Current Research in Applied Sports Nutrition

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2025 | Viewed by 1383

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Kinesiology, CMC College of Health and Human Performance Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, USA
Interests: sports nutrition; sport psychology; mindfulness in sports performance; sport-related injury; concussions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Optimal nutrition is a cornerstone of athletic performance, directly influencing energy levels, recovery, muscle growth, and overall health. However, recent research suggests athletes may not be well educated in appropriate sport nutrition and dietary behavior, which could directly impact athletic performance and recovery, sleep quality, body composition, body image, and overall well-being.

This Special Issue aims to highlight groundbreaking research, innovative practices, and emerging trends that advance our understanding of how nutrition influences athletic performance, recovery, and long-term health. We invite authors to contribute original research, reviews, and case studies on topics such as macronutrient strategies, supplementation, hydration, gender-specific considerations, sport-specific dietary demands, and the possible psychological impact on body image. Contributions that incorporate novel methodologies, personalized nutrition approaches, or technological advancements in monitoring dietary behavior are especially encouraged. By publishing in this Special Issue, authors will have the opportunity to shape the discourse in sport nutrition and provide valuable insights to athletes, coaches, and sports professionals worldwide.

Dr. Jamie McAllister-Deitrick
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.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 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
  • athletic performance
  • recovery in sport
  • body image in athletes
  • dietary behavior in athletes

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 908 KiB  
Article
Melatonin Supplementation Enhances Next-Day High-Intensity Exercise Performance and Recovery in Trained Males: A Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study
by Nourhène Mahdi, Slaheddine Delleli, Arwa Jebabli, Khouloud Ben Maaoui, Juan Del Coso, Hamdi Chtourou, Luca Paolo Ardigò and Ibrahim Ouergui
Sports 2025, 13(6), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13060190 - 19 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1090
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Sleep and recovery are critical for optimising exercise performance. However, the efficacy of melatonin supplementation in improving sleep quality and next-day physical performance remains unclear. This study examined the effects of melatonin ingestion on sleep and performance-related outcomes the following day in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Sleep and recovery are critical for optimising exercise performance. However, the efficacy of melatonin supplementation in improving sleep quality and next-day physical performance remains unclear. This study examined the effects of melatonin ingestion on sleep and performance-related outcomes the following day in trained males. Methods: In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, 12 trained males (age: 21.92 ± 2.84 years) ingested 6 mg of melatonin (MEL) or a placebo (PLA) the night before performing the 5 m shuttle test (5mSRT). Before and after the 5mSRT, blood samples were collected. Peak heart rate (HRpeak) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded throughout the test. Perceived recovery status (PRS) and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) were measured before, 5 min, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after the test. The sleep/wake cycle was monitored during the night after ingestion. Results: Data were analysed using paired t-tests, Wilcoxon tests, and two-way ANOVAs, with significance set at p < 0.05. Compared to PLA, MEL did not modify any sleep parameters or blood markers (all p > 0.05). However, MEL improved total distance, fatigue index, the percentage decrement between sprints, and HRpeak (all p < 0.05) in the 5mSRT compared to PLA. MEL also enhanced PRS values up to 72 h post-exercise and reduced DOMS (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: In summary, 6 mg of melatonin taken at night enhanced next-day high-intensity exercise performance and improved perceived recovery up to 72 h post-exercise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Research in Applied Sports Nutrition)
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