Introduction:
Chronic inflammation, connective tissue injuries, and tendinopathies are critical biological factors that can compromise performance sustainability in athletes. Nutrigenetic research has shown that genetic variants related to inflammatory response (IL6, TNF), connective tissue integrity (COL5A1, GDF5), and one-carbon metabolism (MTHFR, MTRR) significantly contribute to these risks. Impairments in one-carbon metabolism may alter methylation efficiency, thereby influencing recovery processes and musculoskeletal health.

Methods:
An anonymized genetic dataset obtained from an athlete’s inflammation, connective tissue, and one-carbon metabolism panels through an Epigenetic Coaching service was analyzed. Identified genotypes were compared with performance- and health-related polymorphisms reported in the literature to construct an individualized biological risk profile.

Results:
The panel revealed that the IL6 (GG) and TNF (AA) genotypes were associated with prolonged exercise-induced inflammation. COL5A1 (TT) and GDF5 (CC) variants were linked to reduced connective tissue resilience and an increased risk of tendon injury. MTHFR (TT) and MTRR (AG) genotypes suggested decreased folate metabolism efficiency and reduced methylation capacity.

Conclusion:
The findings support the hypothesis that optimizing one-carbon metabolism through nutrients such as active folate (5-MTHF), vitamins B6 and B12, and choline could potentially enhance methylation efficiency and modulate inflammation. However, this interpretation remains hypothesis-based and requires validation in future studies. Personalized supplementation guided by genetic profiling may represent a promising yet exploratory approach to improving recovery, reducing injury risk, and supporting overall athletic performance.

In athletes, perspiration depletes reserves of minerals and electrolytes and oxidative stress increases with effort, and is accompanied by muscle fatigue, cellular damage, and impaired immunity. Athletes often use artificial supplements in order to correct mineral deficiency; however, they also pose risks related to bioavailability and potential toxicity. However, it is emphasized that sports nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all solution, as each athlete has specific nutritional needs. Hence, nutritional customization with 3D food printing can allow for the creation of tailored food for individual athletes. In the present investigation, oral disintegrating films (ODFs) were developed through extrusion-based 3D printing using extracts of Alternanthera sessilis; Sauropus androgynous, popularly known as multivitamin plant leaves; and extracts of the fruit Momordica dioica combined with HPMC K4M/E5, pullulan, moringa gum, ghatti gum, glycerol, roselle calyx powder, and fructo-oligosaccharide. The fabricated ODFs displayed consistent thicknesses (0.228 ± 0.008 mm to 0.340 ± 0.012 mm), rapid disintegration (15.23 ± 0.53 to 36.545 ± 0.65 s), and strong organoleptic scores (92.4 ± 1.60 to 91.2 ± 4.18/100). Moisture content (7.50 ± 0.13 to 6.154 ± 0.21%) and swelling index (26.68 ± 0.92 to 40.40 ± 2.80%) supported stability and mucosal compatibility. SEM images of all formulations revealed a uniform matrix with irregular depressions. FTIR confirmed functional groups such as C–O–C, phenolic O–H, and carbonyls, common among all the formulations, with H-bonded O-H bond vibration in sauropus-based films. ICP-MS identified macro elements such as K: 568.21, Na: 222.92, Mg: 72.23, and Ca: 19.74 mg/100g in Alternanthera-based ODFs; K: 137.41, Na: 218.15, Mg: 151.11, and Ca: 32.95 mg/100g in Sauropus; and K: 537.34, Na: 187.09, Mg: 65.65, and Ca: 37.97 mg/100g in Momordica-based films, and trace microelements Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, Mn, Cr, and Co were also identified. A. sessilis-based ODFs showed superior physicochemical traits, while Sauropus-based ODFs exhibited comparatively high mineral content, and 136 distinct phytonutrients (phytochemicals) with potential antioxidant potential, confirming their promise as sustainable, bioactive carriers for personalized nutrient delivery in athletes.

