Coffee and Caffeine Consumption for Human Health

The year 2019 has been prolific in terms of new evidence regarding the effects of coffee and caffeine consumption on diverse aspects of human functioning. This book collects 20 high-quality manuscripts published in Nutrients that include original investigation or systematic review studies of the effects of caffeine intake on human performance and health. The diversity of the articles published in this Special Issue highlights the extent of the effects of coffee and caffeine on human functioning, while underpinning the positive nature of most of these effects. This book will help with understanding why the natural sources of caffeine are so widely present in the nutrition behaviors of modern society

Rotational versus glide technique in elite shot put: Trend analysis in the 21st century

Objective. The aim of this study was to analyse the trend in the use of rotational vs. glide shot-put techniques in World Championships in the last two decades and their association with shot-put performance. Methods. The technique used, and the throwing distance obtained by the finalists in the shot-put competitions (56 men and 55 women) in the World Championships between 2001 to 2019 were analysed. Results. In men, the use of the glide technique was less frequent than in women (30.6 vs. 87.7%; p < .01). In men, there has been a progressive reduction in the use of the glide technique (from 7 out of 10 shot putters in Paris in 2003 to 0 out of 12 shot putters in Doha in 2019). Although a similar tendency is observed in women athletes, the glide technique is still the principal style employed by women throwers (7 out of 12 women shot putters in Doha 2019). Throwing distance was similar between glide throwers and rotational shot putters in both men (20.66 ± 0.67 vs. 20.92 ± 0.88 m; d = 0.32; p = .128) and women athletes (18.85 ± 0.91 vs. 18.75 ± 0.71 m; d = 0.10; p = .753). In summary, the use of the rotational style in shot-put has increased in men athletes. A clear trend towards the use of the rotational technique is also present in women although the glide style is still the most prevalent. However, there are no differences in shot-put performance between techniques that justify the use of the rotational over the glide technique

Anti-Doping Knowledge of Students Undertaking Bachelor’s Degrees in Sports Sciences in Spain.

In Spain, students pursuing a career in athletic training, physical education, or scientific evaluation of sports enroll in a bachelor’s degree in sports sciences. This degree provides knowledge and skills in a broad array of sports settings and promotes research-based interdisciplinary knowledge. However, the student’s syllabus rarely includes specific academic training on anti-doping regulations or doping prevention. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-doping knowledge of the students undertaking a bachelor’s degree in sports sciences in Spanish universities. One thousand two hundred and thirty-three bachelor students in sport science (907 males, 322 females, and 4 participants with non-binary sex) from 26 Spanish universities completed a validated questionnaire about general anti-doping knowledge. The questionnaire is an adapted version of the Play True Quiz of the World Anti-Doping Agency and contains 37 multiple-choice questions. The score obtained in the questionnaire was transformed into a 0–100-point scale. The questionnaire was distributed among students within each university by a faculty member and it was filled out online. Students obtained a score of 65.8 10.10 points (range = 32–92 points). There was an effect of the course in the score obtained (p < 0.001). Students of the first course (63.6 9.5 points) had lower scores than the remaining courses (p < 0.037) while the students of the fourth course obtained the highest scores (68.7 9.5 points; p < 0.019). The students with an itinerary on sports performance were the respondents with the highest anti-doping knowledge (67.2 10.2) points, followed by the students with an itinerary on health (66.7 9.5 points). The knowledge of basic anti-doping rules and doping prevention strategies of the bachelor students in sports sciences in Spain was suboptimal. Increasing doping prevention information in the syllabus of the bachelor’s degree in sports sciences is essential as these future professionals will directly work with populations at risk of doping.post-print1143 K

Genetic Profile in Genes Associated with Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Elite Spanish Male Endurance Athletes.

Background: most of the research concerning the influence of genetics on endurance performance has been carried out by investigating target genes separately. However, endurance performance is a complex trait that can stem from the interaction of several genes. The objective of this study was to compare the frequencies of polymorphisms in target genes involving cardiorespiratory functioning in elite endurance athletes vs. non-athlete controls. Methods: genotypic frequencies were determined in 123 elite endurance athletes and in 122 non-athletes. Genotyping of ACE (rs4340), NOS3 (rs2070744 and rs1799983), ADRA2a (rs1800544 and rs553668), ADRB2 (rs1042713 and rs1042714), and BDKRB2 (rs5810761) was performed by polymerase chain reaction. The total genotype score (TGS: from 0 to 100 arbitrary units; a.u.) was calculated from the genotype score in each polymorphism. Results: the mean TGS in non-athletes (47.72 ± 11.29 a.u.) was similar to elite endurance athletes (46.54 ± 11.32 a.u., p = 0.415). The distribution of TGS frequencies were also similar in non-athletes and elite endurance athletes (p = 0.333). There was no TGS cut-off point to discriminate being elite endurance athletes. Conclusions: the genetic profile in the selected genes was similar in elite endurance athletes and in controls, suggesting that the combination of these genes does not determine endurance performance.post-print1294 K

Acute p-synephrine ingestion increases whole-body fat oxidation during 1-h of cycling at Fatmax.

