Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ziyu Wang, Bopeng Qiu, Jie Gao, Juan Del Coso
Summary: Caffeine is widely consumed in sports for its established performance-enhancing effects. While there is ample evidence for the benefits of caffeine supplementation on endurance exercise, most of the studies have focused on cycling trials. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the effects of caffeine intake on endurance running performance.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jung-Piao Tsao, Jeffrey R. Bernard, Tse-Hsin Tu, Hsiu-Chen Hsu, Chia-Chen Chang, Su-Fen Liao, I-Shiung Cheng
Summary: The effects of garlic supplementation on 40-km cycling time trial performance, exercise-induced oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses were investigated. The study found that 4-week oral garlic supplementation increased overall antioxidant capacity, attenuated oxidative stress, inflammation, and muscle damage during the cycling exercise, but had no ergogenic effect on cycling performance in healthy males.
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF SPORTS NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Physiology
William H. Gurton, Steve H. Faulkner, Ruth M. James
Summary: The study found that an intermittent, sprint-based warm-up strategy reduced the ergogenic benefits of individualized sodium bicarbonate ingestion on 4-km cycling time-trial performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS PHYSIOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Eduardo M. Penna, Alec Harp, Brian Hack, Tyler N. Talik, Melinda Millard-Stafford
Summary: This study examined the effects of acute GUA ingestion on endurance performance and found that GUA improved work performance compared to placebo, but the effects were small and unrelated to substrate oxidation or muscular strength.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORT NUTRITION AND EXERCISE METABOLISM
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Slaheddine Delleli, Ibrahim Ouergui, Hamdi Messaoudi, Khaled Trabelsi, Achraf Ammar, Jordan M. Glenn, Hamdi Chtourou
Summary: This systematic review with meta-analysis examines the effects of caffeine supplementation on combat sports performance. The results suggest that caffeine has a small but evident effect on handgrip strength and the total number of throws in judo fitness tests. It also increases blood lactate concentration and heart rate in anaerobic exercise and simulated combat. However, caffeine does not have an impact on other performance measures such as jump height, strength-endurance, offensive actions, and perceived exertion.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Choongsung Yoo, Dante Xing, Drew Gonzalez, Victoria Jenkins, Kay Nottingham, Broderick Dickerson, Megan Leonard, Joungbo Ko, Mark Faries, Wesley Kephart, Martin Purpura, Ralf Jaeger, Shawn D. Wells, Ryan Sowinski, Christopher J. Rasmussen, Richard B. Kreider
Summary: The study suggests that acute ingestion of paraxanthine may affect some measures of short-term memory, reasoning, and response time to cognitive challenges, and help sustain attention.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Slaheddine Delleli, Ibrahim Ouergui, Hamdi Messaoudi, Khaled Trabelsi, Jordan M. Glenn, Achraf Ammar, Hamdi Chtourou
Summary: This systematic review examined the acute and chronic ergogenic effects of dietary nitrate intake from beetroot on combat sports performance. The findings suggest that beetroot intake may improve oxidative metabolism and muscle force production in combat sports athletes, but these effects depend on various factors.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Erfan Berjisian, Alireza Naderi, Shima Mojtahedi, Jozo Grgic, Mohammad Hossein Ghahramani, Raci Karayigit, Jennifer L. Forbes, Francisco J. Amaro-Gahete, Scott C. Forbes
Summary: The study aimed to investigate whether the effects of caffeine intake on resistance exercise and jumping performance are influenced by training status. The results showed that caffeine ingestion improved muscular strength, endurance, and jump height, with similar magnitudes observed in resistance-trained and recreationally active men.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Naroa Etxebarria, Brad Clark, Megan L. Ross, Timothy Hui, Roland Goecke, Ben Rattray, Louise M. Burke
Summary: Ingesting quinine 2 mM during the last stage of a 3,000-m cycling time-trial did not improve cycling performance, as indicated by power output and perceptual scales.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORT NUTRITION AND EXERCISE METABOLISM
(2021)
Review
Sport Sciences
Adriano Arguedas-Soley, Isobel Townsend, Aaron Hengist, James Betts
Summary: Caffeine is a psycho-active stimulant that can improve physical and cognitive performance. Scientific studies have shown that moderate doses of caffeine can increase heart rate, blood glucose and lactate concentrations, and improve physical performance in team sports such as distance coverage, high-speed distance coverage, and impact frequencies. However, the effects of caffeine on technical skill performance are still uncertain.
