THIS REVIEW PROVIDES A STOCK TAKE OF BADMINTON-SPECIFIC CHANGE OF DIRECTION (COD) RESEARCH AND PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS TO PRACTITIONERS FOR COD ASSESSMENT. THE REVIEW WILL EXAMINE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN COD AND THE FOLLOWING MEASURES: ANTHROPOMETRY, ELASTIC STRENGTH, CONCENTRIC STRENGTH, LEG MUSCLE IMBALANCES, TECHNIQUE, STRAIGHT-LINE SPRINT SPEED, AND FLEXIBILITY. A BADMINTON-SPECIFIC COD ASSESSMENT BATTERY IS PROPOSED WITH THE INCLUSION OF 2 NEW TESTS: A MULTIDIRECTIONAL LUNGE TEST AND A MULTIDIRECTIONAL CYCLIC COD TEST.

Inflammatory and oxidative processes are tightly regulated by innate and adaptive immune systems, which are involved in the pathology of a diversity of chronic diseases. Soybean peptides, such as lunasin, have emerged as one of the most hopeful food-derived peptides with a positive impact on health. The aim was to study the potential antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of a lunasin-enriched soybean extract (LES). The protein profile of LES was characterized, and its behavior under simulated gastrointestinal digestion was evaluated. Besides its in vitro radical scavenging capacity, LES and lunasin’s effects on cell viability, phagocytic capacity, oxidative stress, and inflammation-associated biomarkers were investigated in both RAW264.7 macrophages and lymphocytes EL4. Lunasin and other soluble peptides enriched after aqueous solvent extraction partially resisted the action of digestive enzymes, being potentially responsible for the beneficial effects of LES. This extract scavenged radicals, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exerted immunostimulatory effects, increasing nitric oxide (NO) production, phagocytic activity, and cytokine release in macrophages. Lunasin and LES also exerted dose-dependent immunomodulatory effects on EL4 cell proliferation and cytokine production. The modulatory effects of soybean peptides on both immune cell models suggest their potential protective role against oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune response-associated disorders.

It is estimated that by 2050, the world’s population will exceed 10 billion people, which will lead to a deterioration in global food security. To avoid aggravating this problem, FAO and WHO have recommended dietary changes to reduce the intake of animal calories and increase the consumption of sustainable, nutrient-rich, and calorie-efficient products. Moreover, due to the worldwide rising incidence of non-communicable diseases and the demonstrated impact of diet on the risk of these disorders, the current established food pattern is focused on the consumption of foods that have functionality for health. Among promising sources of functional foods, microalgae are gaining worldwide attention because of their richness in high-value compounds with potential health benefits. However, despite the great opportunities to exploit microalgae in functional food industry, their use remains limited by challenges related to species diversity and variations in cultivation factors, changes in functional composition during extraction procedures, and limited evidence on the safety and bioavailability of microalgae bioactives. The aim of this review is to provide an updated and comprehensive discussion on the nutritional value, biological effects, and digestibility of two microalgae genera, Tetraselmis and Nannochloropsis, as basis of their potential as ingredients for the development of functional foods.