Purpose p-Synephrine, the principal alkaloid of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), is widely used in dietary supplements for weight loss due to its purported effect of increasing fat oxidation. However, there is a paucity of scientific information about its effectiveness in enhancing fat oxidation during exercise. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of an acute dose of p-synephrine on substrate oxidation during prolonged and constant intensity exercise. Methods In a double-blind and randomized experiment, 14 healthy subjects performed two acute experimental trials after ingesting either p-synephrine (3 mg kg−1) or a placebo (cellulose). Energy expenditure and fat oxidation rates were continuously measured by indirect calorimetry during 1 h of continuous cycling at Fatmax, the intensity that induces maximal fat oxidation rate. Results In comparison to the placebo, energy expenditure during 1 h of cycling remained unchanged with p-synephrine (698 ± 129 vs. 686 ± 123 kcal, P = 0.08). However, p-synephrine increased whole-body fat oxidation (33.6 ± 10.4 vs. 37.3 ± 9.8 g, P < 0.01) while also reducing carbohydrate oxidation (99.5 ± 30.4 vs. 85.0 ± 28.4 g, P < 0.01). However, the magnitude of the shift on substrate oxidation induced by p-synephrine was small. Conclusion Acute ingestion of p-synephrine augments fat oxidation during prolonged and constant-intensity exercise.pre-print193 K

Ergogenic effects of acute caffeine intake on muscular endurance and muscular strength in women: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aimed to explore the effects of caffeine ingestion on muscular endurance and muscular strength in women. Five databases were searched to find relevant studies. A random-effects meta-analysis of standardized mean differences (SMD) was performed for data analysis. Subgroup meta-analyses explored the effects of caffeine on upper-body and lower-body muscular endurance and muscular strength. Eight crossover placebo-controlled studies were included in the review. In the main meta-analysis that considered data from all included studies, there was a significant ergogenic effect of caffeine on muscular endurance (SMD = 0.25; p = 0.027) and muscular strength (SMD = 0.18; p < 0.001). In a subgroup analysis that considered only upper-body exercises, there was a significant ergogenic effect of caffeine on muscular endurance (SMD = 0.20; p = 0.007) and muscular strength (SMD = 0.17; p < 0.001). In a subgroup analysis that considered only lower-body exercises, there was no significant difference between caffeine and placebo for muscular endurance (SMD = 0.43; p = 0.092) or muscular strength (SMD = 0.16; p = 0.109). The main finding of this meta-analysis is that caffeine ingestion has a significant ergogenic effect on muscular endurance and muscular strength in women. The effects reported in this analysis are similar to those previously observed in men and suggest that women may use caffeine supplementation as an ergogenic aid for muscular performance. Future research is needed to explore the effects of caffeine on lower-body muscular endurance and muscular strength in this population

Advances in Nutrition, Dietary Supplements and Ergogenic Aids for Athletic Performance: Trends and Future Prospects

[EN] Sports nutrition is a scientific discipline that explores the relationship between nutrients and physical exercise performance. It examines how nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals affect energy metabolism, muscle function, and recovery during exercise. Sports nutrition research aims to determine the optimal nutrient intake for athletes following their training, performance goals, and body composition. Additionally, it considers the impact of various dietary patterns, such as plant-based and ketogenic diets, on athletic performance. Overall, it seeks to understand how to optimize dietary intake to support athletic performance and maintain or enhance health status [1]. Recently, the prospect of using in sports nutrition to reduce the risk of injury and optimize recovery in athletes has increasingly been studied. For instance, ingesting a post-match recovery beverage containing native whey protein and carbohydrates may reduce exercise-induced elevation in muscle damage indicators and sustain physical performance in rugby players [2]. In injured athletes, a comprehensive systematic integrative review by Giraldo-Vallejo et al. (2023) showed the positive impact of energy availability, and high protein and carbohydrate diets content, as well as the potential use of collagen, creatine monohydrate, omega-3 (fish oils), and vitamin D to support tissue repair and reduce inflammation [3]

Sport-Specific Use of Doping Substances: Analysis of World Anti-Doping Agency Doping Control Tests between 2014 and 2017.