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Vicente Avila-Gandia, Antonio Torregrosa-Garcia, Silvia Perez-Pinero, Raquel Ortolano, Maria Salud Abellan-Ruiz, F. Javier Lopez-Roman
Summary: The study investigated the effects of high-dose beta-alanine supplementation on the time-trial performance of world tour cyclists during overreaching training. Results showed that beta-alanine improved mean power, distance traveled, and total work compared to the placebo, with higher levels of lactate and anion gap in the beta-alanine group. High doses of beta-alanine were well tolerated and could help attenuate performance losses in cyclists.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ana Elisa von Ah Morano, Camila S. Padilha, Vinicius Aparecido Matos Soares, Fabiana Andrade Machado, Peter Hofmann, Fabricio E. Rossi, Fabio Santos Lira
Summary: The study found that a 12 mg Capsaicin analogue supplement did not significantly improve performance and physiological responses in amateur athletes during a 10 km running time-trial.
Article
Physiology
Berta Moreno, Esther Morencos, Davinia Vicente-Campos, Alejandro Munoz, Jaime Gonzalez-Garcia, Santiago Veiga
Summary: This study investigated the effects of beetroot juice on performance in competitive swimmers and found that it did not significantly improve performance. However, it did aid in recovery and fatigue tolerance.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
William H. H. Gurton, Guilherme G. G. Matta, Lewis Anthony Gough, Mayur Krachna Ranchordas, David G. G. King, Philip Hurst
Summary: Research investigated whether changes in endurance performance after ingesting sodium bicarbonate are mediated by positive expectations and decline in blood bicarbonate levels during exercise.
SPORTS MEDICINE-OPEN
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Megan Leonard, Jonathan Maury, Broderick Dickerson, Drew E. Gonzalez, Jacob Kendra, Victoria Jenkins, Kay Nottingham, Choongsung Yoo, Dante Xing, Joungbo Ko, Remi Pradelles, Mark Faries, Wesley Kephart, Ryan Sowinski, Christopher J. Rasmussen, Richard B. Kreider
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of supplementation with a microalgae extract combined with guarana on cognitive function in gamers. The results showed that acute and 30-day supplementation improved reaction times, reasoning, learning, cognitive flexibility, and impulsiveness. There was also evidence that the supplement may support mood state.
Article
Sport Sciences
Jonathan Craven, Amanda J. Cox, Phillip Bellinger, Ben Desbrow, Christopher Irwin, Jena Buchan, Danielle McCartney, Surendran Sabapathy
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the impact of training volume alterations on gut microbiome diversity and composition in middle-distance runners. Results showed that while changes in training volume did not significantly affect overall microbiome diversity and composition, there were notable changes at lower taxonomy levels following high-volume training which were not fully restored after a taper period.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SPORT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ella S. Smith, Alannah K. A. McKay, Megan Kuikman, Kathryn E. Ackerman, Rachel Harris, Kirsty J. Elliott-Sale, Trent Stellingwerff, Louise M. Burke
Summary: Although sports nutrition guidelines promote evidence-based practice, it is unclear whether women have been adequately included in the underpinning research. Female participants were underrepresented in studies on performance supplements, and there is a lack of research specifically designed to compare sex-based responses. Interestingly, a higher proportion of female participants were classified as international/world-class athletes. Most studies focused on performance outcomes and had poorer representation of women, while studies with a health focus had a higher proportion of female participants.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Andy J. King, Naroa Etxebarria, Megan L. Ross, Laura Garvican-Lewis, Ida A. Heikura, Alannah K. A. McKay, Nicolin Tee, Sara F. Forbes, Nicole A. Beard, Philo U. Saunders, Avish P. Sharma, Stephanie K. Gaskell, Ricardo J. S. Costa, Louise M. Burke
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different carbohydrate supply strategies on athletes using a multi-pronged approach. The results showed improved gastrointestinal function after exercise, but the changes were likely clinically insignificant. Additionally, increasing carbohydrate intake did not confer additional advantages in performance.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Bronwen Lundy, Monica K. Torstveit, Thomas B. Stenqvist, Louise M. Burke, Ina Garthe, Gary J. Slater, Christian Ritz, Anna K. Melin
Summary: A questionnaire-based screening tool (LEAM-Q) for male athletes at risk of low energy availability (LEA) was developed, and it was found that low sex drive was the most effective self-reported symptom in identifying male athletes requiring further clinical assessment for LEA.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Jeannine Anyingu Aminde, Neil Harris, Caroline Thng, Ben Desbrow
Summary: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of self-managed home or community exercise interventions on physical activity levels, adipose tissue distribution, and associated health indices in people living with HIV.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Ayshe Sahinovic, Christopher Irwin, Peter T. Doohan, Richard C. Kevin, Amanda J. Cox, Namson S. Lau, Ben Desbrow, Nathan A. Johnson, Angelo Sabag, Matthew Hislop, Paul S. Haber, Iain S. McGregor, Danielle McCartney
Summary: This pilot study investigated the effects of acute, oral CBD treatment on physiological and psychological responses to aerobic exercise. The results suggested that CBD may increase oxygen uptake, pleasure ratings, and lactate concentrations during exercise, while reducing endogenous cannabinoid concentrations. The study suggests that CBD may alter some key physiological and psychological responses to exercise without impairing performance. Larger studies are needed to confirm and further understand these preliminary findings.
