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Nutrition and Training Strategies for the Female

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 May 2023) | Viewed by 26947

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valentín E. Fernández-Elías

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Sports Sciences, European University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: exercise; physical activity; sports; hydration; health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Olga López Torres

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: coronavirus; lockdown; home-based training; fitness; physical condition in older adults; functionality; physical activity; sedentary behavior
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The presence of women in sports, both amateur and professional, has increased in recent decades. Furthermore, women are increasingly engaging in fitness exercise programs to improve their health and wellness. Nevertheless, specific knowledge about nutrition and training strategies, such as training programs, training methods, and the optimal concurrent nutrition interventions to enhance performance, health, and wellbeing has been developed mainly in males. The specific information applied to women has been investigated to a lesser extent, and thus, it is common in the practice to apply strategies tested in men. Due to the physiological, anatomical, and biological differences between men and women, it become essential to independently study women.

In this line, there is an increasing demand to adapt combined training programs with nutritional control, ingestion of nutritional supplements, and/or use of ergogenic aids to women particularities (e.g., menstrual cycle, contraceptive treatments, iron deficiency), in order to help both competition and fitness, to enhance adaptations, and thus optimize improvements in performance, wellness, and health.

Therefore, in this Special Issue, we are looking for original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses addressing the necessity to deeply know the specific effects of combined training and nutrition interventions in female exercise practitioners’ adaptations, health, and performance.

Dr. Valentín E. Fernández-Elías
Dr. Olga López Torres
Guest Editors

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Keywords

females
training
exercise
supplements
ergogenic aids
sport nutrition
fitness
women performance

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1212 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dietary Intake, Biological Status, and Barriers towards Omega-3 Intake in Elite Level (Tier 4), Female Athletes: Pilot Study

by Matthew P. Hooks, Sharon M. Madigan, Jayne V. Woodside and Anne P. Nugent

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 2821; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132821 - 21 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2862

Abstract

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) have unique properties which benefit athlete populations. The literature investigating NCAA collegiate, rugby sevens and German endurance athletes indicates suboptimal n-3 PUFA dietary intake and biological status. The aims of this study were: (i) to explore the dietary intakes and FA profiles of elite level, team-based, female athletes and (ii) to understand perceived barriers towards achieving n-3 dietary guidelines. A total of 35 athletes (24.8 ± 4.5 years) completed both a questionnaire and a finger prick test. All the participants reported consuming fish and seafood over the previous six months however only nine athletes consumed ≥ 2 servings of fish per week. Four participants reported using an n-3 supplement. The mean omega-3 index (O3I; including supplementers) was below target levels of >8% (5.19 ± 0.86%). O3I was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in those consuming ≥ 2 servings of fish per week and/or supplements (5.91 ± 0.81%) compared with those who did not (4.82 ± 0.63%). The main barriers reported by those not consuming two servings of fish per week were sensory (n = 11; 42%), cooking skills (n = 10; 38%) and knowledge of n-3 benefits (n = 7; 27%). The current study shows that elite level female athletes present with suboptimal n-3 dietary intake and O3I due to their food preferences, cooking skills and n-3 knowledge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Training Strategies for the Female)

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14 pages, 1098 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Hematological Parameters of Iron Status and Total Iron Concentrations in Different Biological Matrices during a Sports Season in Women’s Soccer Players

by Víctor Toro-Román, María C. Robles-Gil, Ignacio Bartolomé, Francisco J. Grijota, Diego Muñoz and Marcos Maynar-Mariño

Nutrients 2023, 15(8), 1833; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081833 - 11 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1946

Abstract

Iron (Fe) metabolism and concentrations change during a sports season. Fe deficiency affects a significant number of women athletes. The aims of the present study were: (i) to analyze changes in hematological parameters of Fe status and (ii) to analyze changes in Fe concentrations in different biological matrices (serum, plasma, urine, erythrocytes, and platelets) during a sports season. Twenty-four Spanish semi-professional women’s soccer players (23.37 ± 3.95 years) participated in the present study. Three assessments were performed throughout the sports season (beginning, middle and end of the season). Nutritional intake was evaluated and female hormones, hematological parameters of Fe status and Fe concentrations in plasma, serum, urine, erythrocytes and platelets were determined. There were no differences in Fe intake. Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations increased at the end of the season compared to initial values (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in extracellular Fe concentrations (plasma, serum, and urine). However, erythrocyte Fe concentrations were lower at the end of the season (p < 0.05). Hematological parameters of Fe status and intracellular Fe concentrations change throughout the sports season in women’s soccer players. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Training Strategies for the Female)

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11 pages, 581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Female US Marine Recruits: Workload, Caloric Expenditure, Fitness, Injury Rates, and Menstrual Cycle Disruption during Bootcamp

by Andrea C. Givens, Jake R. Bernards and Karen R. Kelly

Nutrients 2023, 15(7), 1639; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071639 - 28 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4228

Abstract

Basic training is centered on developing the physical and tactical skills essential to train a recruit into a Marine. The abrupt increase in activity and energy expenditure in young recruits may contribute to high rates of musculoskeletal injuries, to which females are more susceptible. To date, the total workload of United State Marine Corps (USMC) bootcamp is unknown and should include movement around the military base (e.g., to and from dining facilities, training locations, and classrooms). Thus, the purpose of this effort was to quantify workload and caloric expenditure, as well as qualitatively assess the impact of female reproductive health and injury rates in female recruits. Female recruits (n = 79; age: 19.1 ± 0.2 years, weight: 59.6 ± 0.8 kg, height: 161.6 ± 0.7 cm) wore physiological monitors daily throughout 10 weeks of USMC bootcamp. Physical fitness test scores, physiological metrics from wearables, injury data, and menstrual cycle information were obtained. Female recruits on average expended 3096 ± 9 kcal per day, walked 11.0 ± 0.1 miles per day, and slept 5:43 ± 1:06 h:min per night throughout the 10 weeks of bootcamp. About one-third (35%) of female recruits sustained an injury. In a subset of females that were not taking birth control and had previously been menstruating, 85% experienced cycle dysfunction during boot camp. High levels of physical activity and caloric expenditure, coupled with the stress of a new environment and insufficient sleep, may lead to alterations in female reproductive cycles and musculoskeletal injuries in young USMC recruits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Training Strategies for the Female)

