Effect of endurance training on dental erosion,caries, and saliva

The aim of this investigation was to give insights into the impact of endurance training on oral health, with regard to tooth erosion, caries, and salivary parameters. The study included 35 triathletes and 35 non‐exercising controls. The clinical investigation comprised oral examination, assessment of oral status with special regard to caries and erosion, saliva testing during inactivity, and a self‐administered questionnaire about eating, drinking, and oral hygiene behavior. In addition, athletes were asked about their training habits and intake of beverages and sports nutrition. For saliva assessment during exercise, a subsample of n = 15 athletes volunteered in an incremental running field test (IRFT). Athletes showed an increased risk for dental erosion (P = 0.001). No differences were observed with regard to caries prevalence and salivary parameters measured during inactivity between athletes and controls. Among athletes, a significant correlation was found between caries prevalence and the cumulative weekly training time (r = 0.347, P = 0.04). In athletes after IRFT and at maximum workload, saliva flow rates decreased (P = 0.001 stimulated; P = 0.01 unstimulated) and saliva pH increased significantly (P = 0.003). Higher risk for dental erosions, exercise‐dependent caries risk, and load‐dependent changes in saliva parameters point out the need for risk‐adapted preventive dental concepts in the field of sports dentistry.     

Is the consumption of beverages and food associated to dental erosion? A cross-sectional study in Portuguese athletes

ObjectivesThis cross-sectional study aimed to investigate if the consumption of acidic food and beverages, including energy drinks is associated with dental erosion in athletes.MethodsA questionnaire was applied in 110 athletes (swimmers, bodybuilders, football players, boxers, volleyball players and runners) to collect training and sport practice data, medical history and oral hygiene habits. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used for acidic beverages and food consumption. The Basic erosive wear examination index was used to evaluate the presence of dental erosion lesions. Participants were organized into 4 groups: swimmers who consumed or did not consume energy drinks, and athletes (except swimmers) who consumed or did not consume energy drinks.ResultsThe prevalence of dental erosion was 83.6%. Of the 110 participants, 49.1% had low risk of erosion, 6.4% had an average risk of erosion, and 0.9% presented high risk of erosion. According to the multivariate logistic analysis, red wine (OR = 1.6; P = 0.038), citrus fruit (OR = 1.3; P = 0.037), frequency of tooth brushing (OR = 2.3; P = 0.018), energy drinks consumption in swimmers (OR = 15.2; P < 0.001), and energy drinks consumption in athletes (OR = 6.3; P = 0.003) were significant risk factors of dental erosion, whereas spicy food was a protective factor (OR = 0.64; P = 0.024).ConclusionsThe consumption of energy drinks by swimmers more than doubles the chance of dental erosion (BEWE score of “at least low risk”) when compared with non-swimmer athletes consuming the same energy drinks. Athletes consuming energy drinks should be clinical and regularly supervised, especially for dental erosion.     

Oral health among Dutch elite athletes prior to Rio 2016

Objectives: Elite athletes are at high risk for poor oral health. A screening program to assess oral health and create dental awareness can improve oral health among elite athletes but has not been performed in the Netherlands before. We summarize the first results from such a screening conducted in Dutch elite athletes of the Nederlands Olympisch Committee*Nederlandse Sport Federatie (NOC*NSF, Dutch Olympic Committee).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 800 Dutch athletes eligible for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 were invited to a costless and voluntary oral examination. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth-index (DMFT), the basic erosive wear examination (BEWE) and the Dutch Periodontal Screening-index (DPSI) were used to evaluate athlete’s oral health. Information on sociodemographic variables and sport performance were collected in questionnaires.

Results: In total, 116 Dutch elite athletes were included in the study. The median (90%-range) DMFT-score was 3.0 (0.0–16.0), the median BEWE-score was 2.0 (0.0–10.0), and the mean± SD DPSI-score was 2.0 ± 0.73. Oral health-related quality of life was generally high, although only 28.2% of the athletes reported never having problems with their dentition or mouth. In 43% of the athlete’s clinical findings were reported which needed a direct referral to the general dentist.

Conclusion: Oral health in this subsample of Dutch elite athletes was surprisingly affected as almost half of them needed dental treatment. Further research is needed to allow conclusions about oral health in Dutch elite athletes more broadly. However, regular screening of oral health incorporated into the general preventive health care of elite athletes is necessary to ensure athletes are fully healthy during competitions like the Olympic and Paralympic Games.     

