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Sports
Special Issues
Sport, Metabolism and Nutrition: Promoting Human Performance and Health
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Sport, Metabolism and Nutrition: Promoting Human Performance and Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 2721

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Carlos Ruiz-Moreno

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Camilo José Cela University, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
Interests: caffeine; fat oxidation; substrate oxidation; sport performance; physiology; mechanism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue of Sports titled “Sport, Metabolism and Nutrition: Promoting Human Performance and Health”. This research area is of paramount importance as it lies at the crossroads of exercise physiology, metabolism and nutritional science, which collectively shape our understanding of human potential. Recent advancements have shed light on how intricate interactions between these domains influence physical performance, recovery and overall health. By addressing these topics, we can uncover novel strategies to optimize performance across diverse settings, from elite sports to general health and wellbeing.

This Special Issue aims to bring together groundbreaking research and comprehensive reviews that explore the relationship between human performance, metabolic adaptations and nutritional interventions. These topics align closely with the journal’s scope, which emphasizes advancing knowledge in health, exercise and nutritional sciences. This Special Issue will provide an interdisciplinary platform to foster collaboration among scientists, practitioners and policymakers.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and reviews. Potential themes include, but are not limited to:

  • Metabolic Adaptations to Training and Nutrition: Insights into how the body’s metabolic processes respond to exercise, diet and combined interventions.
  • Nutritional Strategies for Performance: Investigating the effects of macronutrient distribution, supplementation and hydration on performance and recovery.
  • Physiological Mechanisms of Performance: Understanding the role of molecular and systemic factors in endurance, strength and power outputs.
  • Ergogenic Aids and Supplements: Evaluating the efficacy of novel and established supplements in enhancing performance and recovery.
  • Personalized Nutrition and Exercise: Exploring how individual variability influences the effectiveness of training and dietary interventions.
  • Impact of Environmental Stressors: Examining the effects of heat, altitude and other conditions on metabolism and performance.

We are confident that this Special Issue will contribute to the development of innovative practices and theoretical frameworks in the fields of exercise physiology, metabolism and nutrition.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and engaging with the scientific community on these exciting topics.

Dr. Carlos Ruiz-Moreno
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 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. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 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

  • human performance optimization
  • metabolic adaptations
  • nutrient timing
  • exercise-induced fatigue
  • recovery strategies
  • skeletal muscle metabolism
  • protein synthesis
  • oxidative stress
  • endurance and strength training
  • sports nutrition

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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14 pages, 615 KB  
Article
Effects of Caffeine on Voluntary Force Estimation During Isometric Exercises
by Ester Jiménez-Ormeño, Verónica Giráldez-Costas, Beatriz Lara-López, María Menchén-Rubio and Carlos Ruiz-Moreno
Sports 2026, 14(3), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14030090 - 2 Mar 2026
Viewed by 500
Abstract
Background: Caffeine is widely used as an ergogenic aid to enhance strength performance; however, its effects on perceptual accuracy during submaximal force regulation remain unclear, particularly in multi-joint isometric tasks. This study examined whether caffeine ingestion influences maximal isometric force production and the [...] Read more.
Background: Caffeine is widely used as an ergogenic aid to enhance strength performance; however, its effects on perceptual accuracy during submaximal force regulation remain unclear, particularly in multi-joint isometric tasks. This study examined whether caffeine ingestion influences maximal isometric force production and the accuracy of voluntary submaximal force estimation during complex isometric exercises. Methods: Seventeen recreationally trained participants completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Participants ingested either caffeine (4 mg·kg−1 body mass) or a placebo before performing an isometric squat test (ISqT) and an isometric mid-thigh pull test (IMTP). Maximal voluntary contractions were assessed, followed by freely estimated submaximal efforts at 50% and 75% of perceived maximal force. Relative peak force and discrepancies between prescribed and exerted force (estimation error) were analyzed, with discrepancies calculated as the difference between exerted force and the prescribed target intensity. Results: Caffeine ingestion did not significantly affect relative peak force during maximal isometric efforts nor improve the accuracy of voluntary submaximal force estimation. Regardless of supplementation conditions, participants consistently misestimated submaximal efforts, tending to overproduce force, particularly at lower intensities. The IMTP showed a closer approximation to prescribed submaximal targets than the ISqT. Conclusions: Ingesting 4 mg·kg−1 of caffeine does not enhance maximal isometric force output or perceptual accuracy during voluntary submaximal force regulation in multi-joint isometric tasks. Prescribing isometric intensity based solely on perceived effort may therefore be unreliable under these specific testing conditions, particularly at lower intensities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport, Metabolism and Nutrition: Promoting Human Performance and Health)
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Other

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19 pages, 940 KB  
Systematic Review
Exploring the Gut Microbiome in Combat Sports: A Systematic Scoping Review
by Junior Carlone, Carlo Rossi, Antonino Bianco, Patrik Drid, Attilio Parisi and Alessio Fasano
Sports 2026, 14(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14010019 - 4 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1269
Abstract
The gut microbiota represents a complex microbial ecosystem with the potential to influence athletic performance, energy metabolism, inflammatory responses, and recovery capacity in athletes. However, the specific relationship between microbiota and performance in combat sport athletes remains poorly characterized. This scoping review systematically [...] Read more.
The gut microbiota represents a complex microbial ecosystem with the potential to influence athletic performance, energy metabolism, inflammatory responses, and recovery capacity in athletes. However, the specific relationship between microbiota and performance in combat sport athletes remains poorly characterized. This scoping review systematically maps current evidence on gut microbiota-combat sports performance relationships, identifies microbial response patterns to training and competition, evaluates nutritional prebiotic and probiotic interventions, and highlights methodological gaps to guide future research. Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, 8 studies were identified, which included 247 elite and high-level athletes, comprising 169 males and 78 females, with sample sizes ranging from 12 to 53 across wrestling, mixed martial arts, martial arts, judo, and taekwondo. Associations were observed between gut microbiota characteristics and training intensity, competition level, weight management, and pre-competition psychological states. Limited taxonomic consistency was observed across studies, with most bacterial genera appearing in a single investigation, precluding the identification of robust sport-specific microbial signatures. Preliminary trials demonstrated improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms, aerobic performance, and psychological fatigue with prebiotic and probiotic interventions. However, small sample sizes and methodological heterogeneity across studies limit generalizability and preclude definitive conclusions regarding the role of gut microbiome in combat sports performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport, Metabolism and Nutrition: Promoting Human Performance and Health)
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