The effect of caffeine, nap opportunity and their combination on biomarkers of muscle damage and antioxidant defence during repeated sprint exercise.

To investigate the effect of 20 min nap opportunity (N20), 5 mg · kg of caffeine (CAF) and their combination (CAF+N20) on the biochemical response (energetic biomarkers, biomarkers of muscle damage and enzymatic antioxidants) to the running-based anaerobic sprint test. Fourteen highly trained male athletes completed in a double-blind, counterbalanced and randomized order four test sessions: no nap with placebo (PLA), N20, CAF and CAF+N20. Compared to PLA, all treatments enhanced maximum and mean powers.

The effect of post-lunch napping on mood, reaction time, and antioxidant defense during repeated sprint exercice.

To compare the effects of two nap opportunities (20 and 90 min) to countermeasure the transient naturally occurring increased sleepiness and decreased performances during the post-lunch dip (PLD). Fourteen highly trained judokas completed in a counterbalanced and randomized order three test sessions (control (No-nap), 20- (N20) and 90-min (N90) nap opportunities). Test sessions consisted of the running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST), simple and multiple-choice reaction times (MCRT) and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS).

The Effect of Experimental Recuperative and Appetitive Post-lunch Nap Opportunities, With or Without Caffeine, on Mood and Reaction Time in Highly Trained Athletes.

To investigate the effects of placebo (PLA), 20 min nap opportunity (N20), 5mg·kg of caffeine (CAF), and their combination (CAF+N20) on sleepiness, mood and reaction-time after partial sleep deprivation (PSD; 04h30 of time in bed; ) or after normal sleep night (NSN; 08h30 of time in bed; ). Twenty-three highly trained athletes ( ; 9 and ; 14) performed four test sessions (PLA, CAF, N20 and CAF+N20) in double-blind, counterbalanced and randomized order. Simple (SRT) and two-choice (2CRT) reaction time, subjective sleepiness (ESS) and mood state (POMS) were assessed twice, pre- and post-intervention.

Vitamin D status and determinants of deficiency in non-supplemented athletes during the winter months in Tunisia.

Recent reports suggest that hypovitaminosis D in athletes is as common as in the general population. This study was devised to examine vitamin D status and determinants of deficiency in athletes living in a sunny country (Tunisia). One hundred and fifty national elite athletes, training outdoors (n = 83) or indoors (n = 67), were enrolled from January to February 2012.