ISSN Roundtable: FAQs About the ISSN

Mission Statement of the ISSN  

The mission of the International Society of Sports Nutrition is to be recognized as the leading professional organization in the study and application of sports nutrition. The ISSN is dedicated to promoting and supporting the study, practice, education, research and development of sports nutrition and the sports nutrition profession. All information disseminated by the ISSN is unbiased and scientifically supported.     

ISSN exercise & sport nutrition review: research & recommendations

Sports nutrition is a constantly evolving field with hundreds of research papers published annually. For this reason, keeping up to date with the literature is often difficult. This paper is a five year update of the sports nutrition review article published as the lead paper to launch the JISSN in 2004 and presents a well-referenced overview of the current state of the science related to how to optimize training and athletic performance through nutrition. More specifically, this paper provides an overview of: 1.) The definitional category of ergogenic aids and dietary supplements; 2.) How dietary supplements are legally regulated; 3.) How to evaluate the scientific merit of nutritional supplements; 4.) General nutritional strategies to optimize performance and enhance recovery; and, 5.) An overview of our current understanding of the ergogenic value of nutrition and dietary supplementation in regards to weight gain, weight loss, and performance enhancement. Our hope is that ISSN members and individuals interested in sports nutrition find this review useful in their daily practice and consultation with their clients.     

Milk: the new sports drink? A Review

There has been growing interest in the potential use of bovine milk as an exercise beverage, especially during recovery from resistance training and endurance sports. Based on the limited research, milk appears to be an effective post-resistance exercise beverage that results in favourable acute alterations in protein metabolism. Milk consumption acutely increases muscle protein synthesis, leading to an improved net muscle protein balance. Furthermore, when post-exercise milk consumption is combined with resistance training (12 weeks minimum), greater increases in muscle hypertrophy and lean mass have been observed. Although research with milk is limited, there is some evidence to suggest that milk may be an effective post-exercise beverage for endurance activities. Low-fat milk has been shown to be as effective, if not more effective, than commercially available sports drinks as a rehydration beverage. Milk represents a more nutrient dense beverage choice for individuals who partake in strength and endurance activities, compared to traditional sports drinks. Bovine low-fat fluid milk is a safe and effective post exercise beverage for most individuals, except for those who are lactose intolerant. Further research is warranted to better delineate the possible applications and efficacy of bovine milk in the field of sports nutrition.     

Nutrition in the sport practice: adaptation of the food guide pyramid to the characteristics of athletes diet

In spite of all the advances in sport nutrition and the importance of an adequate food intake in order to improve sport performance, both recreational and professional athletes forget frequently to include planning an optimum diet and fluid intake in their global strategy for performance. Physiological and metabolic adaptations produced as a consequence of physical exercise lead to the necessity of increasing caloric (in accordance to energy output) and protein (based on the trophic needs of the organism) intake. Likewise, paying major attention to vitamin and mineral intake, specifically B vitamins and zinc and chromium, is required, in order to optimize carbohydrate metabolism, the ultimate limiting factor for sport performance. During the training phase, 60% of calories should come from carbohydrates, protein intake should be 1.2-2 g/kg/day and athletes should follow the recommendations of the food guide pyramid. During the pre-, per- and post-competition phase the healthy aspect of the diet passes to a second level, in order to obtain good sport performance and to guarantee a fast and effective recovery. Again, carbohydrates with a high or medium glycaemic index and water are the nutrients which have to be calculated more thoroughly. In conclusion, athletes have to follow a diet that is adequate to their higher energy output and to their higher metabolic turnover. The food guide pyramid is a graphic expression which facilitates the comprehension and following of a healthy diet. In the present article, the authors introduce the pyramid adapted to the characteristics of sports nutrition, with easy-to-follow practical recommendations regarding the kind and amounts of foodstuffs that should be consumed in order to cover nutrient needs of people who exercise regularly.     

Correction to: Supplement intake in half-marathon, (ultra-)marathon and 10-km runners – results from the NURMI study (Step 2)

Although there is a plethora of information available regarding the impact of nutrition on exercise performance, many recommendations are based on male needs due to the dominance of male participation in the nutrition and exercise science literature. Female participation in sport and exercise is prevalent, making it vital for guidelines to address the sex-specific nutritional needs. Female hormonal levels, such as estrogen and progesterone, fluctuate throughout the mensural cycle and lifecycle requiring more attention for effective nutritional considerations. Sex-specific nutritional recommendations and guidelines for the active female and female athlete have been lacking to date and warrant further consideration. This review provides a practical overview of key physiological and nutritional considerations for the active female. Available literature regarding sex-specific nutrition and dietary supplement guidelines for women has been synthesized, offering evidenced-based practical information that can be incorporated into the daily lives of women to improve performance, body composition, and overall health.     

