Jonathan Fusi

This chapter explores the complex relationship between sports nutrition and psychological health, highlighting how performance-oriented eating practices can, in some cases, evolve into dysfunctional behaviours and contribute to the development of disordered eating patterns. Beginning with an overview of the principal eating disorders and related psychopathological conditions, the chapter examines the multifactorial risk factors that may increase athletes’ vulnerability, including competitive pressure, sport-specific body ideals, weight-category requirements, expectations from coaches and teammates, and the broader influence of the sporting environment. Particular attention is devoted to the growing impact of social media, which may reinforce unrealistic body standards, promote comparison processes, and increase the internalisation of appearance-related ideals. The chapter also discusses the dual role of sports nutrition guidelines. While evidence-based nutritional strategies are essential for optimising performance, recovery, adaptation to training, and long-term health, they may inadvertently foster rigid dietary rules, excessive food monitoring, and obsessive attitudes toward eating when applied without appropriate individualisation or psychological support. Special emphasis is placed on sports characterised by aesthetic evaluation, endurance demands, or weight classifications, where the prevalence of disordered eating behaviours and body image concerns appears to be particularly high. Through a multidisciplinary perspective integrating insights from sports nutrition, psychology, psychiatry, and sports medicine, the chapter analyses the mechanisms linking nutritional practices, body image, athletic identity, and mental wellbeing. Finally, it emphasises the importance of early identification, preventive interventions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the education of coaches, healthcare professionals, and support staff. A holistic athlete-centred approach is advocated to ensure that nutrition remains a tool for promoting both performance and health, rather than becoming a potential source of psychological distress and maladaptive behaviour.

Oxidative stress represents a clinical condition in which there is an imbalance between radical species and antioxidant systems in favor of free radicals. When this condition is established, structural changes can occur in cells that can lead to phenomena such as premature aging or damage to the cardiovascular system or carcinogenesis. From a preventive perspective, physical activity seems to be an excellent way to improve the human body’s antioxidant defenses. The purpose of this work is to analyze literature data to understand the role of physical activity in improving antioxidant capacity and whether there is a type of physical activity that is more protective than other types.

Nowadays, the focus on health and nutrition has developed greatly. Literature data suggest that a healthy lifestyle is positively correlated with a reduction in numerous risk factors. In addition to the classic nutritional schemes, such as the Mediterranean diet or the Okinawa or vegan diet, fasting is becoming a choice that many people follow. But how many types of fasting are there? Are they all optimal? Are they advisable for all individuals? What is the impact of fasting on physical activity? Literature data show that glycaemic control, pre-workout meal and post-workout meal, are crucial for improved performance. But what are our body’s adaptations to fasted training? As happens, for example, during the period of RAMADAN. Is there a sport in which fasting can be most useful for performance purposes?

Physical activity has been demonstrated to improve cognitive function, thereby preventing/slowing neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Biological responses to physical activity and vulnerabilities to NDs are emerging to be gender-related. Herein, known ND-associated markers (β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein), main sex steroid hormones, antioxidant responses, and key gene transcription modulators were evaluated in the blood of physically active and sedentary women and men. In our hands, females presented higher basal erythrocytes β-amyloid and α-synuclein amounts than males. Regular physical activity was able to significantly reduce the erythrocyte content of β-amyloid in females and the tau levels in males, suggesting that these differences may be mediated by organizational actions of sex steroid hormones during development. Furthermore, despite a comparable plasma antioxidant capability (AOC) between males and females, in the latter group, physical activity significantly enhances AOC versus peroxynitrite radicals only. Finally, regular physical activity modulated the levels of transcription factor Nrf2 in erythrocytes, as well as the plasma concentration of the microRNA miR-195 and miR-153, suggesting the promotion of antioxidant/autophagic processes associated with ND-related proteins. Overall, these results could shed light on how cerebral adaptations to physical activity differ between males and females, especially with regard to blood accumulation of ND proteins and mechanisms of antioxidant responses to regular exercise.

Since its discovery, the lactate molecule has always aroused interest and curiosity in academia. Over the years and scientific discoveries, lactate has only been approached in human physiology as a waste product of anaerobic metabolism. To better understand lactate, researchers have also identified and devised the concept of the anaerobic threshold. However, lactate is rediscovering a new life, as it also appears to be a metabolite of the aerobic system. In addition, it also appears to have a decisive role in neuroplasticity, as well as first and second messenger activity. The aim of the understanding is to deal with an examination of lactate from its beginnings up to the most recent discoveries, passing from the concept of the anaerobic threshold.

