Publications by authors named "Alvaro Lopez-Samanes"

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of multiday beetroot juice ingestion on neuromuscular performance in semi-professional, male handball players. Twelve handball players competing in the second Spanish national division received 70 ml of beetroot juice (6.4 mmol of nitrate [NO3-]) or 70 ml of a placebo beetroot juice (0.

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Background: Sports supplements (SSs) are widely used among team sport athletes; however, evidence supporting the use of SSs among football referees at the elite level is scarce. The aim of the present study was to analyze the consumption of SSs among referees with respect to their level of competition and referee type (main referees (MRs) vs. assistant referees (ARs)).

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Context: Despite the progress toward gender equality in events like the Olympic Games and other institutionalized competitions, and the rising number of women engaging in physical exercise programs, scientific studies focused on establishing specific nutritional recommendations for female athletes and other physically active women are scarce.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to compile the scientific evidence available for addressing the question "What dietary strategies, including dietary and supplementation approaches, can improve sports performance, recovery, and health status in female athletes and other physically active women?"

Data Sources: The Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched.

Data Extraction: The review process involved a comprehensive search strategy using keywords connected by Boolean connectors.

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Introduction: The acute and isolated ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and caffeine (CAF) improves performance and delays fatigue in high-intensity tasks. However, it remains to be elucidated if the coingestion of both dietary supplements stimulates a summative ergogenic effect. This study aimed to examine the effect of the acute coingestion of NaHCO3 and CAF on repeated-sprint performance.

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Objective: This study aimed to determine changes of modifiable injury risk factors and fatigue parameters during a mesocycle (4 months of the competitive season) in semi-professional female field hockey players (Spanish 2nd Division).

Methods: Fourteen female field hockey players (age: 22.6 ± 4.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study wanted to see if basketball players perform better at different times of the day.
  • Twenty female basketball players were tested in the morning and afternoon to measure things like jumping and running speed.
  • The results showed that they jumped higher and ran faster in the afternoon, and their body temperature was also higher then.
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Purpose: Caffeine is a stimulant with well-recognized performance and metabolic benefits, however, there is a lack of studies investigating the time-of-day influence in the properties of caffeine to enhance fat oxidation in women. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the time of the day on the effect of caffeine on the maximal rate of fat oxidation during aerobic exercise in trained women.

Methods: Fourteen female athletes (25.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explored how 3 and 6 mg of caffeine per kg of body weight affects fat and carbohydrate oxidation during cycling exercises in healthy women.
  • Results showed that caffeine significantly increased fat oxidation rates while decreasing carbohydrate oxidation rates compared to a placebo, especially during moderate exercise intensities.
  • The findings suggest that a lower dose of 3 mg/kg of caffeine is preferable for enhancing fat utilization during submaximal aerobic exercise, as it produced similar benefits to the higher dose.
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Beetroot juice (BJ) is commonly used as an ergogenic aid in endurance and team sports, however, the effect of this supplement on climbing performance is barely studied. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of acute BJ ingestion on neuromuscular and biochemical variables in amateur male sport climbers. Ten physically active sport climbers (28.

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Flywheel (isoinertial) resistance training is a valid strength training method that has been incorporated in sport for decades, yet little is known about how therapists working in sport apply flywheel resistance training. We aimed to describe and understand current application and perception of flywheel resistance training amongst therapists working in sport. Seventy- three therapists (13 ± 10 years of experience) started part of this survey with 52 completing the entire electronic questionnaire.

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Purpose: The impact of ingesting carbohydrates alone or combined with proteins to support exercise immune adaptation in endurance athletes is scarcely investigated. The present study compares the effect of ingesting a combined protein-carbohydrate supplement vs. a carbohydrate-only supplement post-workout on immune inflammation markers following a 10 week periodized endurance training program in well-trained athletes.

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There is current scientific interest in naturally sourced phenolic compounds and their potential benefits to health, as well as the effective role polyphenols may provide in an exercise setting. This study investigated the chronic effects of supplementation with a biodynamic and organic olive fruit water phytocomplex (OliPhenolia® [OliP]), rich in hydroxytyrosol (HT), on submaximal and exhaustive exercise performance and respiratory markers of recovery. Twenty-nine recreationally active participants (42 ± 2 yrs; 71.

