Impact of Optimal Timing of Intake of Multi-Ingredient Performance Supplements on Sports Performance, Muscular Damage, and Hormonal Behavior across a Ten-Week Training Camp in Elite Cyclists: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Multi-ingredient performance supplements (MIPS), ingested pre- or post-workout, have been shown to increase physiological level effects and integrated metabolic response on exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of pre-and post-training supplementation with its own MIPS, associated with CHO (1 g·kg−1) plus protein (0.3 g·kg−1) on exercise-related benchmarks across a training camp for elite cyclists. Thirty elite male cyclists participated in a randomized non-placebo-controlled trial for ten weeks assigned to one of three groups (n = 10 each): a control group treated with CHO plus protein after training (CG); a group treated with MIPS before training and a CHO plus protein after training, (PRE-MIPS); a group treated with CHO plus protein plus MIPS after training, (POST-MIPS). Performance parameters included (VO2max, peak; median and minimum power (W) and fatigue index (%)); hormonal response (Cortisol; Testosterone; and Testosterone/Cortisol ratio); and muscle biomarkers (Creatine kinase (CK), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and Myoglobin (Mb)) were assessed. MIPS administered before or after training (p ≤ 0.05) was significantly influential in attenuating CK, LDH, and MB; stimulating T response and modulating C; and improved on all markers of exercise performance. These responses were greater when MIPS was administered post-workout.

Adequacy of an Altitude Fitness Program (Living and Training) plus Intermittent Exposure to Hypoxia for Improving Hematological Biomarkers and Sports Performance of Elite Athletes: A Single-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

“…and documented the athletes’ daily food and fluid intake throughout the trial. The athletes followed a specific method for dietary recall, which consisted of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that has previously been used for other sports populations [ 22 ] being completed at T3. They completed the FFQ to record the “frequency” with which they had consumed 139 different types of food and drink over the previous 8 weeks.…”

“…The frequency categories were based on the number of times that a food or beverage was consumed per day, week or month and the portion size. The serving sizes were estimated using the standard weight of the food items or using a book that contained over 500 photographs of food [ 22 ]. Energy (kcal) and macronutrient (g) consumption was determined by dividing the reported intake by the frequency (in days) using a validated software package (Easy diet © , online version 2020, Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Madrid, Spain) [ 23 ].…”

The Effects of 6 Weeks of Tribulus terrestris L. Supplementation on Body Composition, Hormonal Response, Perceived Exertion, and CrossFit® Performance: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

“…Percent variations in plasma volume (% ∆PV) were estimated using Van Beaumont's method. Moreover, analytical marker values were adjusted using the following equation: Corrected value = Uncorrected value × [(100 + % ∆PV)/100)] [32,33].…”

“…A Registered Professional Dietician Nutritionist carefully documented in detail the subjects' daily food and fluid intake throughout the trial. The CrossFit ® athletes were briefed on two diet-tracking systems [32,33]: (i) a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at T2 and (ii) a questionnaire dietary recall of the previous 7 days to T2. This 7-day dietary recall questionnaire was performed to verify that the results were like those obtained with the FFQ.…”

Effects of Tribulus terrestris L. on Sport and Health Biomarkers in Physically Active Adult Males: A Systematic Review

“…Blood circulation is responsible for biochemical, metabolic, hormonal, and immunological processes, and for maintaining homeostasis in the body. Therefore, it is important to assess the physiological changes and adverse effects that may occur under the influence of sports activity or nutritional supplements used through biomarker analysis [ 19 ]. Additionally, knowledge of the physiological action of supplements for physicians, nutritionists, coaches, and athletes in the sports field may be of interest considering many new over-the-counter herbal products, with little evidence given the limited number of clinical trials and updated information.…”