Background: The use of sports supplements (SS) to improve sports performance is widespread in all types of athletes, however, the specific characteristics of mountain races may require the use of certain SS. Despite being a sport where the consumption of SS seems widespread, few studies have been conducted in this regard. The objective of this study is to analyze the pattern of SS consumption of mountain runners in relation to the degree of scientific evidence, sex, and level of competition. Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study on the consumption and habitual use of SS of 357 federated mountain runners in Spain. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire. Results: From the total sample, 93.84% of the athletes stated that they consumed SS, with no differences observed based on the competitive level or in terms of sex; however, there were significant differences according to the competitive level in terms of the number of SS consumed, with consumption being greater at a higher competitive level (p = 0.009). The most consumed SS were sports bars (66.1%), sports drinks (60.5%), sports gels (52.9%), and caffeine (46.2%). Conclusions: The consumption of SS in mountain races is high, and the number of SS consumed is higher as the competition level increases. The four SS most consumed by the participants in this study were all included in category A in the classification of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), this category is the one with the greatest scientific evidence.

Background: The use of sports supplements (SS) to improve sports performance is very common in athletes. In the case of triathletes, the physiological characteristics of the sport may require the use of certain SS. Although the consumption of SS is widespread in this sport, very few studies have investigated it thus far. The aim is to analyze the pattern of SS consumption by triathletes according to sex and the competitive level. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study on the consumption and habitual use of SS of 232 Spanish-federated triathletes. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire. Results: Overall, 92.2% of the athletes consumed SS, but no significant differences were found in terms of competition level or sex. Yet, significant differences were found regarding the level of competition for total SS (p = 0.021), the total number of Group A supplements from the AIS classification (p = 0.012), and for the ergogenic aids (p = 0.003). The most-consumed SS were bars, sports drinks, sports gels, and caffeine (83.6%, 74.1%, 61.2%, and 46.6%, respectively). Conclusions: The consumption of SS by triathletes is high, and the number of SS consumed rises from the regional to the national and international levels. The four SS most consumed were included in category A of the AIS (greatest scientific evidence).

Introduction Handball is a team sport whose performance depends on a large number of factors. The objectives of the present study were to analyze the differences in physical performance, kinanthropometric variables, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), in handball players according to sports category, as well as the possible relationships between these variables. Methods One hundred and thirty-three male handball players (35 infant; 46 cadets; 26 juniors and 26 seniors players) underwent a kinanthropometric analysis following the ISAK protocol, self-completed the KIDMED questionnaire, and their physical condition was evaluated with different physical tests. Results Significant differences (p < 0.001–0.007) were found between the sports categories in most of the physical condition variables and anthropometric characteristics, but not in the degree of adherence to the MD. The predominant level of adherence to the MD was medium (47.4%), followed by good (42.1%), and correlated with the body mass, the height, the BMI, the muscle mass and the ∑3-girths sum corrected, but not with physical test results. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that the fat mass and muscle mass variables had a more specific weight in the results of the physical fitness tests. Conclusions There are differences according to sports category in kinanthropometric characteristics and physical fitness tests in adolescent handball players. The predominant degrees of adherence to the MD were medium and good. A relationship was found between anthropometric characteristics and physical performance in handball players.

The aims of this research were to analyze the differences in kinanthropometric characteristics and physical performance as a function of biological maturation, as well as to analyze these differences with the inclusion of the covariates age, maturity offset and diet, and to know how the players were classified according to BMI z-score. Seventy-three handball players (mean age: 14.17 ± 0.61) underwent a kinanthropometric assessment, physical performance tests and self-completed the KIDMED questionnaire. The sample was divided into three groups based on age at peak height velocity (APHV). Significant differences were found for basic measurements, BMI, BMI z-score, Cormic Index, muscle mass, medicine ball throw and SJ jump (p < 0.000–0.048), with early maturers having the highest values. All covariates included had a determinant influence on the kinanthropometric characteristics (p < 0.000–0.014), and both age and maturity offset showed significant differences in most physical tests (p < 0.000–0.033), so these covariates should be considered in evaluations to predict the future performance of players. Finally, significant differences were found between the biological maturation groups in the distribution of the BMI classification, with the normal-weight grade being the predominant one.