Is running less skilled in triathletes than runners matched for running training history?

PURPOSE: Cycling muscle recruitment is less skilled in elite triathletes than in cyclists matched for cycling training history. This finding suggests that the multidiscipline training undertaken by triathletes interferes with adaptation of the neuromuscular system to cycling training in triathletes. The purpose of this study was to determine if similar interference with adaptation of the neuromuscular system would be evident during running in elite triathletes. METHODS: We compared intramuscular electromyographic (EMG) recordings from five muscles of the leg (tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, peroneus longus, gastrocnemius lateralis, and soleus) during running at a controlled running speed between elite triathletes, runners matched to the triathletes for running training history (i.e., equally trained runners), and less-trained runners. RESULTS: Normalized EMG waveforms (i.e., time-series EMG data) were not different between groups, nor was EMG modulation (i.e., variations in EMG amplitude within strides). Individual variance (i.e., variability in muscle recruitment between strides for individual athletes) was greater for less-trained runners but was not different between elite triathletes and equally trained runners. Population variance (i.e., variability in muscle recruitment between athletes) was greater between less-trained runners for four of five muscles, but it was greater between elite triathletes than between equally trained runners for only two muscles. CONCLUSION: We found no definitive evidence that running muscle activity is less skilled in elite triathletes than in equally trained runners. These findings are not consistent with our comparison of cycling muscle activity between elite triathletes and cyclists matched for cycling training history. Our findings suggest that multidiscipline training does not interfere with adaptation of running muscle activity in triathletes.     

Dental erosion’ prevalence and its relation to isotonic drinks in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

To estimate the global prevalence of dental erosion and to evaluate whether there is scientific evidence that the use of isotonic drinks could increase the risk of this condition in athletes.

Methods

This study was registered in the PROSPERO (CRD42018091545) and it was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. A broad search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Virtual Health Library (Lilacs) and Grey Literature using MeSH and free terms. Manual search was also performed in the references of included studies. Articles published up to October 04, 2019 were included. Two researchers individually selected the studies according to the eligibility criteria and performed data extraction and methodological evaluation. A random effects model was adopted in the meta-analysis.

Results

Nine studies were selected in which three were considered to have a moderate risk of bias and six were considered to have a low risk of bias. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the estimated global prevalence of dental erosion was 47.07% (95% CI 24.025–70.800) in athletes. It also demonstrated that there was no association between the use of isotonic drinks and dental erosion (95% CI 0.00 [??0.07, 0.08; p?=?0.95].

Conclusion

The estimated prevalence of dental erosion in athletes was considered high; however, there was no association between isotonic drink consumption and the prevalence of dental erosion.

     

Alterations in cardiac morphology and function in elite multi-disciplinary athletes.

Early echocardiographic studies of left ventricular (LV) morphology and function focused on single discipline athletes, primarily endurance and strength trained. To date there are few studies examining multi-disciplinary trained athletes. The present echocardiographic study examined LV morphology and function in 18 elite triathletes (swimming, cycling, and running) and 11 elite modern pentathletes (running, swimming, shooting, fencing, and show-jumping) compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Elite triathletes demonstrated significantly (p < 0.05) increased LV wall thickness and cavity dimensions together with LV mass, both in absolute terms and scaled for body surface area, compared with controls. Elite modern pentathletes demonstrated significantly (p < 0.05) increased LV wall thickness with a non-significant increase in LV internal diameter. Despite significant LV enlargement, the distribution of hypertrophy and diastolic filling indices were normal in both triathletes and modern pentathletes and significantly increased in the triathletes. It is concluded that multi-disciplinary training results in variations in LV morphology. The inciting stimulus resulting in LV enlargement in triathletes is associated with prolonged endurance activity, together with an isometric component accompanying cycling. In contrast, elite modern pentathletes experience a reduced endurance component combined with a high isometric component associated with fencing.     