Background: In recent years, there has been a solid effort across all sports organizations to reduce the prevalence and incidence of doping in sport. However, the efficacy of current strategies to fight against doping might be improved by using anti-doping polices tailored to the features of doping in each sport. Objectives: The aim of this investigation was to analyze the substances more commonly found in doping control tests in individual and team sports. Material and Methods: The publicly accessible Testing Figures Reports made available by the World Anti-Doping Agency, were analyzed from 2014 to 2017. Results: The most commonly detected groups of banned substances were anabolic agents and stimulants but the distribution of adverse findings per drug class was very different depending on the sports discipline. Weightlifting, athletics, rugby, hockey and volleyball presented abnormally high proportions of anabolic agents (p = 2.8 × 10−11). Cycling, athletics and rugby presented atypically elevated proportions of peptide hormones and growth factors (p = 1.4 × 10−1). Diuretics and masking agents were more commonly found in boxing, wrestling, taekwondo, judo, shooting, and gymnastics than in other sports (p = 4.0 × 10−68). Cycling, rowing, aquatics, tennis, gymnastics and ice hockey presented abnormally high proportions of stimulants (p = 1.8 × 10−5). Conclusions: These results indicate that the groups of banned substances more commonly detected in anti-doping control tests were different depending on the sports discipline. These data suggest the prohibited substances used as doping agents might be substantially different depending on the type of sport and thus, sports-specific anti-doping policies should be implemented to enhance the efficacy of anti-doping testing.pre-print523 K

Analysis of doping control test results in individual and team sports from 2003 to 2015.

Background Determining the prevalence of doping in sport might be useful for anti-doping authorities to gauge the effectiveness of anti-doping policies implemented to prevent positive attitudes toward doping. Using questionnaires and personal interviews, previous investigations have found that the prevalence of doping might be different among different sports disciplines; however, there is no sport-specific information about the proportion of adverse and atypical findings in samples used for doping control. The aim of the present investigation was to assess the differences in the frequency of adverse analytical and atypical findings among sports using the data made available by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Method The data included in this investigation were gathered from the Testing Figures Reports made available annually from 2003 to 2015 by WADA. These Testing Figures Reports include information about the number of samples analyzed, the number of adverse and atypical findings reported, and the most commonly found drugs in the urine and blood samples analyzed. A total of 1,347,213 samples were analyzed from the individual sports selected for this investigation, and 698,371 samples were analyzed for disciplines catalogued as team sports. Results In individual sports, the highest proportions of adverse and atypical findings (AAF) were 3.3% ± 1.0% in cycling, 3.0% ± 0.6% in weightlifting and 2.9% ± 0.6% in boxing. In team sports, the highest proportions of AAF were 2.2% ± 0.5% in ice hockey, 2.0% ± 0.5% in rugby and 2.0% ± 0.5% in basketball. Gymnastics and skating had the lowest proportions ≤ 1.0%) for individual sports, while field hockey, volleyball and football had the lowest proportions for team sports (<1.5%). Conclusion As suggested by the analysis, the incidence of AAF was not uniform across all sports disciplines, with the different proportions pointing to an uneven use of banned substances depending on the sport. This information might be useful for increasing the strength and efficacy of anti-doping policies in those sports with the highest prevalence in the use of banned substances.pre-print1193 K

Genotype scores in energy and iron-metabolising genes are higher in elite endurance athletes than in nonathlete controls.

Information about the association of energy and iron-metabolising genes with endurance performance is scarce. The objective of this investigation was to compare the frequencies of polymorphic variations of genes involved in energy generation and iron metabolism in elite endurance athletes versus nonathlete controls. Genotype frequencies in 123 male elite endurance athletes (75 professional road cyclists and 48 elite endurance runners) and 122 male nonathlete participants were compared by assessing 4 genetic polymorphisms: AMPD1 c.34C/T (rs17602729), PPARGC1A c.1444G/A (rs8192678) HFEH63D c.187C/G (rs1799945) and HFEC282Y c.845G/A (rs1800562). A weighted genotype score (w-TGS; from 0 to 100 arbitrary units (a.u.)) was calculated by assigning a corresponding weight to each polymorphism. In the nonathlete population, the mean w-TGS value was lower (39.962 ± 14.654 a.u.) than in the group of elite endurance athletes (53.344 ± 17.053 a.u). The binary logistic regression analysis showed that participants with a w-TGS > 38.975 a.u had an odds ratio of 1.481 (95% confidence interval: 1.244–1.762; p < 0.001) for achieving elite athlete status. The genotypic distribution of polymorphic variations involved in energy generation and iron metabolism was different in elite endurance athletes vs. controls. Thus, an optimal genetic profile in these genes might contribute to physical endurance in athlete status.pre-print458 K