Supplements for athletes that deserve attention

A balanced diet, physical activity, and a sufficient amount of sleep, under normal circumstances, will ensure the proper functioning of the body for the majority of the population. However, when we talk about challenging situations in which we push the body to the highest limits of endurance, such as professional athletes or keen recreationists, any help gaining energy and protecting the body is welcome. This is where nutritional supplements for athletes come in.

The data shows that many athletes use nutritional supplements to improve performance, overcome fatigue, or increase muscle mass.

In a Dutch study published in 2017 of nearly 800 elite athletes, 97% said male nutritional supplements were used during their athletic careers. When asked how many dietary supplements for athletes were present in their diet in the last four weeks, almost 85% gave an affirmative answer. Of all sports products and ergogenic food supplements, along with isotonic drinks, the most popular were vitamin-mineral food supplements for athletes, and they were used by almost 43% of respondents. The research results in which Spanish elite athletes participated were also interesting – they use proteins the most, while amino acids such as L-carnitine are in second place.

Dietary supplements for athletes such as L-carnitine, L-arginine and L-citrulline

L-carnitine is a molecule that transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondrion, where their oxidation occurs, using fat for energy. We know how vital energy, greater muscle mass, and a lower proportion of fat tissue in the body are to athletes. In addition to L-carnitine, nutritional supplements for athletes often contain L-arginine as it is an amino acid that is the main ingredient for synthesizing nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide plays an essential role in many bodily functions, including regulating vasodilation, i.e., the expansion of blood vessels. If the blood vessels are adequately dilated, they help (more efficiently) bring nutrients and oxygen to the muscles during exercise and thus help them in their work. Also, L-arginine is one of the primary substrates for creatine production in the liver and pancreas. Chemically, creatine is a nitrogen-containing molecule but not a protein. It is found in the muscles and helps to supply them with energy, especially during high-intensity exercises. For example, the popular HIIT training (high-intensity interval training) requires explosive strength and power. Another interesting amino acid is L-citrulline, the richest in watermelon, and it increases the level of L-arginine and serves as a substrate for the production of nitric oxide, the previously mentioned vasodilator.

Zinc and testosterone

Specific vitamins and minerals are of particular importance to athletes. Special emphasis is placed on the fact that men in sports should provide adequate nutrients needed to synthesize testosterone in their diet. First, this concerns the mineral zinc necessary to produce the testosterone hormone. Testosterone is known to us as the hormone of sexuality and reproduction. Still, it is also crucial for building muscle mass, and the intensity of its natural synthesis in the body decreases after age thirty. Also, zinc contributes to the normal metabolism of macronutrients – mainly fats and proteins. Namely, in the synthesis of proteins, zinc is necessary for all steps of the synthesis as part of the enzymes, without which these processes are impossible. In addition to the above, zinc is also essential for athletes because it protects cells from oxidative stress and contributes to the work of the immune system.

The relationship between sport and oxidative stress

Physical activity or muscle contractions in the body cause the formation of harmful reactive oxygen compounds. In the fight against reactive oxygen compounds, the body’s antioxidant system is mobilized after exercise. If the physical effort exceeds the organism’s ability to neutralize harmful oxygen compounds, oxidative stress occurs in the cells. This condition damages cells and tissues, such as muscles, causing fatigue. Oxidative stress should be taken seriously as this condition underlies many diseases today, including cardiovascular disease and cancer, which nutritional supplements for athletes can significantly help with.

Key vitamins, minerals and antioxidants

A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and various phytochemicals is the best strategy in the fight against oxidative stress in recreational and professional sports.

However, we will correct the nutrients we lack with an intelligent choice of antioxidants in dietary supplements. The representatives of powerful antioxidants are zinc, selenium, vitamin E, and copper. In addition to oxidative stress, athletes mostly face fatigue, and folic acid is essential in the fight against fatigue, which contributes to reducing fatigue and exhaustion.

Using folic acid in sports as a dietary supplement is wise because it contributes to the normal synthesis of amino acids. Copper is one of the minerals that athletes should pay attention to because, in addition to contributing to normal energy-yielding metabolism, copper also ensures the regular transport of iron in the body.

Men now have everything in one place → Man Formula+

Man Formula+ is a dietary supplement with nine essential nutrients and is ideal for men who prefer to keep things simple and want everything necessary in one place. It is a formulation that contains nutrients essential for both sexual health and the vitality of the modern active man who wants more energy and health, and they are also excellent as nutritional supplements for athletes.