New Ideas: Ordinary is Extraordinary

With the initial issue of this journal, a new challenge has been offered tothe world of sports nutrition: initiate "team oriented" research and clinical trials in order to make dynamic progress in terms of understandingand applying nutrition principals to the field of competitive sports. It is our further challenge that these teams think "outside the box" in terms of their approach to elucidating new concepts through which nutritional interventions might play a role in the regulation of muscle growth and repair, athletic performance and endurance, and mental acuity. What was once thought of as extraordinary might now be approached as ordinary, if the correct composition of "teams" were formed.     

Food and macronutrient intake of elite Ethiopian distance runners

Background

Individuals who have knowledge on the importance of adequate and balanced diet and reflect this knowledge to their behaviors are considered to be more successful in sports life. The present study aims to evaluate the nutrition knowledge of students receiving sports education in universities.

Methods

The study sample consists of 343 voluntary students from the Sports Departments of Hacettepe, Gazi and Ankara Universities in Ankara. The questionnaire used in the study included a demographic section, and 30 questions on true-false nutrition knowledge. For the reliability of the questionnaire, the internal consistency coefficient was calculated and the Kuder Richardson (KR-20) value was found to be 0.71. For higher reliability, 9 dysfunctional questions were excluded from the questionnaire. The research data were collected through a questionnaire form and face-to-face interviews. For the statistical analyses of the data, tables were prepared to show mean, standard deviation ( ) and percentage (%) values. In order to determine the nutrition knowledge of students, the "independent t test" was used for nutrition lesson and gender.

Results

University students receiving sports education and expected to continue their professional lives on sport-related fields were determined to have the lack of knowledge on nutrition. The mean value about the nutrition knowledge of the first year students was found 11.150 ± 2.962, while the mean value of the fourth year students was 13.460 ± 3.703, and the difference is statistically significant (p = .000).

Conclusion

Students, coaches and teachers in physical education were found not to give the necessary importance to their diets, and they were still not aware of the importance of nutrition on performance.     

Protein and Overtraining: Potential Applications for Free-Living Athletes

Despite a more than adequate protein intake in the general population, athletes have special needs and situations that bring it to the forefront. Overtraining is one example. Hard-training athletes are different from sedentary persons from the sub-cellular to whole-organism level. Moreover, competitive, "free-living" (less-monitored) athletes often encounter negative energy balance, sub-optimal dietary variety, injuries, endocrine exacerbations and immune depression. These factors, coupled with "two-a-day" practices and in-season demands require that protein not be dismissed as automatically adequate or worse, deleterious to health. When applying research to practice settings, one should consider methodological aspects such as population specificity and control variables such as energy balance. This review will address data pertinent to the topic of athletic protein needs, particularly from a standpoint of overtraining and soft tissue recovery. Research-driven strategies for adjusting nutrition and exercise assessments will be offered for consideration. Potentially helpful nutrition interventions for preventing and treating training complications will also be presented.     

Advance in fat research in Spain during the last fifty years

Conclusion This summary is necessarily a subjective apraisal, and there may be errors or omissions, for which we apologize. The major point is that Spanish research work in the field of fats (and the same applies to many other fields) has always relied on outstanding figures, who possessed original ideas and developed them within possibilities, which were not indeed always very great. The shortage of material means and the isolation of the few existing research workers made our contribution necessarily small, compared with the work of the rest of the world, which brought about scientific knowledge on fats that we now possess. The almost exclusive concentration on problems connected with olive oil has also greatly limited our scope and also limited the knowledge of Spanish research work abroad. For some years Spain has been launched on a program of complete renewal, both in this field and in other fields of scientific research, and is at present making a great effort to co-ordinate and increase the material and human resources available for the study of fats. Too little time has passed for the results of this effort to be evaluated, except in a few isolated cases, but we are working enthusiastically. And if we are able in 25 years to attend the Diamond Jubilee of the illustrious American Oil Chemists' Society, we hope we shall be able to report a greater amount of work and more results of real scientific importance than those to which I have drawn your attention.     