SPORTS MEDICINE-OPEN
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Guilherme Defante Telles, Cleiton Augusto Libardi, Miguel Soares Conceicao, Felipe Cassaro Vechin, Manoel Emilio Lixandrao, Flavia Regina Rotea Mangone, Ana Carolina Pavanelli, Maria Aparecida Nagai, Donny Michael Camera, John A. Hawley, Carlos Ugrinowitsch
Summary: This study aimed to compare the time course changes in DNA methylation and mRNA expression for selected myogenic regulatory factors immediately after, 4 h after, and 8 h after a single bout of resistance exercise, high-intensity interval exercise, and concurrent exercise. The results showed that the mean methylation across all CpGs analyzed was reduced after 4 and 8 h in response to all exercise protocols. In addition, all exercise bouts increased mRNA expression over time.
MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Evelyn B. Parr, Nikolai Steventon-Lorenzen, Richard Johnston, Nirav Maniar, Brooke L. Devlin, Karen H. C. Lim, John A. Hawley
Summary: This study aimed to examine the effect of a 5-day, 9-hour time-restricted eating protocol on 24-hour glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. The results showed that time-restricted eating did not affect dietary intake or physical activity, but it reduced the daily eating window and significantly improved glycemic control.
DIABETES RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Evelyn B. Parr, Imre W. K. Kouw, Michael J. Wheeler, Bridget E. Radford, Rebecca C. Hall, Joan M. Senden, Joy P. B. Goessens, Luc J. C. van Loon, John A. Hawley
Summary: This study aimed to assess the impact of time-restricted eating (TRE) on integrated skeletal muscle myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS) rates in males with overweight/obesity. The study found no significant difference in daily MyoPS rates between the TRE group and the control group, but the TRE group had lower total blood glucose levels, greater total body mass reduction, and more lean mass loss. These findings suggest that time-restricted eating may have potential benefits for health management, but further research is needed.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Carissa Gardiner, Jonathon Weakley, Louise M. Burke, Gregory D. Roach, Charli Sargent, Nirav Maniar, Andrew Townshend, Shona L. Halson
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of caffeine on sleep characteristics, finding that it reduced total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and deep sleep, while increasing sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset. The study provides evidence-based recommendations, suggesting that caffeine should be consumed at least 8.8 hours before bedtime to avoid negative effects on sleep.
SLEEP MEDICINE REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Jennifer Hamer, Ben Desbrow, Chris Irwin
Summary: Coaches play a crucial role in athlete health and performance, but their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding low energy availability (LEA) are lacking. It is important to investigate coaches' current understanding of LEA to guide future education and support initiatives.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & COACHING
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nathan Delang, Christopher Irwin, Aimie L. Peek, Iain S. Mcgregor, Ben Desbrow, Danielle Mccartney
Summary: This study systematically reviewed prior research on the effects of contact/collision sport participation on neurometabolite levels in the absence of concussion. The review found that N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and total creatine (tCr) decreased during the sports season, but glutamate-glutamine (Glx), myo-inositol (mI), and total choline (tCho) did not show significant changes. Several moderating factors, including sex, sport played, brain region, and the MRS quantification approach, were found to influence the results. The study suggests that contact/collision sport participation has the potential to alter neurometabolites measured via H-1 MRS in the absence of concussion, but further research is needed.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Substance Abuse
Blake Palmer, Christopher Irwin, Ben Desbrow
Summary: Factors influencing alcohol consumption behaviors among young Australian adults include physical and social opportunities, as well as reflective and automatic motivations. The COM-B model provides an integrated understanding of these factors and their impact on drinking behaviors.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Zane Hopper, Ben Desbrow, Shelley Roberts, Chris Irwin
Summary: Standardised bomb calorimetry methods are crucial for accurately measuring the energy content of food and beverages, but there is currently no universally accepted protocol. This review aims to summarize the literature on sample preparation methods used in bomb calorimetry for food and beverage analysis. The synthesis provides insights into the potential impact of methodological variations on the estimation of caloric values.
JOURNAL OF FOOD AND DRUG ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Blake Palmer, Christopher Irwin, Christina Mailer, Ben Desbrow
Summary: This study investigated the availability, visibility, advertising, and promotion of low-alcohol beverages (LABs) in licensed venues in Australia. The findings showed that LABs were available in about half of the venues audited, but their visibility and promotion were poor. There is a need to improve access to and promote lower alcohol alternatives within licensed venues.
PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH & PRACTICE
(2023)