Metabolic and Body Composition Changes in Ice Hockey Players Using an Ergogenic Drug (Cytoflavin)

Abstract

Background and objectives: In ice hockey, the major physical workload comes from acceleration in all planes of motion and transitions between skating trajectories. Hockey players’ anthropometric characteristics correlate with performance. In team sports, the use of ergogenic drugs for recovery is relevant to avoid athletes’ overtraining. It is very important to protect athletes’ health and allow them to maintain high-performance levels. Cytoflavin is an ergogenic drug whose action is based on the combined effects of its active ingredients (succinic acid, inosine, nicotinamide and riboflavin), which are naturally occurring metabolites that stimulate tissue respiration. The study aimed to assess the 6-week Cytoflavin consumption effects on body composition (body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage and bioimpedance phase angle) and aerobic performance. Methods: This study included 60 male professional hockey players (aged 19 to 36 years) divided into two groups of 30 subjects: group I (body weight 87.90 ± 7.44 kg, BMI 25.86 ± 2.04 kg/m2) and group II (body weight 87.04 ± 6.22 kg, BMI 25.52 ± 2.38 kg/m2). Athletes in group I received Cytoflavin, whereas athletes in group II did not. Results: In group I, statistically significant reductions in body weight and body mass index were not observed until 14 and 35 days, respectively. In contrast, in group II, both body weight and BMI significantly decreased both times. Aerobic performance significantly increased in both groups, with significantly greater increases in group I. Conclusions: Cytoflavin can be considered an ergogenic drug that improves body composition parameters, especially in the control of weight reduction and improvement in aerobic performance.

Cross-Sectional Study of the Anthropometric Profile and Nutrient Status of Elite Female Ice Hockey Players: Differences by Play Position

“…All the female athletes under study were classified and analyzed by positions (defender n = 3, center n = 5, winger n = 5, goalkeeper n = 2) as the objective of the study and due to their specificity of match performance [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…Ice hockey is an interval team sport, with intermittent bouts of high intensity followed by longer-duration bouts of passive rest [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], requiring both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism as energy sources. To meet the energy demands and nutritional needs of an intense training regimen, the female field hockey player needs a well-chosen diet that provides the energy necessary for optimal physiological functioning and includes a wide variety of foods rich in vitamins and minerals [ 3 , 4 ]. Furthermore, modern ice hockey is performed at high speed and is considered one of the most contact sports, with a high risk of injury, including concussion [ 5 ].…”

“…Optimization of body composition promotes optimal performance in ice hockey players [ 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Additional lean body mass contributes to power generation and speed, and reduced fat mass decreases frictional resistance during skating, so it is of great importance to assess body composition with accuracy and precision [ 12 ].…”

Nutrition Status of Female Winter Sports Athletes

“…Ice hockey is a contact team sport with intermittent bouts of high intensity [5,6], in which players are characterized by both muscle strength and endurance muscle power [2,7,8]. Thus, this sport requires aerobic and anaerobic metabolism as energy sources [9]. Figure skating requires aerobic and anaerobic endurance as well [10].…”

“…These cold and altitude conditions, as well as the specific requirements of each sport, result in a combination of environmental stress and metabolic challenges that accelerate the onset of fatigue, decrease performance, and have several nutritional implications [3,13]. Moreover, most winter sports athletes undergo periods of highly intensive training, requiring increased energy and nutrient intakes, as well as adequate nutrition and hydration before, during, and after training [9].…”