Acute Effects of Nicotine on Physiological Responses and Sport Performance in Healthy Baseball Players

Abstract

There is interest in whether nicotine could enhance attention in sporting performance, but evidence on the acute effect of nicotine on physical response and sports performance in baseball players remains scant. This was an observational study to examine whether nicotine gum chewed before exercise could provide acute effects on physiological responses and sport performance. Accordingly, heart rate variability (HRV), saliva cotinine concentration and α-amylase activity, cognitive function, muscle strength, and baseball-hitting performance were measured. Thirteen healthy male non-smoker baseball players were recruited. Conducting two sequences with 7-day intervals, they chewed nicotine gum (nicotine group) or flavor-matched placebo gum (placebo group) for 30 min. HRV and saliva analyses were conducted before gum consumption (S1), after gum consumption (S2), and after test completion (S3). Cognitive, muscle strength, and baseball-hitting performance tests were performed after nicotine or placebo gum chewing. The outcomes of all assessed variables were compared within and between the groups. Significant changes in HRV, α-amylase, testosterone, and cortisol were observed in the nicotine group at S2 and S3 (p < 0.05). Compared with the placebo group, the nicotine group exhibited enhanced motor reaction times, grooved pegboard test (GPT) results on cognitive function, and baseball-hitting performance, and small effect sizes were noted (d = 0.47, 0.46 and 0.41, respectively). Nicotine could induce changes in endocrine and sympathetic nerve activity and enhance cognitive function and baseball-hitting performance. However, no increase in muscle strength was observed after nicotine intake.

Pharmaceutical interventions: A solution to stop smoking

“…It is noted that most smokers believe that it would be a useless and hard job to reduce the consumption of nicotine because it has become their habit now. 6 Meanwhile, according to Fang, Lu, Lin, Kuo, Sun, Chen, Chang, 1 the smokers who were consuming tobacco in the past believed that with the help of different alternatives including nicotine gum it has become easier for them to give up the consumption of tobacco. The study of Fernandes, Oliveira, Silva, Santos 10 demonstrates that it is also important to consider that human perception is different from person to person and in this regard, the responsibility of the authority is to ensure that the conception of tobacco should be reduced in society.…”

“… 17 However, in rich countries, these nicotine patches are easily available to every citizen. 1 It is important to consider that the pharma industry has developed this kind of alternative in the form of nicotine patch that is helping people to improve their standard of living. According to the study of, 18 nicotine is not health-friendly, but a large number of people are consuming tobacco because of their addiction over the past few years.…”

“…However, not only medical and modern treatment is approaching to people for providing a sustainable and healthy way of living, but at the same time, diseases are increasing, particularly it is noted in the tobacco industry and its consumption. 1 In India, a large number of the population is involved in consuming tobacco, and taking nicotine has become a habit for people Digard, Proctor, Kulasekaran, Malmqvist, Richter. 2 According to the study of Maclaskey, Buchholz, Hodges, Bourgeois, 3 a large number of researches have been conducted on it, and different ways of treatment are introduced, but the consumption of nicotine is not reduced in India.…”

“…It is also a fact that the pharmaceutical industry of India is working on a limited pattern to develop new ways and effective treatments and therapies to reduce the consumption of nicotine from the people of India. 1 On the other hand, contrary to the Indian pharma industry, the different rich and advanced countries in medicines are working on the pattern to improve the health of chain smokers by reducing their consumption of nicotine to limit their smoking behavior. 4 …”

“… 5 Importantly, the modern treatment for nicotine consumption is nicotine replacement therapy which has a critical impact on smoking behavior of people. 1 In Norway, nicotine replacement therapy is being practiced on a larger scale, to ensure that the large consumption of tobacco should be reduced, and the people must be treated in effective ways for their betterment. 4 In this regard, the attitude of the smoker matters a lot, and to change this attitude, the government and other regulatory authorities are spreading social awareness programs to educate the people to realize them smoking is not better for them.…”