This study assessed the effects of COVID-19 home confinement on physical activity, sedentary behavior, smartphone use, and sleep patterns. Data was collected in a sample of 20 young adults (mean age ± SD: 22.6 ± 3.4 years; 55% males) over seven days pre- and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Objective and subjective physical activity (Accelerometer and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), respectively), the number of hours sitting (IPAQ), objectively-measured smartphone use (smartphone screen time applications), and objective and subjective sleep (accelerometer and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively) were assessed. Results revealed significantly greater walking time and mean steps (p < 0.001, d = 1.223 to 1.605), and moderate and vigorous physical activity (p < 0.05, d = 0.568 to 0.616), in the pre- compared with the during-COVID-19 lockdown phase. Additionally, smartphone use (p = 0.009, d = 0.654), sitting time (p = 0.002, d = 1.120), and total sleep (p < 0.004, d = 0.666) were significantly greater in the during- compared with the pre-COVID-19 lockdown phase. Multiple regressions analyses showed associations between physical activity and sedentary behavior and sleep quality. The number of hours sitting per day and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity significantly predicted deep sleep (adj.R2 = 0.46). In conclusion, this study revealed that during the COVID-19 outbreak, behaviors changed, with participants spending less time engaging in physical activity, sitting more, spending more time using the smartphone, and sleeping more hours. These findings may be of importance to make recommendations, including lifestyle modifications during this time.

The aim of the present study is to analyse nutritional supplements (NS) consumption by squash players of different levels (international vs. national). A total of 14 international players and 28 national ones answered a NS consumption frequency questionnaire that had been previously validated. A T-Student test was used for independent samples and a χ2 test was used in the comparative analysis among athletes of different levels. International level players consume NS in greater proportion vs. national level players (100% vs. 67.9% p = 0.017), with differences in the consumption of bicarbonate of soda, glutamine, branched-chain amino acids, and flaxseed oil (p < 0.05). Even though international level athletes show a greater total number of NS, as well as of the total of NS of each of the categories based on scientific evidence level (sports food, medical supplements, and ergogenic aids of groups A, B, C, and D) in relation to the national level athletes, no statistically significant differences were detected (p > 0.05). With regard to nutritional advice, there are also differences among performance levels (p = 0.003), being personal trainers (28.6%) and dietitians-nutritionists (21.4%) the greatest prescribers when it comes to international-level players, whereas 55.6% of the national-level players do not receive nutritional advice. The pattern of NS consumption, based on evidence level, is unbalanced and its performance could be favored if the dietitian-nutritionist were included as a nutritional advisor for these athletes.

The sports performance of dinghy sailors is determined by their state of nutrition and hydration. Sports supplementation plays a prominent role in elite sailors, being essential in periods of competition due to its characteristics. This study aims to analyze the consumption of sports supplements (SS) in the different categories and groups of sailors based on the level of evidence, differentiating according to sex, competitive level, and type of boat. A total of 42 sailors from national and international levels and belonging to the Laser, 420, Techno-293 and RS:X classes participated in this study. They completed a questionnaire with questions about the consumption of SS and the possible repercussions on health and/or sports performance. The results were analyzed based on the different categorizations and group organization recently established by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), as well as by sex, level of competition and class to which the participants belonged. The male sailors and those who competed internationally had a higher prevalence in the consumption of SS. Among the classes of vessels studied, class 420 had the lowest SS consumption. SS intake was higher during competition days, regardless of sex or level of competition. Based on the classification established by the AIS, statistically significant differences were observed in sex, level of competition, and the type of boat.

Caffeine used as a supplement has been shown to improve physical and cognitive performance in several sport modalities due to its effects on the central nervous system. This review assesses the direct effects of caffeine supplementation on performance in combat sports. Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines, relevant studies were identified through the Medline, Scopus and SPORTDiscus databases. Of 1053 search results, only 9 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, three studies detected no ergogenic effect of caffeine supplementation, while six studies did observe a significant positive effect. Supplementation with 3–6 mg/kg of caffeine was found to increase the glycolytic contribution to energy metabolism during the execution of real or simulated combats, as indicated by elevated blood lactate concentrations. Caffeine intake was also noted to improve levels of strength, power and upper arm muscular endurance. These effects were not paralleled by an increase in the exertion perceived by the athlete.

The use of doping agents has these days become a public health problem, as it also affects young and non-competitive amateurs in different sports. To prepare for competition, bodybuilders perform aggressive dietary protocols, so, bodybuilders frequently consume nutritional supplements (NS) and banned substances in large dosages. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of banned substances consumption and NS intake in competitive level bodybuilders. A total of 48 bodybuilders (44 males and 4 females) completed a validated online questionnaire on NS consumption. The quantitative data was presented as a mean (M) ± standard deviation (SD), as well as having minimum and maximum values. The categorical variables were expressed using frequencies and percentages. 83.3% of the participants declared that they had consumed or would consume banned substances, the most consumed being anabolic steroids (72.9%). One hundred percent of those sampled use NS. Whey protein (96%), branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) (94%), creatine (85%) and vitamin complexes (83%) were the most consumed, however, there is a low consumption of certain NS which could also increase athletic performance.