The Role of Dietary Protein Intake and Resistance Training on Myosin Heavy Chain Expression

Sports success is dependent primarily on genetic endowment in athletes with morphologic, psychologic, physiologic and metabolic traits specific to performance characteristics vital to their sport. Such genetically-endowed athletes must also receive optimal training to increase physical power, enhance mental strength, and provide a mechanical advantage. However, athletes often attempt to go beyond training and use substances and techniques, often referred to as ergogenics, in attempts to gain a competitive advantage. Pharmacological agents, such as anabolic steroids and amphetamines, have been used in the past, but such practices by athletes have led to the establishment of anti-doping legislation and effective testing protocols to help deter their use. Thus, many athletes have turned to various dietary strategies, including the use of various dietary supplements (sports supplements), which they presume to be effective, safe and legal.     

Dipeptide IF and Exercise Training Attenuate Hypertension in SHR Rats by Inhibiting Fibrosis and Hypertrophy and Activating AMPKα1, SIRT1, and PGC1α

Bioactive peptides are physiologically active peptides produced from proteins by gastrointestinal digestion, fermentation, or hydrolysis by proteolytic enzymes. Bioactive peptides are resorbed in their whole form and have a preventive effect against various disease conditions, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress. In recent years, there has been a growing body of evidence showing that physiologically active peptides may have a function in sports nutrition. The present study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effect of dipeptide (IF) from alcalase potato protein hydrolysates and exercise training in hypertensive (SHR) rats. Animals were divided into five groups. Bioactive peptide IF and swimming exercise training normalized the blood pressure and decreased the heart weight. Cardiac, hepatic, and renal functional markers also normalized in SHR rats. The combined administration of IF peptide and exercise offer better protection in SHR rats by downregulating proteins associated with myocardial fibrosis, hypertrophy, and inflammation. Remarkably, peptide treatment alongside exercise activates the PI3K/AKT cell survival pathway in the myocardial tissue of SHR animals. Further, the mitochondrial biogenesis pathway (AMPKα1, SIRT1, and PGC1α) was synergistically activated by the combinatorial treatment of IF and exercise. Exercise training along with IF administration could be a possible approach to alleviating hypertension.     

普通高校开展新兴运动类项目台球课的可行性研究

台球和高尔夫球、网球并称为世界三大绅士运动。台球运动集娱乐、健身为一体,它是智力活动和体力活动相结合的有益项目。本文对辽宁省普通高校开设台球课的可行性研究,旨在在高校普及推广台球这项绅士运动。     

Creatine supplementation with specific view to exercise/sports performance: an update

ABSTRACT: Creatine is one of the most popular and widely researched natural supplements. The majority of studies have focused on the effects of creatine monohydrate on performance and health; however, many other forms of creatine exist and are commercially available in the sports nutrition/supplement market. Regardless of the form, supplementation with creatine has regularly shown to increase strength, fat free mass, and muscle morphology with concurrent heavy resistance training more than resistance training alone. Creatine may be of benefit in other modes of exercise such as high-intensity sprints or endurance training. However, it appears that the effects of creatine diminish as the length of time spent exercising increases. Even though not all individuals respond similarly to creatine supplementation, it is generally accepted that its supplementation increases creatine storage and promotes a faster regeneration of adenosine triphosphate between high intensity exercises. These improved outcomes will increase performance and promote greater training adaptations. More recent research suggests that creatine supplementation in amounts of 0.1 g/kg of body weight combined with resistance training improves training adaptations at a cellular and sub-cellular level. Finally, although presently ingesting creatine as an oral supplement is considered safe and ethical, the perception of safety cannot be guaranteed, especially when administered for long period of time to different populations (athletes, sedentary, patient, active, young or elderly).     

茶氨酸缓解运动性疲劳研究进展

茶氨酸是茶叶中含有的一种具有多种生理功能的特殊氨基酸。目前,人们对茶氨酸的生理功能研究主要集中于降血压、抑制肿瘤、松弛神经和提高学习记忆力等方面,而对缓解运动性疲劳功能的研究相对较少。阐述了茶氨酸延缓运动性疲劳功能及其机理研究,提出由于茶氨酸具有多种生理活性,以茶氨酸为主体的保健食品、运动饮料或运动营养品将具有广阔的开发前鼍．     

Unusual Bioactive Compounds with Antioxidant Properties in Adjuvant Therapy Supporting Cognition Impairment in Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disorders

