The type, amount, frequency and timing of dietary supplement use by elite players in the First Spanish Basketball League.

The aims of this study were to determine the type, frequency and amount of dietary supplement consumption among a group of professional basketball players. The type, amount and specific timing of supplement use were recorded by 55 professional basketball players from seven different teams of the First Spanish Basketball League. Most participants (58%) consumed dietary supplements. Multivitamins and vitamins were the most frequently used supplements among the athletes (50.9%), followed by sport drinks (21.8%), miscellaneous supplements (21.8%), amino acids (14.5%), proteins (12.7%) and carbohydrates (12.7%). The average daily dietary supplement was one capsule of multivitamins, one capsule of antioxidant vitamins, 0.2-1.0 g vitamin C, 10.3 g protein, 1.9 g amino acids, 16.2 g carbohydrates and 377 ml of a commercial sport drink. Although the proportion of participants who consumed dietary supplements before, during and immediately after exercise was 25.4%, 16.3% and 7.3% respectively, only a few consumed a potentially ergogenic supplement at these times. It would appear unlikely that the type or amount of dietary supplements consumed had a beneficial effect on the physical performance of these professional basketball players, with the possible exception of antioxidant vitamins and the commercial sport drinks.

Effects of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and ascorbic acid on oxidative, hormonal and enzymatic exercise stress markers in habitual training activity of professional basketball players.

BACKGROUND: Intense physical exercise has been associated with an increase of free radical production. When the body's natural defense systems against free radicals are overwhelmed, oxidative stress increases. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study examined the effects of a vitamin antioxidant supplement, (composed of 600 mg alpha-tocopherol, 1000 mg ascorbic acid and 32 mg beta-carotene) on oxidative, hormonal, and enzymatic exercise stress markers during habitual training activity over 35 days. METHODS: The plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, testosterone, cortisol and lipid peroxides and the serum activities of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase were measured at four time points: pre-supplementation (PS), pre-training (PT), after training (AT) and 24 h after training (24h-AT) in 13 professional basketball players of the first Spanish Basketball League (ACB). RESULTS: Antioxidant supplementation led to a significant increase of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene from PS to PT. Plasma lipid peroxides decreased about 27.7% after 35 days of antioxidant treatment. A significant decrease of lactate dehydrogenase serum activity was observed during the 24 h recuperation time. During this time the anabolic/catabolic balance increased about 29.8% in the antioxidant supplemented group, although this increase did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that supplementation with alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and ascorbic acid might partially account for the hormonal and enzymatic stress marker profile observed during habitual training activity of professional basketball players.

Nutrition antioxidant status and oxidative stress in professional basketball players: effects of a three compound antioxidative supplement.

Professional basketball players of the First Spanish League (ACB) are highly trained athletes performing high training loads and competition sessions. As intense physical activity has been suggested to increase free radical production, we examined the effects of a vitamin antioxidant mixture on the degree of oxidative stress in these athletes. Subjects received either 600 mg alpha-tocopherol, 1,000 mg vitamin C and 32 mg beta-carotene, or a placebo over 32 days during a regular competition season. Plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, beta-carotene, retinol, lipoperoxides (LPO), and the total antioxidant status (TAS) were analysed before and after treatment. Lipoperoxide plasma levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the vitamin antioxidant supplemented group. The LPO/TAS ratio decreased about 15.3% in this group indicating a reduction in oxidative stress. Vitamin C dropped dramatically (p < 0.03, mean 15.4 micromol/L) in the placebo group leading to a marginal plasma vitamin C concentration (from 11 to less than 28 micromol/L). The results of this study suggest that the administered vitamin antioxidant mixture decreases oxidative stress and avoids the development of a marginal vitamin C status in professional basketball player during habitual training.