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14 pages, 1266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of p-Synephrine on Fat Oxidation Rate during Exercise of Increasing Intensity in Healthy Active Women

by Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín, Millán Aguilar-Navarro, Carlos Ruiz-Moreno, Alejandro Muñoz, Francisco J. Amaro-Gahete, María Posada-Ayala, Álvaro López-Samanes, Juan Del Coso and David Varillas-Delgado

Nutrients 2022, 14(20), 4352; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204352 - 17 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2969

Abstract

p-Synephrine is the principal alkaloid of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium). Several recent investigations have found that the intake of 2–3 mg/kg of p-synephrine raises fat oxidation rate during exercise of low-to-moderate intensity. However, these investigations have been carried out only with samples of male participants or mixed men/women samples. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to study the effect of p-synephrine intake on fat oxidation during exercise of increasing intensity in healthy women. Using a double-blind, randomized experiment, 18 healthy recreationally active women performed two identical exercise trials after the ingestion of (a) 3 mg/kg of p-synephrine and (b) 3 mg/kg of a placebo (cellulose). The exercise trials consisted of a ramp test (from 30 to 80% of maximal oxygen uptake; VO₂max) on a cycle ergometer while substrate oxidation rates were measured at each workload by indirect calorimetry. In comparison to the placebo, the intake of p-synephrine increased resting tympanic temperature (36.1 ± 0.5 vs. 36.4 ± 0.4 °C p = 0.033, d = 0.87) with no effect on resting heart rate (p = 0.111) and systolic (p = 0.994) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.751). During exercise, there was no significant effect of p-synephrine on fat oxidation rate (F = 0.517; p = 0.484), carbohydrate oxidation rate (F = 0.730; p = 0.795), energy expenditure rate (F = 0.480; p = 0.833), heart rate (F = 4.269; p = 0.068) and participant’s perceived exertion (F = 0.337; p = 0.580). The maximal rate of fat oxidation with placebo was 0.26 ± 0.10 g/min and it was similar with p-synephrine (0.28 ± 0.08 g/min, p = 0.449, d = 0.21). An acute intake of 3 mg/kg of p-synephrine before exercise did not modify energy expenditure and substrate oxidation during submaximal aerobic exercise in healthy active women. It is likely that the increase in resting tympanic temperature induced by p-synephrine hindered the effect of this substance on fat utilization during exercise in healthy active women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Training Strategies for the Female)

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Review

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28 pages, 2658 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ergogenic Aids to Improve Physical Performance in Female Athletes: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

by Olga López-Torres, Celia Rodríguez-Longobardo, Raquel Capel-Escoriza and Valentín E. Fernández-Elías

Nutrients 2023, 15(1), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15010081 - 24 Dec 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 9797

Abstract

Most intervention studies investigating the effects of ergogenic aids (EAs) on sports performance have been carried out in the male population. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the effects in the existing literature of EAs used by female athletes on performance. A literature research was conducted, and a descriptive analysis of the articles included in the systematic review was carried out. Meta-analyses could be performed on 32 of the included articles, evaluating performance in strength, sprint, and cardiovascular capacity. A random-effects model and the standardized mean differences (SMD) ± 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. The results showed that caffeine helped to improve jumping performance, isometric strength values, and the number of repetitions until failure. Caffeine and sodium phosphate helped to improve sprint performance. Aerobic tests could be improved with the use of taurine, caffeine, and beta-alanine. No conclusive effects of beetroot juice, polyphenols, or creatine in improving aerobic performance were shown. In terms of anaerobic variables, both caffeine and sodium phosphate could help to improve repeated sprint ability. More studies are needed in female athletes that measure the effects of different EAs on sports performance, such as beetroot juice, beta-alanine or sodium phosphate, as the studies to date are scarce and there are many types of EA that need to be further considered in this population, such as creatine and taurine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Training Strategies for the Female)

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Other

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14 pages, 837 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Effects of Polyphenol Consumption on Recovery in Team Sport Athletes of Both Sexes: A Systematic Review

by Mariana Sánchez Díaz, Adrián Martín-Castellanos, Valentín E. Fernández-Elías, Olga López Torres and Jorge Lorenzo Calvo

Nutrients 2022, 14(19), 4085; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194085 - 1 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3825

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that polyphenol consumption enhances recovery of the muscle after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). However, EIMD markers have not been studied by sport type. The main aim of this research was to perform a systematic review to determine the efficacy of polyphenolic consumption in increasing muscle recovery for performing team sport skills. Eligible studies included, following PICOS structure, presented at least one of the following outcomes: maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVIC); countermovement jump (CMJ); delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS); 20 m sprint test; creatine kinase (CK); and C-reactive protein (hsCRP). A structured search was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale tool. The review showed a possibly positive impact of polyphenol consumption on recovery after EIMD in team sports athletes. No differences were found between sexes. Considering the limitations, there is moderate to very low certainty of polyphenol supplementation effects on recovery of team sport females and males. A dose of 60 mL/day, divided into two times per day, ingested for >7 days may present positive effects on muscle function and muscle soreness in team sport athletes. However, further investigation is required, specifically in females. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Training Strategies for the Female)

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