Hadi Nobari
Jason M. Cholewa
Katsuhiko Suzuki- 1Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
- 2Department of Exercise Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, VA, United States
- 3Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
Editorial on the Research Topic
Sports immunometabolism, training load, and nutrition: effects on sports performance and psychological behavior of athletes
Introduction
Sports performance is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by the interactions of various factors, including sports immunometabolism, training load, and nutrition (Lima et al., 2023). These factors contribute to changes in athletes' performance and psychological behaviors during training, matches, and decision-making processes. Physiological factors such as nutrition, heart rate (Silva et al., 2022), hormone secretion (Nobari et al., 2021b), immune system function, and the type of sport, along with psychological factors such as stress, sleep quality, anxiety, and coaches' behavior, play integral roles in shaping athletes' experiences. Understanding the impact of these factors is vital for optimizing athletic performance, preventing injuries and overtraining, and enhancing overall wellbeing. This Research Topic aims to gather scientific evidence that can be translated into practical advice for coaches and athletes, facilitating performance improvement during training and competitions.
Contributing articles
The articles within this Research Topic address diverse aspects of sports immunometabolism, training load, and nutrition, providing insights into their effects on sports performance and psychological wellbeing. Spanning a range of disciplines, including exercise physiology, nutritional science, psychology, and sports medicine, these studies collectively examine the comprehensive interplay of these factors. By investigating these relationships, the research presented offers valuable knowledge on how athletes can enhance their performance and maintain optimal mental health.
Immunometabolism and sports performance
Immunometabolism, the study of the metabolic processes underlying immune system function, is a rapidly evolving field with significant implications for sports performance. Several articles in this Research Topic explore the intricate relationship between immune system functioning, energy metabolism, and athletic performance (Suzuki, 2021). These studies highlight the impact of immune markers, such as cytokines and inflammation, on sports performance and recovery. Furthermore, they provide evidence-based interventions for optimizing immunometabolic balance in athletes, enhancing their ability to cope with the physiological demands of training and competition (Nobari et al., 2021a).
Training load and sports performance
Training load, encompassing the volume, intensity, and duration of physical training, is crucial in determining sports performance outcomes. The articles in this Research Topic investigate various aspects of training load, including its quantification, periodization, and impact on physiological adaptations and performance outcomes. By analyzing the intricate relationship between training load and performance, these studies offer evidence-based strategies for optimizing training programs, preventing overtraining, and maximizing athletic potential. They emphasize the importance of individualized training approaches that consider age, gender, and sport-specific demands.
Nutrition and sports performance
Proper nutrition serves as a fundamental pillar of sports performance. The articles within this Research Topic examine the impact of nutrition on various aspects of athletic performance and psychological wellbeing. Researchers investigate the roles of macronutrients, micronutrients, hydration, and supplementation in optimizing sports performance. Their findings provide valuable insights into the specific nutritional requirements of athletes, emphasizing the need for individualized approaches tailored to their unique physiological and performance needs. Additionally, these studies explore the effects of nutrition on cognitive function, mood, and mental health, highlighting the bidirectional relationship between nutrition and psychological wellbeing (Bustamante-Sanchez et al., 2022).
Conclusion
The articles presented in this Research Topic contribute to our understanding of the complex interactions among sports immunometabolism, training load, and nutrition about sports performance and psychological behavior of athletes. By bridging the gaps between multiple disciplines, these studies pave the way for evidence-based interventions and strategies that can enhance athletic performance, prevent injuries, and promote the overall wellbeing of athletes. We are confident that this collection of articles will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, coaches, and practitioners in the field, ultimately benefiting athletes of all levels and disciplines.
Author contributions
HN: Project administration, Writing—original draft, Writing—review and editing. JC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review and editing. KS: Writing—original draft, Writing—review and editing.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher's note
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References
Bustamante-Sanchez, A., Villegas-Mora, B. E., Martínez-Guardado, I., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Ardigò, L. P., Nobari, H., et al. (2022). Physical activity and nutritional pattern related to maturation and development. Sustainability 14, 16958. doi: 10.3390/su142416958
Lima, R. F., Silva, A. F., Matos, S., de Oliveira Castro, H., Rebelo, A., Clemente, F. M., et al. (2023). Using inertial measurement units for quantifying the most intense jumping movements occurring in professional male volleyball players. Sci. Rep. 13, 5817. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33056-8
Nobari, H., Cholewa, J. M., Pérez-Gómez, J., and Castillo-Rodríguez, A. (2021a). Effects of 14-weeks betaine supplementation on pro-inflammatory cytokines and hematology status in professional youth soccer players during a competition season: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr. 18, 1–10. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00441-5
Nobari, H., Kargarfard, M., Minasian, V., Cholewa, J. M., and Pérez-Gómez, J. (2021b). The effects of 14-week betaine supplementation on endocrine markers, body composition and anthropometrics in professional youth soccer players: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr. 18, 1–10. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00417-5
Silva, A. F., González-Fernández, F. T., Aquino, R., Akyildiz, Z., Vieira, L. P., Yildiz, M., et al. (2022). Analyzing the within and between players variability of heart rate and locomotor responses in small-sided soccer games performed repeatedly over a week. Healthcare 10, 1412. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10081412
Keywords: sports immunometabolism, training load, acute response, biochemistry, fatigue, GPS, physical fitness, nutrition
Citation: Nobari H, Cholewa JM and Suzuki K (2023) Editorial: Sports immunometabolism, training load, and nutrition: effects on sports performance and psychological behavior of athletes. Front. Psychol. 14:1253502. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1253502
Received: 05 July 2023; Accepted: 25 September 2023;
Published: 09 October 2023.
Edited and reviewed by: Guy Cheron, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara, Italy
Copyright © 2023 Nobari, Cholewa and Suzuki. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Hadi Nobari, hadi.nobari1@gmail.com