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The role of natural polyphenols in reducing oxidative stress and/or supporting antioxidant mechanisms, particularly relating to exercise, is of high interest. The aim of this study was to investigate OliPhenolia® (OliP), a biodynamic and organic olive fruit water phytocomplex, rich in hydroxytyrosol (HT), for the first time within an exercise domain. HT bioavailability from OliP was assessed in fifteen healthy volunteers in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled cross-over design (age: 30 ± 2 yrs; body mass: 76.

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-Synephrine is deemed a safe and effective substance to increase fat utilization during exercise of low-to-moderate intensity in men but not in women. Additionally, the existence of a diurnal variation in substrate utilization has been documented during exercise with enhanced fat oxidation in the evening compared with early morning. However, it remains unknown whether there is an interaction between the effect of -synephrine and the time of the day on fat oxidation during exercise.

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Purpose: Beetroot juice (BRJ) is considered an ergogenic aid with good to strong evidence for improving human performance in sport modalities with similar demands to rugby. However, most of the studies were realized in male athletes with limited evidence in female athletes. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the acute ingestion of BRJ in female rugby players.

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Purpose: Beetroot juice is a dietary supplement that contains high levels of inorganic nitrate (NO) and that its intake has proven effective at increasing blood nitric oxide (NO) concentrations improving endurance performance. However, the effect of this supplement in team sport performance, especially in female athletes, has been barely studied. This study aimed to compare the acute effects of beetroot juice supplementation on neuromuscular performance and match-play demands in elite female field hockey players.

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-Synephrine is the principal alkaloid of bitter orange (). Several recent investigations have found that the intake of 2-3 mg/kg of -synephrine raises fat oxidation rate during exercise of low-to-moderate intensity. However, these investigations have been carried out only with samples of male participants or mixed men/women samples.

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The p.R577X polymorphism (rs1815739) in the gene causes individuals with the XX genotype to be deficient in functional α-actinin-3. Previous investigations have found that XX athletes are more prone to suffer non-contact muscle injuries, in comparison with RR and RX athletes who produce a functional α-actinin-3 in their fast-twitch fibers.

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This study examined the effect of caffeine supplementation (CAFF) in a Wingate test (WT), and the behaviour of blood lactate concentrations (BLa) and neuromuscular fatigue (NMF), measured as reduced countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, in response to the WT. In a double-blind crossover study, 16 participants attended the laboratory twice, separated by a 72-hour window. In the sessions, participants first ingested 6 mg·kg of either CAFF or placebo (PLAC), and then performed a WT.

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This study aimed to determine if time-of-day could influence physical volleyball performance in females and to explore the relationship between chronotype and volleyball-specific performance. Fifteen young female athletes participated in a randomized counterbalanced trial, performing a neuromuscular test battery in the morning (9:00 h) and the evening (19:00 h) that consisted of volleyball standing spike, straight leg raise, dynamic balance, vertical jump, modified agility T-test and isometric handgrip tests. Chronotype was determined by the morningness-eveningness questionnaire.

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Maximal fat oxidation during exercise (MFO) and the intensity that elicits MFO (Fat) seems to show a diurnal variation in men, which favours an increased performance in the afternoon than the morning. At present, it remains unknown whether the observed MFO and Fat diurnal variation in men is also present in women. Therefore, the current study examined the diurnal variations of MFO and Fat in women.

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Deficits in hamstring muscle strength and in hip range of motion (ROM) have been considered risk factors for hamstring muscle injuries. However, there is a lack of information on how chronic exposure to regular football training affects hamstring muscle strength and hip ROM. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal effect of football training and competition during a complete season on hamstring muscle strength and hip ROM in football players.

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Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two competitive field hockey matches, played on consecutive days, on maximal isometric hip adductor and abductor strength, wellness and fatigue.

Methods: Fourteen professional female field hockey players (age: 20.4 ± 5.

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To date, there is a lack of information about the optimal conditions of the warm-up to lead to a better performance in elite tennis players. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two different warm-up protocols (dynamic vs. self-myofascial release with foam rolling) on neuromuscular variables associated with physical determinants of tennis performance.

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