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Effects of Nutrient Intake on Exercise Recovery and Adaptation

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 April 2025 | Viewed by 2249

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, Massey University, Palmerston North 4472, New Zealand
Interests: exercise; sports performance; dietary; nutrition; muscle damage; resistance training
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Optimising adaptation to exercise is primarily determined by the stimulus being placed on the body’s various physiological systems. However, nutrition plays an essential role in facilitating recovery and adaptation through the provision of energy substrates and macro- and micro-nutrients. While many studies focus on acute responses, such as inflammation and functional recovery, an understanding of how longer-term dietary interventions can influence chronic adaptation to exercise, and subsequent physical performance, is essential. Therefore, this special issue aims to advance our understanding of how nutrition interacts with exercise to influence recovery, physiological adaptation, and performance. This may include, but is not limited to, studies investigating the effects of nutrient timing, optimal nutrient intake, and common and novel foods and supplements on recovery and/or adaptation to all forms of exercise, in any population.

Dr. Matthew Barnes
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • exercise
  • recovery
  • delayed onset muscle soreness
  • eccentric exercise
  • fatigue
  • resistance training
  • endurance training
  • sport performance
  • adaptation
  • nutrition
  • nutrient intake
  • metabolism
  • skeletal muscle

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 5892 KiB  
Article
Combined Effects of Spirulina Liquid Extract and Endurance Training on Aerobic Performance and Muscle Metabolism Adaptation in Wistar Rats
by Jordi Vignaud, Céline Loiseau, Martine Côme, Isabelle Martin, Rova Rasoanarivo, Josiane Hérault, Claire Mayer, Olivier Lépine and Lionel Ulmann
Nutrients 2025, 17(2), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17020283 - 14 Jan 2025
Viewed by 716
Abstract
Background: Physical activity, such as running, protects against cardiovascular disease and obesity but can induce oxidative stress. Athletes often consume antioxidants to counteract the overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during exercise. Spirulina, particularly its phycocyanin content, activates the Nrf2 pathway, [...] Read more.
Background: Physical activity, such as running, protects against cardiovascular disease and obesity but can induce oxidative stress. Athletes often consume antioxidants to counteract the overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during exercise. Spirulina, particularly its phycocyanin content, activates the Nrf2 pathway, stimulating antioxidant responses. Studies show that phycocyanin enhances antioxidant defenses and reduces inflammation, potentially improving muscle adaptation and recovery. This study evaluates a Spirulina liquid extract (SLE) supplementation during endurance training, hypothesizing that phycocyanin improves oxidant status and performance in soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles. Methods: Three-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a sedentary control group (C), a sedentary group supplemented with SLE (SP), an endurance training group (T), and an endurance training group supplemented with SLE (SPT). After 8 weeks of treadmill training, blood and muscle were collected. Biochemical parameters and gene expression analyses were performed to assess the effects of training and supplementation. Results: The maximal aerobic speed improved significantly in the SPT group. Plasma lipid profiles showed a reduction in triglyceridemia, cholesterolemia, and atherogenic index in the trained groups, especially with SLE supplementation. Muscle malondialdehyde levels decreased in the SPT group compared to T. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of Nrf2 and mitochondrial biogenesis genes in both muscles, with differences between groups for genes related to glycogen storage and β-oxidation. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that SLE supplementation enhanced exercise performance and promoted muscle molecular adaptations. These findings suggest SLE as a promising functional food supplement for athletes, optimizing recovery and performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Nutrient Intake on Exercise Recovery and Adaptation)
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14 pages, 1764 KiB  
Article
Comparing the Effects of Collagen Hydrolysate and Dairy Protein on Recovery from Eccentric Exercise: A Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
by Rachel Barclay, Jane Coad, Katie Schraders and Matthew J. Barnes
Nutrients 2024, 16(24), 4389; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244389 - 20 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1175
Abstract
Background: Consuming collagen hydrolysate (CH) may improve symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD); however, its acute effects have not been compared to dairy protein (DP), the most commonly consumed form of protein supplement. Therefore, this study compared the effects of CH and DP [...] Read more.
Background: Consuming collagen hydrolysate (CH) may improve symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD); however, its acute effects have not been compared to dairy protein (DP), the most commonly consumed form of protein supplement. Therefore, this study compared the effects of CH and DP on recovery from EIMD. Methods: Thirty-three males consumed either CH (n = 11) or DP (n = 11), containing 25 g of protein, or an isoenergetic placebo (n = 11) immediately post-exercise and once daily for three days. Indices of EIMD were measured before and 30 min and 24, 48, and 72 h after 30 min of downhill running on a −15% slope at 80% of VO2max speed. Results: Downhill running induced significant EIMD, with time effects (all p < 0.001) for the delayed onset of muscle soreness (visual analogue scale), countermovement jump height, isometric midthigh pull force, maximal voluntary isometric contraction force, running economy, and biomarkers of muscle damage (creatine kinase) and inflammation (interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). However, no group or interaction effects (all p > 0.05) were observed for any of the outcome measures. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the post-exercise consumption of CH or DP does not improve indices of EIMD during the acute recovery period in recreationally active males. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Nutrient Intake on Exercise Recovery and Adaptation)
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