Sports Supplements and Ergogenic Aids
Volledige vakbeschrijving
In the field of Sports and Nutrition, much attention is devoted to the potential of specific foods or substances to boost performance. While most academics and well-educated sport dieticians would agree that these substances should only be discussed when proper ‘normal’ nutrition is first optimized, they do represent an important topic within the field,both from a scientific and from a practical point of view. As an example, the finding that nitrate intake results in a reduction in the oxygen consumption during submaximal exercise has quickly elicited a widespread research effort into the potential ergogenic and health promoting effects of dietary nitrate supplementation. At the same time (long before evidence-based recommendations were available) a huge number of athletes started to adopt nitrate supplementation into their daily routine. Therefore, the central theme in this course is “supplements and nutraceuticals that have possible ergogenic effects”. What is available, what is the evidence, what works, how and when, and –not trivial- what does not work? The course contains three cases which will discuss various supplements. During the practicals, various different performance measures will beintroduced and practiced, and within a project team, students will address the use of these measures in relation to a specific supplement of their choice. Topics that will be addressed include nitrate, creatine, carnitine, buffers (sodium bicarbonate), and ketones, but also vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants will be touched upon.
Doelstellingen van dit vak
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the students should have knowledge of:
- The proposed mechanism of action and ergogenic effectiveness of the most popular sport supplement, including carnitine, creatine, sodium bicarbonate, and nitrate. The pros and cons (including limitations) of physiological tests commonly used to assess functional performance in a sport-specific context.
- How to determine and interpret validity and (test-retest) reliability of such physiological tests.
Applying knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students should be capable of applying the above-mentioned knowledge:
- Conduct nutritional interventions and assess efficacy for sports performance enhancement.
- Provide evidence-based recommendations on the use of carnitine, creatine, sodium bicarbonate, and nitrate in relation to specific sport disciplines.
Making judgements
At the end of the course the student should be capable of:
- Critically evaluating nutritional intervention programs to improve sports performance and judge the quality of measurements and instruments used.
- Identifying opportunities to improve sports performance through sport supplements and ergogenic aids.
Communication
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
- Present a study plan to evaluate the efficacy of sport supplements.
- Write a science-based factsheet for laymen.
- Effectively and professionally communicate in project and tutorial groups
Learning skills
At the end of the course the student should be capable of:
- Critically evaluating the design of experiments/testing (research methods and design)
- Independently studying international literature related to human movement performance and sport supplements.