Organic Food in Athletes Diet-Narrative Review of Alternative Products in Sports Nutrition

Athletes are characterized by special nutritional needs. Meeting their dietary needs associated with intensive exercise is a prerequisite for effective training and success in sports competitions. Hence, it is important to supply key performance nutrients, such as macronutrients, antioxidants, calcium, vitamin D, or iron, in adequate quantities. The increased need for these nutrients makes it necessary to look for food products on the market that more fully cover these needs. Such products may include organic foods. According to research, they have unique properties and are richer in selected nutrients, such as antioxidants. Hence, the aim of this review was to analyze the available literature as to whether organic foods have the potential to more fully cover the increased nutritional requirements of athletes for selected nutrients compared to conventionally produced foods. A narrative review of current literature was carried out. As the analysis showed, organic foods are characterized by a higher content of antioxidant bioactive compounds, a higher content of n-3 fatty acids, a better n:3/n:6 ratio, and a more optimal amino acid composition, which may result in an appropriate dietary ration design for athletes. In conclusion, organic food appears to be an interesting alternative to meet the special nutritional needs of professional and amateur athletes.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN JUS BIT TERFORTIFIKASI FESO4 INSTAN (JUS BEEFE) DALAM MENANGGULANGI ANEMIA ATLET REMAJA PUTRI

Prolonged physical exercise has the risk of increasing free radicals which will affect the breakdown of red blood cells and promote the risk of decreased hemoglobin. Adolescent female athletes have a risk of decreasing hemoglobin due to menstruation. This situation can get worse if the athletes have iron defi-ciency or anemia as the result of poor diet choice. Increased radicals and anemia affect the amount of oxygen carried to the tissues and the maximum volume of oxygen an individual can use to produce energy (VO2 max). Beets have benefits for athlete's performance and have been developed into an instant drink. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an instant FeSO4 fortified beet juice (BeeFe juice) in overcoming anemia on female adolescent athletes. This research using an experimental study with controlled trial pre-posttest design. Twenty-nine adolescent female athletes, aged 13-19 years, were divided into two groups. Fe tablet supplementation (containing Fe 60 mg) was given to 15 athletes in the control group and BeeFe juice (containing Fe 17 mg) was given to 14 athletes in the treatment group du-ring the luteal and menstruation phase (±14 days). Hemoglobin levels, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and maxi-mal oxygen volume (VO2 max) were examined before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test IBM SPSS version 22. This research has obtained Ethical Appro-val with number KE/FK/0633/EC/2018 from the Ethical Commission of FKKMK UGM. The results showed no significant difference between the group given Fe tablets and the group given BeeFe juice on hemo-globin levels (P>0.05), MDA levels (P>0.05), and VO2 max levels (P>0.05) in the menstrual and luteal phases of menstruation. It can be concluded that BeeFe juice has the same effectiveness as commercial Fe tablets. BeeFe juice can be an alternative food ingredient in iron supplementation.

Impact of resistance training and basic ferritin on hepcidin, iron status and some inflammatory markers in overweight/obese girls

BACKGROUND

Exercise can reduce hepcidin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 and improve the iron status, but the intensity of exercises is very important. This study will compare the effect of resistance training (RT) intensity on hepcidin levels, iron status, and inflammatory markers in overweight/obese girls with and without iron stores deficient.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this quasi-experimental study, 40 students of the University of Isfahan (18-22-year old, with 35 > body mass index [BMI] ≥25) voluntarily participated in the study. Participants were divided into two groups with 20 participants, based on serum ferritin (>30 ng/ml or ≤30 ng/ml). Participants in each group were randomly and equally assigned to one of the moderate or high-intensity training groups. RT was performed 8 weeks, 4 days a week, and each session for 1 h, with an elastic band. The iron levels, hepcidin, total iron-binding capacity, ferritin, hemoglobin, TNF-α, and IL-6 before and after intervention were collected with the blood samples. Two-way analysis of variance was used to assess the impact of exercise and ferritin level and their interaction, and the paired test was utilized for test changes from baseline.

RESULTS

There are no significant interactions between ferritin levels and exercise intensity for the main outcomes (all P > 0.05). The significant impact of the mode of exercise was observed in TNF-α (P < 0.05), and a significant difference between low and high levels of ferritin was observed in hepcidin (P = 0.002). Besides, in all four groups, significant decreases were observed in BMI (28.00 ± 3.00 to 27.00 ± 3.00), hepcidin (1234.02 ± 467.00 to 962.06 ± 254.00), and TNF-α (223.00 ± 99.00 to 174.00 ± 77.00) compared to the baseline measurements (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Basal ferritin levels appear to be effective on hepcidin levels, TNF-α, and IL-6 after the intervention. RT with two different intense can reduce BMI, hepcidin, ferritin, and TNF-α in all groups. It seems that performing RT reduces inflammation and hepcidin in obese/overweight participants with different iron stores.

Nutrition for Female Soccer Players-Recommendations

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. As its number of players is increasing, the number of female players is also on the rise. However, there are limited data about how the diets of female soccer players should be designed. Thus, the aim of our work is to deliver concise nutritional recommendations for women practicing this sport. Based on a literature review, we emphasize that individual adjustment of the energy value of the diet is the key factor for the physical performance of female soccer players. Appropriate macronutrient intake makes it possible to achieve the proper energy value of the diet (5-10 g/kg body mass/day carbohydrates; 1.2-1.7 g/kg body mass/day proteins; <30% fats from energy). The micronutrients should be consumed in amounts corresponding to individual values recommended in national standards. Soccer players should pay special attention to the proper consumption of such micronutrients, as well as vitamins such as iron, calcium, and vitamin D. The right amount of fluid intake, consistent with the player's needs, is crucial in maximizing exercise performance. The diet of a female practicing soccer is usually characterized with low energy values, which increases the risk of various health consequences related to low energy availability. Monitoring the diets of female soccer players is, therefore, necessary.

Effect of long-term aerobic, anaerobic and aerobic-anaerobic physical training in seric toxic minerals concentrations

BACKGROUND

Many substances poured out from industries can be toxic to humans and can impair physical performance. Besides, physical training may modify the body concentrations of these substances as a result of physiological adaptations.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to determine if different modalities of exercise might affect serum concentrations of toxic trace elements in sportsmen.

METHODS

80 Spanish national sportsmen were recruited before the start of their training period. All the athletes had been training regularly for the previous two years with a rigorous training target at high-level competition. 31 sedentary participants from the same geographic area formed the control group. Serum arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, cesium and lead samples were analyzed with an ICP-MS.

RESULTS

Serum concentrations were higher among the sportsmen group than among the control group, being highly significant in cases of Be from 0.043±0.019 to 0.074±0.029μg/L, Cs from 0.693±0.305 to 1.358±0.569μg/L and Pb from 0.162±0.171 to 2.375±1.699μg/L; and significant in the case of Cd from 0.046±0.027 to 0.067±0.059μg/L. However, if they were separated according to different sport modalities, it was found that, although they had higher concentrations than controls, there were elements that changed their concentrations in relation to the metabolic type of activity performed.

CONCLUSIONS

In some cases physical exercise induces favorable adaptations to avoid environmental pollution damage. Endurance training (65-75% VO_2max) can be considered the most effective exercise to prevent toxicity effects. However, integral-matrixes analysis are required in further research to overcome some controversial behaviors of some elements.