Introduction: Combat sports involve successive high-intensity, short-duration bouts (rounds) interspersed with brief rest periods, which gives them an intermittent nature. Athletes’ body composition and dietary intake are closely linked to physiological demands and are key determinants of athletic performance. The aim of this study is to review the scientific literature on body composition, dietary intake, and eating habits of male and female combat sport athletes.

Methods: A search was conducted in the PubMed-MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, identifying 320 documents. The research focused on amateur, semi-professional, and professional athletes in boxing, karate, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, taekwondo, judo, muay thai, and mixed martial arts (MMA). After screening and data extraction, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review.

Results: A total of 500 athletes (390 males and 110 females) were assessed across all studies. Most athletes, both male and female, had BMI values within the normal range, with low or normal body fat percentages and adequate muscle mass, during both reference periods (BMI M: 24.45 ± 3.61, F: 22.49 ± 2.45; %Fat M: 12.59 ± 6.16, F: 23.42 ± 4.60; lean mass (kg) M: 62.45 ± 6.83, F: 43.28 ± 4.79) and pre-competitive periods (BMI M: 21.56 ± 1.94, F: 19.40 ± 2.20; %Fat M: 9.03 ± 4.09, F: 13.91 ± 3.85; lean mass (kg) M: 62.65 ± 8.72, F: 47.14 ± 5.35). Regarding dietary intake, most athletes reported energy (32.8 ± 14.4 kcal/kg/day) and carbohydrate (4.1 ± 2.2 g/kg/day) intakes below official recommendations. During pre-competition periods, energy and nutrient intake decreased as a strategy to achieve rapid weight loss, primarily through the loss of lean mass.

Conclusions: Despite maintaining adequate body composition, combat sport athletes tend to follow inadequate dietary patterns, especially during pre-competitive periods, which may negatively affect athletic performance.

Introduction:

Lifestyle behaviors such as diet and physical activity are key determinants of healthy aging. In sports science, the timing of nutrient intake and exercise has been widely discussed in relation to muscle adaptation, recovery, and performance. However, the temporal dimension of these behaviors remains underexplored in older, physically active adults, despite its potential relevance for maintaining functional capacity and long-term health.

Methods (Conceptual Approach):

This perspective outlines a conceptual framework for investigating how the alignment of meal timing and physical activity patterns could influence metabolic and inflammatory markers in adults aged 50 years and above. Rather than presenting empirical data, the framework integrates insights from sports nutrition with gerontological perspectives, emphasizing the need for both observational and interventional studies.

Expected Insights:

Drawing on existing literature, it is hypothesized that nutrient timing in relation to exercise may play a role in muscle preservation, inflammation control, and metabolic health. Extending these insights to aging populations could inform personalized strategies that optimize both health and functional performance.

Conclusions:

By adapting principles from sports nutrition, this conceptual perspective highlights a promising but underexplored avenue for promoting healthy aging. Future research is essential to test the feasibility and impact of lifestyle timing strategies, potentially translating findings from athletic contexts into practical applications for older adults.

Keywords: healthy aging; nutrient timing; physical activity; sports nutrition; personalized strategies; muscle maintenance

Background: In recent years, the ketogenic diet (KD) has gained popularity beyond clinical settings, reaching the sports domain. Evidence suggests the KD may enhance aerobic endurance through increased lipid oxidation and reduced reliance on muscle glycogen. Conversely, high-intensity and anaerobic performance can be compromised due to limited glucose availability. Individual responses may vary depending on training type and adaptation duration. This systematic review critically evaluates the effects of the KD on athletic performance, examining metabolic adaptations and performance outcomes across endurance and anaerobic disciplines.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted for studies published from 2015 to 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized trials (No-RCTs) including trained athletes or physically active individuals were selected. Inclusion criteria required quantitative performance and metabolic outcome measures. Clinical populations, sedentary individuals, and subjects with pre-existing metabolic disorders were excluded. Fifteen studies meeting these criteria were analyzed.

