Supplementation with mixed fruit and vegetable concentrates in relation to athlete's health and performance: scientific insight and practical relevance.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate whether supplementation with mixed fruit and vegetable (FV) concentrates could support stable health, immunity, and performance in athletes.
Results Summary
The study suggests that FV supplementation may help mitigate micronutrient deficits in athletes, potentially reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and recovery time, though practical challenges like digestion and timing were noted.
Population
Athletes
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
regular consumption of fruits and vegetables | neutral | a healthy diet | - | - | is widely regarded as an important contributor to | #1 |
inadequate consumption of plant foods | decrease | an inadequate supply of important micronutrients | - | - | is associated with | #2 |
a deficit of these micronutrients | increase | excessive production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species | athletes | - | can lead to | #3 |
a deficit of these micronutrients | increase | tissue damage | athletes | - | can lead to | #4 |
a deficit of these micronutrients | increase | a higher frequency of inflammatory processes | athletes | - | can lead to | #5 |
a deficit of these micronutrients | decrease | decreased immunity | athletes | - | can lead to | #6 |
a deficit of these micronutrients | increase | increased susceptibility to injury | athletes | - | can lead to | #7 |
a deficit of these micronutrients | increase | prolonged recovery | athletes | - | can lead to | #8 |
supplemental FV concentrates | neutral | timing problems with uptake | sports people | - | can work around | #9 |
supplemental FV concentrates | neutral | the detrimental digestive effects during training of high FV intake | sports people | - | can work around | #10 |
supplementation of an athlete's basic diet with mixed FV concentrates | increase | stable health and immunity | athletes | - | can promote | #11 |
supplementation of an athlete's basic diet with mixed FV concentrates | neutral | a basis for optimal adaptation and performance | athletes | - | can provide | #12 |
Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) is widely regarded as an important contributor to a healthy diet. Inadequate consumption of plant foods is associated with an inadequate supply of important micronutrients like vitamins, phytochemicals and minerals. In athletes a deficit of these micronutrients can lead to excessive production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that induce tissue damage, a higher frequency of inflammatory processes, decreased immunity, increased susceptibility to injury, and prolonged recovery. But many athletes rarely achieve the recommended intake of FV due to difficult coordination of training activities and food intake, or due to problems with digestion of FV. Therefore, in recent years more and more sports people have adopted supplemental FV concentrates to work around timing problems with uptake and the detrimental digestive effects during training of high FV intake. It is thought that supplementation of an athlete's basic diet with mixed FV concentrates can promote stable health and immunity, in order to provide a basis for optimal adaptation and performance. The intention of this article is to build a bridge between the science behind FV supplementation in exercise on the one hand and the practical relevance of its application on the other. For that purpose this paper addresses three questions: Is supplementation with a mixed FV concentrate to the athlete's diet appropriate to ensure stable health and immunity? Can supplementation with a mixed FV concentrate improve performance? Counseling guidance: how can sport nutrition advisors decide whether or not to supplement with mixed FV concentrates?