Cognitive function decline is strictly related to age, resulting in the loss of the ability to perform daily behaviors and is a fundamental clinical neurodegeneration symptom. It has been proven that an adequate diet, comprehensive nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle may significantly inhibit neurodegenerative processes, improving cognitive functions. Therefore, intensive research has been conducted on cognitive-enhancing treatment for many years, especially with substances of natural origin. There are several intervention programs aimed at improving cognitive functions in elderly adults. Cognitive functions depend on body weight, food consumed daily, the quality of the intestinal microflora, and the supplements used. The effectiveness in the prevention of dementia is particularly high before the onset of the first symptoms. The impact of diet and nutrition on age-associated cognitive decline is becoming a growing field as a vital factor that may be easily modified, and the effects may be observed on an ongoing basis. The paper presents a review of the latest preclinical and clinical studies on the influence of natural antioxidants on cognitive functions, with particular emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, despite the promising research results in animal models, the clinical application of natural compounds will only be possible after solving a few challenges.     

我国聚氨酯合成材料运动场地面层的发展和现状

介绍了聚氨酯合成材料运动场地面层的发展历程和技术进展情况,包括固化剂配方改进、多异氰酸酯升级、施工方法改进等.对不同时期与聚氨酯合成材料面层相关的国家标准内容进行介绍,重点对GB 36246—2018《中小学合成材料面层运动场地》和GB/T 14833—2020《合成材料运动场地面层》进行了解读.     

Metabolomics profiling of xenobiotics in elite athletes: relevance to supplement consumption

Background

Supplements are widely used among elite athletes to maintain health and improve performance. Despite multiple studies investigating use of dietary supplements by athletes, a comprehensive profiling of serum supplement metabolites in elite athletes is still lacking. This study aims to analyze the presence of various xenobiotics in serum samples from elite athletes of different sports, focusing on metabolites that potentially originate from nutritional supplements.

Methods

Profiling of xenobiotics in serum samples from 478 elite athletes from different sports (football, athletics, cycling, rugby, swimming, boxing and rowing) was performed using non-targeted metabolomics-based mass spectroscopy combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography. Multivariate analysis was performed using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Differences in metabolic levels among different sport groups were identified by univariate linear models.

Results

Out of the 102 detected xenobiotics, 21 were significantly different among sport groups including metabolites that potentially prolong exercise tolerance (caffeic acid), carry a nootropic effect (2-pyrrolidinone), exert a potent anti-oxidant effect (eugenol, ferulic acid 4 sulfate, thioproline, retinol), or originate from drugs for different types of injuries (ectoine, quinate). Using Gaussian graphical modelling, a metabolic network that links various sport group-associated xenobiotics was constructed to further understand their metabolic pathways.

Conclusions

This pilot data provides evidence that athletes from different sports exhibit a distinct xenobiotic profile that may reflect their drug/supplement use, diet and exposure to various chemicals. Because of limitation in the study design, replication studies are warranted to confirm results in independent data sets, aiming ultimately for better assessment of dietary supplement use by athletes.

     

蚕丝粉综合利用的研究进展

论述国内外近年来蚕丝粉在化妆品、食品、医疗保健品及化工等方面的研究及利用现状；阐述了蚕丝粉的有效成分及作用机理；并就蚕丝粉的应用前景作了评述，认为蚕丝粉作为一种新型材料将在广泛领域内发挥重要的作用，并将给人们带来可观的经济效益和社会效益。     

Chiral Polymers and Polymeric Particles for Enantioselective Crystallization

Chiral polymers and chiral polymeric particles have emerged as a new and exciting field of research in recent years mainly due to their possibly applications in chiral chemistry. This paper reviews the present state of the art regarding production techniques for the synthesis and applications of chiral polymeric particles. The main methods for preparing of chiral polymeric particles such as: direct polymerization, emulsion, precipitation, and suspension polymerization of chiral monomers, are reviewed. Moreover, in this article we also present the use of chiral polymers as chiral templates for the synthesis of chiral mesoporous materials. In this review we highlighted the properties and parameters involved in the preparation of these chiral polymeric materials. The present review focuses mainly on the use of chiral polymer and chiral polymeric particles for enantioselective crystallization and enantioseparation. References of the most relevant literature published by various research groups are provided. Anyway, it is clear that chiral polymeric particles are a distinctive type of chiral nanomaterials that can find many new application in other fields like, chiral drug delivery systems, enantioselective catalysis. We hope that this review article will inspired new researchers in this field and will boost the research dealing on chiral polymeric particles especially in their implementation in new areas in chiral chemistry.