Results: The KD improved aerobic endurance in endurance-trained athletes via increased fat oxidation and reduced glycogen dependency. Anaerobic and high-intensity performance was often impaired, particularly during initial adaptation (<4 weeks), due to limited glucose availability. Adaptation periods exceeding four weeks mitigated some negative effects on anaerobic capacity. Inter-individual variability was evident, influenced by training type and body composition.

Conclusions: The KD may serve as an effective nutritional strategy for endurance athletes, provided sufficient adaptation time is allowed. In anaerobic and power sports, the KD should be applied cautiously, as reduced glycogen may compromise rapid energy production. Performance outcomes depend on adaptation duration, discipline, and individual characteristics. Further research is warranted to clarify the effects of genetics, adaptation length, and sport-specific energy demands.

Nutrition is crucial for athletic performance, but geographic location may create disparities. Dietary habits, or typical food and beverage consumption patterns, influence athletes’ health and performance, and access to nutritional resources may differ between urban and rural collegiate athletes. This study aims to assess and compare nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, and dietary intake among collegiate athletes from urban and rural areas. It is hypothesized that these factors will differ significantly between the two groups.

This cross-sectional descriptive–comparative study assessed the nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, and dietary intake of basketball and volleyball players from selected urban and rural areas using a validated questionnaire (Lee-Pineda et al. 2021). Scores were classified as poor (<55%), fair (55–69%), good (70–84%), or excellent (85–100%). An independent-samples t-test was used to compare the mean values between the two groups.

A total of 140 participants aged 18–23 years were included, evenly split between urban (n = 70) and rural (n = 70) areas. The sample comprised 86 males and 54 females. The study revealed that 67.14% from urban and 68.57% from rural areas had “Good” nutritional knowledge, while 62.86% from urban and 51.43% from rural areas had “Fair” dietary habits. Coaches (60.71%) and social media (55.00%) were the top sources of nutritional information. Additionally, 86.43% had not attended any nutrition-related seminars or courses in the past. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in dietary habits between urban (M = 48.09, SD = 4.63) and rural participants (M = 50.37, SD = 4.63), t(138) = -2.29. However, no significant difference was found in nutritional knowledge between urban (M = 85.26, SD = 8.93) and rural (M = 85.01, SD = 10.50) athletes, t(138) = 0.15. Dietary intake differed by residence, with urban athletes showing more inadequacies and rural athletes more often meeting or exceeding recommended nutrient intakes.

There is a potential gap in nutritional practice, suggesting that while athletes may possess information, they often fail to apply it in daily food choices, underscoring the need for targeted nutrition education programs and the promotion of evidence-based guidance.

Background: Nutritional knowledge is a key determinant of dietary behavior in athletes, yet a gap often exists between awareness and practice. Amateur American football players represent a unique population with high physical demands but limited access to professional nutrition support. Understanding their nutritional literacy, common dietary mistakes, and supplement use patterns can inform targeted interventions to improve performance and health.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of nutritional knowledge, identify prevalent dietary mistakes, and analyze supplement use among amateur American football players.

Methods: A cross‑sectional survey was conducted among [n = 53] male amateur American football players aged 23 years. The questionnaire included items on meal frequency and timing, consumption of key food groups, intake of sugar‑sweetened beverages and fast food, self‑perceived nutritional knowledge, and supplement use. Descriptive statistics were applied to summarize the findings, and associations between knowledge level and dietary behaviors were explored.

Results: While a majority of players reported moderate to high self‑perceived nutritional knowledge, discrepancies were observed between knowledge and practice. Frequent dietary mistakes included irregular meal timing, excessive consumption of sugar‑sweetened beverages, and high fast food intake. Vegetable consumption was generally adequate, but protein sources were often limited to processed meats. Supplement use was reported by a substantial proportion of players, with protein powders, creatine, and multivitamins being the most common. However, supplement choices were not always aligned with evidence‑based recommendations or individual training needs.

Conclusions: Despite reasonable nutritional awareness, amateur American football players exhibit dietary patterns that may compromise performance and recovery. Education strategies should focus on translating knowledge into consistent healthy practices, reducing high‑sugar and high‑fat food intake, and promoting informed, evidence‑based supplement use.

