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Nutrients
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Dietary Strategies and Nutritional Supplements to Optimize Athletic Performance
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Dietary Strategies and Nutritional Supplements to Optimize Athletic Performance

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 December 2025 | Viewed by 4357

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jorge Lorenzo Calvo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Deportes, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: sports nutrition; physical activity; training and competition outcomes; health-enhancing supplements; safety and efficacy; evidence-based intervention; hydration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sports performance is increasingly influenced by dietary strategies and nutritional supplements, which play a crucial role in enhancing physical capabilities, recovery, competitive performance, and overall health. This Special Issue aims to explore the latest research and insights into how specific dietary patterns, macronutrient ratios, and timing of nutrient intake can optimize performance for athletes across various sports.

In addition to whole foods, the use of nutritional supplements has gained popularity among athletes seeking to improve their training outcomes and competitive results. This issue will delve into the efficacy, safety, convenience, and ethical considerations surrounding these supplements, providing a comprehensive overview of their role in sports nutrition.

We invite contributions that examine evidence-based dietary interventions, the impact of hydration strategies, and the potential benefits of emerging and new supplements. By fostering a deeper understanding of these topics, we aim to equip athletes, coaches, scientists, and sports nutritionists with the knowledge needed to make informed dietary choices that enhance performance and promote long-term health, improving the scientific knowledge behind nutrition and its transformative effects on sports achievements.

Prof. Dr. Jorge Lorenzo Calvo
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

  • sports nutrition
  • training and competitive outcomes
  • health-enhancing supplements
  • safety and efficacy
  • evidence-based intervention
  • hydration

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 588 KiB  
Article
Dietary Supplement Use in Competitive Spanish Football Players and Differences According to Sex
by Carlos Sousa-Rufino, Helios Pareja-Galeano and María Martínez-Ferrán
Nutrients 2025, 17(4), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040602 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1947
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the consumption of dietary supplements (DS) in semi-professional male and professional female Spanish football players. Methods: The study involved 129 football players (92 men and 37 women) who completed a validated, self-administered questionnaire [...] Read more.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the consumption of dietary supplements (DS) in semi-professional male and professional female Spanish football players. Methods: The study involved 129 football players (92 men and 37 women) who completed a validated, self-administered questionnaire on the use of DS in athletes. Results: The results indicated that 96.12% of the sample reported taking DS, with the main reason for consumption being performance enhancement. The most commonly consumed DS were creatine monohydrate (66.77%), caffeine (56.59%), whey protein (48.06%), isotonic drinks (37.21%), vitamin D (27.91%), energy bars (27.13%), magnesium (20.93%), and vitamin C (20.16%). Additionally, significant differences were found between sexes regarding vitamin D consumption (p < 0.05; OR = 3.27 [0.36–2.00]). According to the Australian Institute of Sport DS classification, group A was the most consumed, followed by group B. Significant sex differences were found in the consumption of sports foods (p = 0.034; OR = 3.25 [0.05–2.31]) and medical supplements (p < 0.001; OR = 3.75 [0.52–2.12]). Sex differences were also found in place of purchase, source of recommendation, as well as the situation and timing of consumption (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The use of DS among Spanish football players was prevalent at 96.12%, with creatine monohydrate, caffeine, and whey protein being the most commonly consumed. Differences in consumption patterns were noted between sexes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Strategies and Nutritional Supplements to Optimize Athletic Performance)
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12 pages, 620 KiB  
Article
Impact of Caffeine Intake on Female Basketball Players’ Performance
by Raúl Nieto-Acevedo, Carlos García-Sánchez, Alfredo Bravo-Sánchez, Javier Abián-Vicén, Pablo Abián, Javier Portillo, Carlos Martínez-Rubio, Jorge Lorenzo Calvo and Javier Diaz-Lara
Nutrients 2025, 17(2), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17020235 - 10 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1941
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to analyze the effect of caffeine ingestion on basketball performance in semi-professional female players. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized experimental design was conducted, in two different periods separated by a week. Twelve female basketball players ingested 3 mg of [...] Read more.
Background: This study aimed to analyze the effect of caffeine ingestion on basketball performance in semi-professional female players. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized experimental design was conducted, in two different periods separated by a week. Twelve female basketball players ingested 3 mg of caffeine/kg of body mass or a placebo. After 60 min, participants completed two repetitions of the specified sequence: Abalakov jump, countermovement jump (CMJ), 5-0-5 (505) test, and 20 m sprint. Later, external loads and game statistics were recorded during a 30-min simulated basketball game. Results: Significant improvements were observed in CMJ height and 505 test with caffeine ingestion compared to the placebo. Significant moderate differences were evident between conditions in external load variables, specifically, an increased number of high-intensity changes of direction during simulated games with caffeine ingestion. Two-point shot efficiency significantly improved after pre-caffeine ingestion compared with placebo. Conclusions: Three mg of caffeine per kg of body mass may serve as an effective ergogenic aid to increase physical performance and some variables of performance index in highly trained basketball players. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Strategies and Nutritional Supplements to Optimize Athletic Performance)
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