Ample use of physician-prescribed medications in Finnish elite athletes

The present study aimed at determining the use of physician-prescribed medication in a large number of elite athletes compared with a representative control sample of the general population. Of all the athletes (N = 494) financially supported by the National Olympic Committee, 446 completed a structured questionnaire (response rate 90.3 %) in 2002. A control group (N = 1503, response rate 80.1 %) comprised an age-matched sample from the population-based study collected by the National Public Health Institute. Any prescribed medication was used by 34.5 % of the athletes and 24.9 % of the controls during the past seven days. The most frequently reported physician-prescribed medications among athletes during the previous seven days were anti-allergic medicines (12.6 % of the respondents), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; 8.1 %), anti-asthmatic medicines (7.0 %), and oral antibiotics (2.7 %). The adjusted odds ratios (95 % CI) for the physician-prescribed medications used during the previous seven days was 2.42 (1.69 - 3.46), 3.63 (2.25 - 5.84), 3.42 (2.05 - 5.70), and 2.15 (1.03 - 4.45) for use of anti-allergic medication, NSAIDs, anti-asthmatic medication, and oral antibiotics, respectively, in the athletes compared with controls. Every fifth athlete reported some NSAID-related adverse effect. In conclusion, the athletes used NSAIDs, antibiotics, anti-asthmatic and anti-allergic medication significantly more often than a representative sample of age-matched controls. All these medicines have potential adverse effects that may have a deleterious impact on the maximum exercise performance of elite athletes. Adverse effects were commonly reported in connection with NSAID use.     

Training patterns and sports injuries in triathletes

Sports-related injuries are a significant health problem within Australia, and constitute a national health priority. There is limited Australian research data available on factors that contribute to triathlon injuries, and in particular on how training patterns relate to injury risk. This study examined the association between training patterns and injury in mostly non-elite triathletes. A cross-sectional survey of 258 triathletes completed a questionnaire that focused on injuries they had sustained during the previous three triathlon seasons. Statistical associations were found between hours of training and sustaining an injury. These associations were U shaped, with those triathletes training at low levels and at high levels more likely to sustain an injury. The results suggest that, for non-elite triathletes, the likelihood of sustaining an injury is least when training for a total of 8 to 10 hrs per week, specifically cycling for five to six hrs and running for three to four hrs weekly. Time spent on swimming training does not appear to affect injury risk. This research is seen as a contribution towards assisting triathletes in the planning of training programs aimed at reducing the risk of injury.     

Metabolic profiling of elite athletes with different cardiovascular demand

Intensive exercise of elite athletes can lead to physiological alterations in the cardiovascular system in response to increased stroke volume and blood pressure, known collectively as cardiovascular demand (CD). This study aimed to compare metabolic differences in elite athletes with high vs low/moderate CD and to reveal their underlying metabolic pathways as potential biomarker signatures for assessing health, performance, and recovery of elite athletes. Metabolic profiling of serum samples from 495 elite athletes from different sport disciplines (118 high CD and 377 low/moderate CD athletes) was conducted using non‐targeted metabolomics‐based mass spectroscopy combined with ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography. Results show that DAGs containing arachidonic were enriched in high CD together with branched‐chain amino acids, plasminogens, phosphatidylcholines, and phosphatidylethanolamines, potentially indicating increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the high CD group. Gamma‐glutamyl amino acids and glutathione metabolism were increased in low/moderate CD group, suggesting more efficient oxidative stress scavenging mechanisms than the high CD group. This first most comprehensive metabolic profiling of elite athletes provides an evidence that athletes with different CD show a unique metabolic signature that reflects energy generation and oxidative stress and potentially places the high CD group at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Further studies are warranted for confirmation and validation of findings in other sport groups in light of potential confounders related to limited available information about participants.     

优秀军事五项运动员膳食营养知识-态度-行为(KAP)现状调查分析

目的:了解军事五项运动员营养基础知识认知、膳食态度、行为习惯以及可接受的干预手段等信息,为备战第59届世界军事锦标赛提供科技支持。方法:以13名军体大队军事五项优秀运动员(其中男8人,女5人)为调查对象,设计军事五项运动员膳食营养知信行调查问卷,对运动员进行问卷调查。结果:运动员对营养知识部分条目总知晓率为55.13%,平均得分(21.53±6.92)分;不同性别、年龄、运动年限、自我体型评价的运动员问卷得分差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05);运动员对维生素C来源条目答对率为61.5%,对碳水化合物、不饱和脂肪酸以及钙的主要来源条目答对率分别为46%、31%及30.7%;9名运动员(69.2%)有吃早餐的习惯,食用水果频率较高,男、女运动员摄入频率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),食用奶制品及蔬菜的频率较低;在最能接受的营养知识宣传方式条目中,7名(53.8%)运动员选择专业人员现场讲授膳食营养知识,1名(7.7%)选择观看教学录像,5名(38.5%)选择发放小宣传册。结论:应当适时集中开展营养知识讲座,发放营养知识小册子,在日常就餐中适时进行知识普及和行为提醒;适当增加正餐之外的奶类、水果供应,并配制运动饮料,监督和指导训练过程中的补液。     

Occurrence of chronic disease in former top-level athletes. Predominance of benefits,risks or selection effects?

