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Nutritional Supplements to Optimize Exercise Performance

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Dear Colleagues,

The ability of nutritional supplements to optimize performance has long been an area of focus within the field of sports nutrition and human performance. There are hundreds of nutrients, such as creatine, beta-alanine, vitamin D, nitrates, and caffeine, that have been well-studied, with consistent evidence supporting their ability to improve athletic performance and health. However, there continues to be a need to explore additional nutrients of interest, as well as alternative applications or potential benefits in unexplored populations. Nutritional supplementation studies including younger athletes and female athletes are understudied and therefore will be an area of interest for this Special Issue. Similarly, long-term supplementation studies are also needed to better understand the implications of continued supplementation on training adaptations and overall health in athletic populations.

Dr. Jennifer B. Fields
Dr. Andrew Jagim
Guest Editors

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Research

19 pages, 1245 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chlorella-Induced Increase in Cardiac Function Further Enhances Aerobic Capacity Through High-Intensity Intermittent Training in Healthy Young Men and Rats

by Shumpei Fujie, Kenichiro Inoue, Katsunori Tsuji, Naoki Horii, Moe Oshiden, Izumi Tabata and Motoyuki Iemitsu

Nutrients 2025, 17(16), 2657; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17162657 (registering DOI) - 16 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background: Chronic chlorella intake combined with high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) has been shown to accelerate aerobic and anaerobic capacities in rodents. This study aimed to clarify the effects of combining chlorella intake with short-term HIIT on exercise performance in humans, and to investigate the impact of chlorella intake on cardiac adaptation. Materials and Methods: In Study 1, twelve healthy young men completed a 3-week exhaustive HIIT, comprising 6–7 bouts of 20 s of cycling on a leg ergometer at an intensity of 170% maximal oxygen uptake (

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O_2max), with a 10 s rest between each bout, 3 days/week. They were orally administered either placebo or chlorella during the 3 weeks in a double-blinded, randomized crossover trial (RCT). In Study 2, six healthy young men were orally administered either placebo or chlorella during 4 weeks in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled RCT. We measured

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O_2max and cardiac function (stroke volume [SV], heart rate [HR], and cardiac output [CO]) during maximal exercise. In Study 3, chlorella-induced changes in molecular markers of maladaptation of the heart were measured in healthy rats. Results: [Study 1] After each HIIT,

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O_2max significantly increased in the placebo and chlorella groups (p < 0.05). Changes in

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O_2max were significantly higher in the chlorella group than in the placebo group (p < 0.05). [Study 2] Changes in SV and CO during maximal exercise were significantly higher in the chlorella group than in the placebo group (p < 0.05 each), but HR_max did not change. [Study 3] Chronic chlorella intake did not change the molecular markers of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Conclusions: Chronic chlorella intake, which improves aerobic capacity by enhancing cardiac function without causing cardiac maladaptation, combined with short-term HIIT, further enhanced aerobic capacity. Thus, the chlorella-induced increase in cardiac function may further enhance aerobic capacity through HIIT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Supplements to Optimize Exercise Performance)

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26 pages, 1301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Effects of Probiotic and Omega-3 Supplementation with Ultra-Short Race Pace Training on Sprint Swimming Performance

by Ideh Maymandinejad, Mohammad Hemmatinafar, Ralf Jäger, Babak Imanian, Maryam Koushkie Jahromi and Katsuhiko Suzuki

Nutrients 2025, 17(14), 2296; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17142296 - 11 Jul 2025

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Abstract

Background: Optimal nutrition and training regimens are essential for athletes to maximize performance and recovery. Probiotic supplementation, through the modulation of the gut microbiota, and omega-3 fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory properties, may enhance physiological adaptations when combined with targeted training. This study evaluated the effects of probiotics and omega-3 supplementation, alongside ultra-short race pace training (USRPT), on performance metrics in competitive sprint swimmers. Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 60 male sprint swimmers (age: 19.2 ± 3.6 years; height: 182.2 ± 5.2 cm; weight: 81.6 ± 4.4 kg) with a minimum of five years of training experience, were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 10 per group): (1) Control (CON), (2) USRPT only, (3) Placebo + USRPT (PLA + USRPT), (4) Probiotics + USRPT (PRO + USRPT), (5) Omega-3 + USRPT (OMEGA + USRPT), and (6) Probiotics + Omega-3 + USRPT (PRO + OMEGA + USRPT). Over the eight-week intervention, the participants in PRO + USRPT consumed one multi-strain probiotic capsule daily (4.5 × 10¹¹ CFU) and a placebo capsule. Those in OMEGA + USRPT ingested 1000 mg of fish oil after lunch (500 mg EPA and 180 mg DHA per capsule) paired with a placebo capsule. The combined supplementation group (PRO + OMEGA + USRPT) received both probiotic and omega-3 capsules. The PLA + USRPT group consumed two starch capsules daily. The USRPT protocol was implemented across all the training groups, where the swimmers performed 17 sets of 25 m and 12.5 m sprints based on weekly recorded race times. Performance assessments included pre- and post-test measurements of sprint times (50 m and 100 m freestyle), vertical jump tests (both in water and on dry land), and other strength and endurance metrics (reaction time, agility T-test, sprint index, fatigue index, and velocity). Results: The combined intervention of probiotics and omega-3 with USRPT produced the greatest improvements in performance. The PRO + OMEGA + USRPT group reduced 50 m freestyle time by 1.92% (p = 0.002, pEta² = 0.286) and 100 m freestyle time by 2.48% (p = 0.041, pEta² = 0.229), demonstrating significant Time × Group interactions consistent with a synergistic effect. Additionally, the sprint index improved (pEta² = 0.139, p = 0.013) and reaction time decreased (pEta² = 0.241, p = 0.009) in the combined group, indicating enhanced anaerobic capacity and neuromuscular responsiveness compared to single interventions. Conclusions: This study suggests that combining probiotics and omega-3 supplementation with USRPT leads to synergistic improvements in sprint swimming performance, enhancing anaerobic power and recovery beyond what is achieved with individual interventions. This integrated approach may provide a practical strategy for competitive swimmers seeking to optimize their performance. Future studies should incorporate mechanistic markers, longer intervention durations, and diverse athlete populations to clarify further and extend these findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Supplements to Optimize Exercise Performance)

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