Ron J Maughan

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..Further research on a wide range of athletes with special nutrition needs is urgently required. In events where performance might be affected, other strategies to eliminate or minimise any effects must be sought...

..Event organizers should take account of the needs of Muslim athletes when scheduling the dates and timings of sports competitions...

..345), but sweating rate was higher at 60 and 80% rh than at 24% rh (P < 0.001). The results suggest that exercise capacity at moderate intensity in a warm environment is progressively impaired as the relative humidity increases...

..Nutrition strategies developed for use by athletes can also be used to achieve functional benefits in other populations...

..The results suggest that the combination of the changes in eating time and frequency during Ramadan fasting, together with the continuation of normal training load, has no marked effect on the blood profiles of these adolescent athletes...

..At present, evidence supports a significant role of catecholaminergic neurotransmission, but there are a number of metabolic and circulatory perturbations occurring within the brain that may also be important in the fatigue process...

..The aim of this review is to evaluate the available literature concerning the effect of caffeine ingestion on fluid balance and to formulate targeted and evidence-based advice on caffeinated beverages in the context of optimum hydration...

..Alcohol intoxication may adversely affect the player's dietary choices by displacing carbohydrate from the diet at a time when restoration of glycogen stores should be a priority...

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..Total salt (NaCl) loss during training was 4.3+/-1.8 g. The sweat loss data are similar to those recorded in elite players undergoing a similar training session in warm environments, but the volume of fluid ingested is less...

..Manipulation of pre-exercise body temperature can also influence exercise performance and may be a strategy that can be used by athletes competing in stressful environments...

..Contamination of supplements that may cause an athlete to fail a doping test is widespread...

..Athletes seldom wait until there is convincing evidence of efficacy or of safety, but caution is necessary to minimize risk...

..Carbohydrate and fat are key energy substrates during exercise, and acute nutritional manipulation will affect both substrate selection and exercise performance...

..After Ramadan, the dietary variables reverted to the pre-Ramadan values...

..963). The heat load and debt induced by periodic drinking resulted in similar body temperatures during low-intensity exercise in conditions of moderate heat stress due to appropriate thermoregulatory reflexes...

..This, however, is in accord with data in the literature from other levels of soccer players and athletes in other events. These measurements allow for an individualisation of the club's hydration strategy...

..Pre-exercise lowering of body temperature may aid some aspects of performance, but the efficacy has not been demonstrated in football...

..There is growing evidence that the effects of high ambient temperature and dehydration on performance of exercise may be mediated by effects on the central nervous system. This seems to involve serotonergic and dopaminergic functions...

..An appropriate, individualized drinking strategy will take account of pre-exercise hydration status and of fluid, electrolyte and substrate needs before, during and after a period of exercise...

..An appropriate drinking strategy will take account of pre-exercise hydration status and of fluid, electrolyte and substrate needs before, during and after exercise...

..Modifications to the competition timetable may minimise or even eliminate any effect on performance in sport, but there may be negative effects on performance in some events...

..The limitation may also depend on environmental factors, such as altitude and temperature...

..Recent evidence suggests that the integrity of the blood brain barrier may be compromised by combined heat stress and dehydration, and this may play a role in limiting performance in the heat...

..In exercise lasting more than a few minutes, hypohydration clearly impairs performance capacity, but muscle strength appears to be relatively unaffected...

..This suggests that exercise-induced increases in sweat rates are a major factor in water loss in swimmers training in cool water...