Oocyte development and fertilization are largely influenced by the microenvironment of the follicular fluid (FF), and the exploration of its molecular/metabolic composition may help in improving in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Here, the concentrations of molecules related to oxidative stress/inflammation were measured in FF from follicles at oocyte retrieval during IVF. Here, the FF antioxidant potential was correlated with the number of retrieved/mature oocytes and the number of fertilized ones. FF collected from the follicles of normal fertilized oocytes presented an elevated antioxidant capability, lower levels of pro-inflammatory molecules (i.e., IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TGF-β, and HIF-1α), and a higher IL-10 concentration. FF samples from follicles at oocyte retrieval that resulted in top-quality embryos displayed a peculiar antioxidant capability and a further decrease in proinflammatory molecules when compared with FF, giving rise to poor-quality embryos. Finally, pro-inflammatory molecules were lower and accompanied by a high antioxidant capability in samples giving rise to successful embryo implantation. The antioxidant capability and IL-10 displayed a good predictive ability for fertilization and embryo quality. Overall, our data showed the great influence of oxidative stress on the oocytes’ fertilization, and shed light on the importance of controlling the inflammatory and oxidative status of FF to obtain good-quality embryos with significant implantation potential.

Here we performed a narrative review highlighting the effect of brain/cognitive reserve and natural/synthetic antioxidants in exerting a neuroprotective effect against cognitive deterioration during physiological and pathological aging. Particularly, we discussed pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, brain and cognitive reserve as means of resilience towards deterioration, and evidence from the literature about antioxidants’ role in sustaining cognitive functioning in the preclinical phase of dementia. During aging, the effects of disease-related brain changes upon cognition are reduced in individuals with higher cognitive reserve, which might lose its potential with emerging cognitive symptoms in the transitional phase over the continuum normal aging-dementia (i.e., Mild Cognitive Impairment). Starting from this assumption, MCI should represent a potential target of intervention in which antioxidants effects may contribute—in part—to counteract a more severe brain deterioration (alongside to cognitive stimulation) causing a rightward shift in the trajectory of cognitive decline, leading patients to cross the threshold for clinical dementia later.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by motor and nonmotor features that have an influence on patients’ quality of life at different levels. To date, some evidences have arisen on the effectiveness of physical trainings and nutrients intake in ameliorating functional and cognitive outcomes in PD patients. Physical activity is effective in improving both motor and nonmotor features and recent epidemiological investigations have revealed the pivotal role that dietary patterns may play in reducing the risk of PD highlighting the pathogenesis of the neurodegeneration. Specifically, aerobic exercise shows beneficial effects in improving motor functions and executive control in PD patients, as well as proper nutrition may help in improving neuroprotective agents counteracting neurodegeneration and allows patients to better interact with the medication. Our narrative review critically focused on aerobic exercise and nutrition in PD in order to point out the best prescriptions for brain health of affected patients. Implications for a therapeutic plan and rehabilitation for these patients are also discussed.

The allele epsilon 4 (ε4) of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). ApoE protein plays a pivotal role in the synthesis and metabolism of amyloid beta (Aβ), the major component of the extracellular plaques that constitute AD pathological hallmarks. Regular exercise is an important preventive/therapeutic tool in aging and AD. Nevertheless, the impact of physical exercise on the well-being of erythrocytes, a good model of oxidative stress and neurodegenerative processes, remains to be investigated, particularly depending on ApoE polymorphism. Herein, we evaluate the oxidative status, Aβ levels, and the membrane’s composition of erythrocytes in a cohort of human subjects. In our hands, the plasma antioxidant capability (AOC), erythrocytes membrane fluidity, and the amount of phosphatidylcholine (PC) were demonstrated to be significantly decreased in the ApoE ε4 genotype and non-active subjects. In contrast, erythrocyte Aβ content and lipid peroxidation increased in ε4 carriers. Regular physical exercise was associated with an increased plasma AOC and membrane fluidity, as well as to a reduced amount of erythrocytes Aβ. Altogether, these data highlight the influence of the ApoE genotype on erythrocytes’ well-being and confirm the positive impact of regular physical exercise.