Connections between Different Sports and Ergogenic Aids—Focusing on Salivary Cortisol and Amylase

Athletes are exposed to a tremendous amount of stress, both physically and mentally, when performing high intensity sports with frequent practices, pushing numerous athletes into choose to use ergogenic aids such as caffeine or β-alanine to significantly improve their performance and ease the stress and pressure that is put onto the body. The beneficial or even detrimental effects of these so-called ergogenic aids can be appreciated through the use of numerous diagnostic tools that can analyze various body fluids. In the recent years, saliva samples are gaining more ground in the field of diagnostic as it is a non-invasive procedure, contains a tremendous amount of analytes that are subject to pathophysiological changes caused by diseases, exercises, fatigue as well as nutrition and hydration. Thus, we describe here the current progress regarding potential novel biomarkers for stress and physical activity, salivary α-amylase and salivary cortisol, as well as their use and measurement in combination with different already-known or new ergogenic aids.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions for the General Population with and without Cardiometabolic Risk: A Scoping Review

Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to examine the research question: In the adults with or without cardiometabolic risk, what is the availability of literature examining interventions to improve or maintain nutrition and physical activity related outcomes? Sub-topics included 1) behavior counseling or coaching from a dietitian/nutritionist or exercise practitioner; 2) mobile applications to improve nutrition and physical activity; and 3) nutritional ergogenic aids. Design: This study is a scoping review. A literature search of the Medline Complete; CINAHL Complete; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and other databases was conducted to identify articles published in the English language from January 2005 until May 2020. Data was synthesized using bubble charts and heat maps. Setting: Out-patient, community and workplace. Participants: Adults with or without cardiometabolic risk factors living in economically developed countries. Results: Searches resulted in 19,474 unique articles and 170 articles were included in this scoping review, including one guideline, 30 systematic reviews, 134 RCTs and five non-randomized trials. Mobile applications (n=37) as well as ergogenic aids (n=87) have been addressed in several recent studies, including systematic reviews. While primary research has examined the effect of individual-level nutrition and physical activity counseling or coaching from a dietitian/nutritionist and/or exercise practitioner (n=48), interventions provided by these practitioners have not been recently synthesized in systematic reviews. Conclusion: Systematic reviews of behavior counseling or coaching provided by a dietitian/nutritionist and/or exercise practitioner are needed and can inform practice for practitioners working with individuals who are healthy or have cardiometabolic risk.

El mezquite como ayuda ergogénica para atletas de alto rendimiento en deportes intermitentes. Revisión sistemática.

Los atletas de alto rendimiento están constantemente sometidos a cargas demandantes de esfuerzo físico, por lo cual muchas veces se recurre al consumo de ayudas ergogénicas para mejorar la producción de energía, el rendimiento deportivo, la composición corporal y/ o potenciar las adaptaciones fisiológicas al entrenamiento. Se han realizado numerosos estudios acerca de la suplementación con polifenoles en alimentos como frutos rojos, cítricos y cocoa; en donde se ha demostrado su efecto positivo sobre el rendimiento. No obstante, existen otros recursos que poseen un significativo contenido de estos complejos moleculares; ejemplo de ello es el mezquite. Se ha encontrado que los extractos obtenidos de cáscara, vainas, polen y hojas de plantas del mezquite, poseen compuestos fenólicos importantes. Sin embargo, la bibliografía e investigaciones del uso de esta planta en el ámbito deportivo es escasa, por lo que, el objetivo de esta revisión es conocer las propiedades y beneficios del mezquite, para evaluar su efecto sobre los fenómenos fisiológicos suscitados en deportes intermitentes y su factibilidad de uso como ayuda ergogénica. Se realizó una revisión sistemática dividida en tres temáticas: 1) Mezquite (“Mesquite composition AND Mexico”, “Mesquite AND polyphenols”, “Mesquite AND exercise”), 2) Polifenoles (“Polyphenols AND inflammation AND sport OR exercise”, “Ergogenic aids AND polyphenols”) y 3) Inflamación inducida por ejercicio (“Sport performance AND intermittent sport AND inflammation”, “Intermittent exercise AND muscle inflammation AND performance AND damage”) De la cual se obtuvo un total de 33 artículos, y tras una segunda revisión se identificaron y analizaron 16 de ellos. Se concluyó que el mezquite es un recurso natural potencialmente rentable para ser utilizado como ayuda ergogénica; siendo harina de mesocarpio y la semilla del mezquite las que poseen un importante contenido de polifenoles y capacidad antioxidante; dicha composición favorece la reducción del estrés oxidativo, la atenuación del dolor muscular, y la disminución del tiempo de recuperación post ejercicio. En vista de todos los beneficios atribuidos a la composición del mezquite, pero a la escasa evidencia de los efectos de su consumo, esta revisión revela que es necesaria más investigación de su uso en el ámbito deportivo.