In order to test the hypothesis that dietary restriction may have a negative influence on physiological and psychological adaptation to a judo competition, we examined the effects of weight loss induced by restricting energy and fluid intake on the physiology, psychology, and physical performance of judo athletes. Twenty male judoka were randomly assigned to one of two groups (Group A: called diet, n = 10; height 174.8 +/- 1.9 cm, body weight 75.9 +/- 3.1 kg; they were asked to lose approximately 5 % of their body weight through self-determined means during the week before the competition; Group B: called control, n = 10; height 176.4 +/- 1.1 cm, body weight 73.3 +/- 6.3 kg maintained their body weight during the week before the competition). A battery of tests was performed during a baseline period (T1), on the morning of a simulated competition (T2) and 10 min after the end of the competition (T3). The test battery included assessment for body composition, performance tests, evaluation of mood, determination of metabolic and hormonal responses. Dietary data were collected using a 7-day diet record. The nutrient analysis indicated that all the athletes followed a low carbohydrate diet whatever the period of the investigation. For the Group A, the food restriction (- 4 MJ per day) resulted in significant decreases of the body weight and altered the mood by increasing Fatigue, Tension and decreasing Vigour. Dietary restriction had also a significant influence on metabolic and endocrine parameters and was associated with poor performance. After the competition, significant decreases of the levels in testosterone, T/C ratio, alkali reserve, and free fatty acid were observed in both groups, whereas the plasma concentrations in insulin, ammonia, urea, and uric acid were increased. In conclusion, our results suggest that the combination of energy restriction and intense exercise training, which causes weight reduction before a competition, adversely affects the physiology and psychology of judo athletes and impairs physical performance before the competition. Our data are the first to demonstrate that a competition including five 5-min bouts induced the same changes of physiological and psychological variables and performance whatever the dietary intake (dietary restriction or not) during the seven days before the competition.

Dietary intake, plasma lipids, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels, anthropometric measurements and anaerobic performance were studied in eleven judo athletes during a period of weight maintenance (T1) and after a 7d food restriction (T2). Dietary data were collected using a 7-day diet record. Nutrient analysis indicated that these athletes followed a low carbohydrate diet whatever the period of the investigation. Moreover, mean micronutrient intakes were below the French recommendations. Food restriction resulted in significant decreases in body weight. In addition, it had significant influence on triglyceride and free fatty acid, although glycerol, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, apolipoprotein A-1 and B did not alter. Left arm strength and 30 s jumping test decreased significantly. The 7 s jumping test was not affected by the food restriction. Regardless of psychological parameters, tension, anger, fatigue and confusion were significantly elevated from T1 to T2; vigor was significantly lower. The data indicated that a 7-day food restriction adversely affects the physiology and psychology of judo athletes and impairs physical performance, possibly due to inadequate carbohydrate and micronutrients.

Objective: To assess energy demand during a judo match and the kinetics of recovery by measuring the metabolites of the oxypurine cascade, lipolytic activity, and glycolytic pathway. Methods: Venous blood samples were taken from 16 national judoists (mean (SEM) age 18.4 (1.6) years), before (T 1 ) and three minutes (T 2 ), one hour (T 3 ), and 24 hours (T 4 ) after a match. A seven day diet record was used to evaluate nutrient intake. Results: Nutrient analysis indicated that these athletes followed a low carbohydrate diet. Plasma lactate concentration had increased to 12.3 (1.8) mmol/l at the end of the match. An increase in the levels of extracellular markers of muscle adenine nucleotide catabolism, urea, and creatinine was observed at T 2 , while uric acid levels remained unchanged. High concentrations of urea persisted for 24 hours during the recovery period. Ammonia, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and creatinine returned to control levels within the 24 hour recovery period. Uric acid concentrations rose from T 3 and had not returned to baseline 24 hours after the match. The levels of triglycerides, glycerol, and free fatty acids had increased significantly (p<0.05) after the match (T 2 ) but returned to baseline values within 24 hours. Concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol were significantly increased after the match. Conclusions: These results show that a judo match induces both protein and lipid metabolism. Carbohydrate availability, training adaptation, and metabolic stress may explain the requirement for these types of metabolism.

We examined the effects of weight loss induced by restricting energy and fluid intake on antioxidant status and oxidative stress of judo athletes. Twenty male judoka were randomly assigned to one of two groups (Group A: called diet, n = 10; height 174.8 +/- 1.9 cm, body weight 75.9 +/- 3.1 kg; they were asked to lose approximately 5 % of their body weight through self-determined means during the week before the competition; Group B: called control, n = 10; height 176.4 +/- 1.1 cm, body weight 73.3 +/- 6.3 kg maintained their body weight during the week before the competition). A battery of tests was performed during a baseline period (T1) on the morning of a simulated competition (T2) and 10 minutes after the end of the competition (T3). These tests included assessment for body composition, determination of lag phase (Lp) before free radical induced oxidation, maximum rate of oxidation (Rmax) during the propagating chain reaction and maximum amount of conjugated dienes (CDmax) accumulated after the propagation phase, and lipidic profile. Uric acid concentrations were also evaluated in plasma. Dietary data were collected using a 7-day diet record. We noted that the athletes followed a low carbohydrate diet whatever the period of the investigation. Concerning antioxidant nutrients, we can notice that mean nutritional intakes are in the normal range values for vitamin A, C and E at T1 and T2. Rapid weight loss induced a significant increase in Lp values (p < 0.05) and uric acid concentrations without alterations in oxidative stress. Our data also showed that the competition induced the same changes of oxidative-antioxidant status whatever the dietary intake during the seven days before the competition. Moreover, the effect of the competition on the antioxidant and oxidant parameters was more pronounced than the diet. Theses results could be linked to the food containing a large proportion of PUFA and a relative low proportion of carbohydrates.

This study underlines for the first time the beneficial effects of such worksite programs among tertiary employees on overall health and the feasibility of its design.

The effect of rapid energy restriction-induced weight loss on judo-related performance remains unclear, and there is a paucity of information regarding the influence of the fight successions during competition. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the cumulative effect of judo fights on physical performance, biological and psychological profiles, of national judo competitors with vs without rapid weight loss. After one month of weight maintenance (Baseline), 20 subjects were randomly divided into two groups the week before a simulated competition: (i) a Weight Loss group (WL; weight loss ≥ 3% of body mass); (ii) a Weight Stable group (WS). The simulated competition was composed of five fights (F1 to F5) separated by 30 min rest. Anthropometric assessments were performed at baseline and on the morning of the simulated competition (T0). Psychological, biological and physical assessments (maximal handgrip strength, upper limb anaerobic capacity) were performed at T0 and after each fight. The variation of body mass between baseline and T0 was significantly different between groups (+1.2% vs −3%; p < .01). The dimensions of the Profile of Mood State questionnaire, the rate of perceived exertion, ammonia, urea and free fatty acid concentrations, maximal strength and time sustained at maximal strength showed a significant group x time interaction at F4 and F5. The study shows that cumulative fights lead to uncoupled responses in physical, psychological and biological parameters in judo competitors who underwent or not rapid weight loss. Specific recovery strategies in terms of nutrition and active recovery should be considered.

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