The efficacy of high-intensity physical workouts can be optimized by tailoring nutritional interventions specific to an athlete's genetic traits to account for intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In the area of sports, nutrigenomics focuses on how genetic variants modulate the response to nutrients and dietary supplements, thereby affecting endurance, power, and recovery. For instance, the ACTN3 and ACE genes are linked to key performance (Pe) factors, while the COL1A1 and COL5A1 polymorphisms are correlated with a higher predisposition to tendon injuries. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (2019-2024). Then, articles establishing a relationship between genetic variants, nutrient response, and athletic Pe were screened. The objective of this review was to critically evaluate the existing body of evidence on the influence of nutrigenomics on metabolic and phenotypic modulation of athletic Pe to support the implementation of personalized nutrition (PN) interventions. The data reveal over 250 genetic variants linked to athletic phenotypes. Of these, the most robust evidence is related to the ergogenic effect of caffeine on Pe, which is modulated by variants of the CYP1A2 gene. Statistically significant interactions were also found between genotypes and responsiveness to nutrients such as fatty acids, antioxidants, and proteins, all of which impact recovery and injury prevention. Yet, methodological heterogeneity, insufficient cohorts of athletes, ethical limitations, and costs restrict the direct application of these outcomes to clinical practice in sports.

Background: Maintaining balance, agility, and optimal body composition is critical in judo, but the potential role of nutritional strategies such as early time-restricted eating (eTRE) in enhancing these factors has not been fully explored.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the impact of eTRE on postural mobility performance in judo athletes, along with changes in anthropometric measures and daily energy intake.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, twenty-four young judokas were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EXP, 21.58± 2.19 years, 175.58± 5.99 cm, 74.33± 5.4 kg, n = 12) or a control group (CON, 22.33± 1.92 years, 176.08± 6.30 cm, 75 ± 6.79 kg, n=12). Participants completed two test sessions assessing postural mobility using the Walk Across (WA), conducted before (T1) and after (T2) a 4-week eTRE intervention. Anthropometric measures and daily energy intake were also recorded.

Results: At T2, the EXP group showed significant reductions in total daily energy intake, body mass, body mass index, and body fat compared with the CON group (p < 0.001 for all). In the WA test, both movement speed and step length increased from T1 to T2 in the EXP group and were significantly greater than those of the CON group. Post-intervention, movement speed was 86.65 ± 6.06 cm/s in the EXP group vs. 82.65 ± 4.95 cm/s in the CON group (p < 0.001), while step length was 75.64 ± 3.19 cm in the EXP group vs. 71.24 ± 5.15 cm in the CON group (p = 0.003). Step width showed no significant difference between the groups.

Conclusion: While eTRE may reduce body mass and fat, it also appears to enhance postural mobility performance in judo athletes without affecting step width.

Handball is a complex sport, played by both men and women. In order to cover the nutritional requirements, correct dietary-nutritional planning must be carried out. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the food, water and alcohol intake of handball players according to gender and competitive level. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 348 handball players (22.49 ± 4.11 years, 158 of whom were women and 190 were men, all of them of legal age) from Spanish leagues who completed a self-administered, semi-quantitative food and beverage intake questionnaire. It was observed that men ate white meat, red meat, soft drinks and prepared/frozen foods more frequently (p=<0.001-0.029), and women ate rice more frequently (p=0.021). In terms of competitive level, those in the honour division ate fruit and vegetables more frequently and drank soft drinks less frequently (p=0.001-0.014). The most frequent reasons for following a diet were performance(15.7%) and health(22.9%). Men drank water more frequently than women during the day and during training(p=<0.001-0.022). On the other hand, water intake habits during training increased as the competitive level increased(p=0.048). Most players drank alcohol at least once or between once and twice a week. In conclusion, differences in food and water intake habits were observed according to gender and competitive level. These data favour the advancement of the understanding of the impact that nutrition has on each of the players. Consequently, with this knowledge, dietary recommendations and guidelines in handball can be improved.