cognitive performance, sleep quality, and muscle recovery. Critically, travel-induced dysbiosis may reduce the production of microbial metabolites, specifically short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like acetate, propionate, and butyrate. These SCFAs serve as energy substrates that may enhance glucose uptake, lipid oxidation, and glycogen storage in skeletal muscle. Evidence suggests that travel-related stressors—including dehydration, psychological stress, and shifts toward highly processed diets—further exacerbate the loss of beneficial taxa. To mitigate these effects, this article proposes evidence-informed strategies: timed light exposure to reset the master clock, chronobiotic meal timing to entrain peripheral tissues, and targeted symbiotic supplementation to restore SCFA-producing populations. Integrating these personalised, evidence-informed protocols may support the optimisation of physiological resilience and performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition–Sleep Interactions in Sports and Exercise: Timing, Recovery, and Adaptation)
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