Childhood and adolescent obesity are currently among the greatest challenges for public health. Physical activity, physical fitness, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), representing powerful indicators of healthy lifestyles, are shown as determinant factors in the prevention and treatment of obesity. The aim of the present study has been to analyse the relationship between health-related physical fitness components, body composition, and adherence to MD in 387 Icelandic adolescents of 13–16-years old (54% boys). The ALPHA Fitness Test was used to measure physical fitness and body composition. The KIDMED questionnaire was used to assess the adherence to MD among participants. Associations between variables were tested according to gender and age using linear regression models and analysis of variance. Participants with high/medium adherence to MD showed significantly higher endurance scores in both the boys and the girls. Gender differences were found. The boys in high/medium MD categories had significantly lower fat percentages and ran a 4 × 10 m sprint faster than the girls. The girls scored higher than the boys in endurance and speed-agility tests. It can be concluded that a high and medium adherence to MD is associated with high and very high endurance in both the girls and the boys.

Strong evidence during the last few decades has highlighted the importance of nutrition for sport performance, the role of carbohydrates (CHO) being of special interest. Glycogen is currently not only considered an energy substrate but also a regulator of the signaling pathways that regulate exercise-induced adaptations. Thus, low or high CHO availabilities can result in both beneficial or negative results depending on the purpose. On the one hand, the depletion of glycogen levels is a limiting factor of performance during sessions in which high exercise intensities are required; therefore ensuring a high CHO availability before and during exercise is of major importance. A high CHO availability has also been positively related to the exercise-induced adaptations to resistance training. By contrast, a low CHO availability seems to promote endurance-exercise-induced adaptations such as mitochondrial biogenesis and enhanced lipolysis. In the present narrative review, we aim to provide a holistic overview of how CHO availability impacts physical performance as well as to provide practical recommendations on how training and nutrition might be combined to maximize performance. Attending to the existing evidence, no universal recommendations regarding CHO intake can be given to athletes as nutrition should be periodized according to training loads and objectives.

Word Count: 247 28 Text Only Word Count: 2564 29 30 Abstract 2 Purpose: Dietary supplementation with inorganic nitrate (NO 3 -) can enhance high-3intensity exercise performance by improving skeletal muscle contractility and 4 metabolism, but the extent to which this might be linked to altered psychophysiological 5 processes is presently unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 6 NO 3 --rich beetroot juice (BJ) supplementation on profile of mood states (POMS), 7 ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and performance in a 30 s Wingate cycle test. 8 Methods: In a double blind, randomized, crossover study, 15 subjects completed two 9 laboratory sessions after ingesting NO 3 --rich or NO 3 --depleted (placebo) BJ. Participants 10 initially completed the POMS questionnaire. Subsequently, participants completed a 11 warm-up followed by a 30 s all-out Wingate cycling test. After the Wingate test, 12 participants immediately indicated the RPE of their leg muscles (RPE muscular ), 13 cardiovascular system (RPE cardio ) and general RPE (RPE general ). Results: Compared to 14the placebo condition, supplementation with BJ increased peak power output (W peak ) 15 (+4.4%, 11.5 ± 0.7 vs. 11.1 ± 1.0 W·kg -1 , p = 0.039) and lowered the time taken to 16 reach W peak (7.3 ± 0.9 vs. 8.7 ± 1.5 s, p = 0.002) during the Wingate test. The POMS 17 score linked to tension was increased prior to the Wingate test (4.8 ± 3.0 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4, p 18 = 0.040), and RPE muscular was lowered immediately following the Wingate test (17.7 ± 19 1.6 vs. 18.3 ± 1.0, p = 0.031), after BJ compared to placebo ingestion. Conclusions: 20 Acute BJ supplementation improved pre-exercise tension, and 30 s Wingate test 21 performance, and lowered post-exercise RPE muscular . 22 23 states 25 26 30However, although many commercially available supplements claim to improve sports 31 performance, such claims are not always supported by a firm foundation of robust 32 scientific evidence. To overcome this ambiguity, and to provide evidence-based 33 recommendations for dietary supplementation to enhance sports performance, the 34 International Olympic Committee has recently published a classification for nutritional 35 supplements based on the scientific evidence to support their ergogenic efficacy 1 . One 36 dietary supplement classified as having a high level of scientific evidence to support an 37 ergogenic effect was inorganic nitrate (NO 3 -). 38The ergogenic effects of NO 3supplementation, which is typically administered in 39 the form of NO 3 --rich beetroot juice (BJ), is attributed to its stepwise reduction to nitrite 40 and subsequently nitric oxide (NO) as NO 3is considered biologically inert 2 . After 41 NO 3supplementation, the increase in plasma [nitrite] serves as a circulating substrate 42 for O 2 -independent NO generation 2 , with the reduction of nitrite to NO enhanced in 43 conditions of hypoxia and acidosis 23 . Some of the physiological processes that have 44 been reported to be enhanced by increase NO exposure, which might underpi...