Former elite athletes from most sports disciplines have lower overall morbidity risk and enjoy better self-rated health in later years compared with the general population and matched controls who were healthy at young age. This is seen particularly among former endurance athletes who have a lower incidence of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Most often data are available only for men. Based on the available data, participation in elite sports cannot be regarded as an overall health hazard. However, aside from a high risk of acute injury in specific sports, possible negative effects of long-standing athletic activity on the development of osteoarthritis should not be neglected. It should also be remembered that elite athletes are a biologically and genetically select group who are not representative of the population at large. Given the nature of the available data, the possible health consequences of recent changes in different characteristics of sports, such as training practices, professionalism and use of doping, cannot be properly predicted.     

The association between physical fitness level and number and severity of injury and illness in youth elite athletes

Youth elite athletes often double their training and competition load after enrollment into specialized sport academy high school programs. The least fit athletes may be exposed to an excessive and too rapid increase in training load, with negative adaptations such as injury and illness as a consequence. In this study, our aim was to determine whether these least fit athletes were at greater risk of injury or illness during their first school year. Participants were 166 youth elite athletes (72% boys) from a variety of team, technical, and endurance sports newly enrolled into specialized sport academy high schools. The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems was used to self‐report injuries and illnesses weekly for 26 weeks. Athletes completed the Ironman Jr physical fitness test battery at baseline, evaluating endurance, strength, agility, and speed properties. We ranked the athletes based on their combined test scores and identified the least fit quartile. The main outcome was the number and severity of health problems, comparing the least fit quartile of athletes to the rest of the cohort. Overall, the least fit quartile of athletes did not report more health problems (mean 3.7, 95% CI 3.0‐4.4) compared with the rest of the cohort (3.6, 3.2‐3.9). In conclusion, we demonstrated no association between low physical fitness level and number and severity of injury and illness in youth elite athletes after enrollment into a specialized sport academy high school program.     

Zinc status in athletes: relation to diet and exercise

Zinc is involved in the biochemical processes supporting life, such as cellular respiration, DNA reproduction, maintenance of cell membrane integrity and free radical scavenging. Zinc is required for the activity of more than 300 enzymes, covering all 6 classes of enzyme activity. Zinc binding sites in proteins are often of distorted tetrahedral or trigonal bipyramidal geometry, made up of the sulphur of cysteine, the nitrogen of histidine or the oxygen of aspartate and glutamate, or a combination. Zinc in proteins can either participate directly in chemical catalysis or be important for maintaining protein structure and stability. The nutritional habits of elite athletes during training and competition are quite different from the recommended diet in the majority of the population. Endurance athletes often adopt an unusual diet in an attempt to enhance performance: an excessive increase in carbohydrates and low intake of proteins and fat may lead to suboptimal zinc intake in 90% of athletes. Mild zinc deficiency is difficult to detect because of the lack of definitive indicators of zinc status. In athletes, zinc deficiency can lead to anorexia, significant loss in bodyweight, latent fatigue with decreased endurance and a risk of osteoporosis.     

Caffeine consumption amongst British athletes following changes to the 2004 WADA prohibited list

This study was undertaken to examine self-reported caffeine consumption and reasons for its use, amongst UK athletes, following its removal from the 2004 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. A convenience sample of track and field athletes (n = 193) and cyclists (n = 287) completed a postal or Web-based questionnaire. Messages were posted on athletics and cycling club Web sites and mailing lists to direct athletes to the Web-based questionnaire. Postal questionnaires were distributed at domestic sporting events. A higher proportion of cyclists (59.9 %) compared with track and field athletes (32.6 %) consumed caffeine to enhance performance (p < 0.001). A higher proportion of elite as opposed to sub-elite athletes representing cycling (p = 0.031) and athletics (p = 0.010) used caffeine to enhance performance. Of all caffeine containing products used, coffee, energy drinks, pharmaceutical preparations and caffeinated sports supplements were most prevalent. Results revealed that amongst UK athletes, the intention to use caffeine as an ergogenic aid was high, and that use was more widespread and accepted in competitive sport, especially at elite level, when compared to recreational sport.     

Ventilatory threshold and maximal oxygen uptake during cycling and running in female triathletes

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and the ventilatory threshold (Tvent) were measured during cycle ergometry (CE) and treadmill running (TR) in a group of 10 highly trained female triathletes. Tvent was defined as the VO2 at which the ventilatory equivalent for oxygen increased without a marked rise in the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide. Female triathletes achieved a significantly higher mean (+/- SE) relative VO2max for running (63.6 +/- 1.2 ml.kg-1.min-1) than for cycling (59.9 +/- 1.3 ml.kg-1.min-1). When oxygen uptake measured at the ventilatory threshold was expressed as a percent of VO2max, the mean value obtained for TR (74.0 +/- 2.0% of VO2max) was significantly greater than the value obtained for CE (62.7 +/- 2.1% of VO2max). This occurred even though the total training time and intensity were similar for the two modes of exercise. Female triathletes had average running and cycling VO2max values that compared favorably with maximal oxygen uptake values previously reported for elite female runners and cyclists, respectively. However, mean running and cycling Tvent values (VO2 Tvent as%VO2max) were lower than recently reported values for single-sport athletes. The physiological variability between the triathletes studied and single-sport athletes may be attributed in part to differences in training distance or intensity, and/or to variations in the number of years of intense training in a specific mode of exercise. It was concluded that these triathletes were well-trained in both running and cycling, but not to the same extent as female athletes who only train and compete in running or cycling.     

萍乡市中小学生龋齿和氟牙症流行病学调查

目的：了解萍乡市中小学生龋齿及氟牙症的流行病学情况,为制定口腔防治规划提供参考依据。方法：按照1997年WHO《口腔健康调查基本方法》,参照第三次全国口腔健康流行病学抽样调查方案,对江西省萍乡市36 804名中小学生的口腔健康状况进行调查,检查项目包括龋病和氟斑牙,将调查结果与97年萍乡市学生龋齿和氟牙症流行病学调查进行比较。结果：患龋率为47.95%,龋均1.13,氟斑牙占7.05%。与97年萍乡市中小学生龋齿和氟牙症流行病学抽样调查结果相比,患龋率、龋均和氟斑牙的患病率差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。结论：江西省萍乡市中小学生龋齿患病率仍然较高,氟斑牙的检出率明显降低,应加强中小学生龋病的防治工作和口腔卫生宣传教育,降低龋病的发生,促进口腔健康。     

陕西省5岁儿童龋病流行病学抽样调查分析

目的了解陕西省5岁儿童口腔健康状况，监测龋病的患病趋势，为儿童龋病防治提供科学依据。方法按照第三次全国口腔健康流行病学调查的要求，对陕西省城乡6个地区的786名5岁儿童进行了口腔健康状况调查。采用SPSS13．0软件包对数据进行分析。结果5岁儿童的患龋率和龋均分别为58．78％和2．23。农村和城市地区的患龋率分别为59．42％和58．06％。患龋率在农村和城市、男性和女性之间的差异经统计学检验均无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。5岁儿童有96．9％的龋齿未经治疗。结论陕西省学龄前儿童的口腔健康状况不容忽视，应采取各种有效预防措施，控制龋病的发生。提高充填率，改善口腔健康状况。     

The association between early specialization and performance level with injury and illness risk in youth elite athletes

A trend is observed towards more specialized training and selection into talent programs at an early age for youth athletes. Little is known how this might influence the risk of illness and injury. The aim of the study was to assess whether, in a group of youth elite athletes, those specializing early or performing best were at increased risk of incurring injury or illness after entering a specialized Sport Academy High School program. We enrolled 259 16‐year‐old elite athletes. They completed a baseline web‐based questionnaire covering their age at specialization, single‐ versus multi‐sport involvement during the previous 2 years and current performance level (rated by themselves and their coach). Subsequently, the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) questionnaire on health problems was used to self‐report injuries and illnesses weekly for 26 weeks from October to May. In this specialized Sport Academy High School program, 39% of the athletes reported early specialization (at 12 years or younger). However, early specialization did not increase the risk of injury or illness during the 26 weeks, nor did being a single‐sport athlete the previous two years increase this risk. The best performing athletes at the time of enrollment were not at greater risk of becoming injured or ill during the 26 weeks. In conclusion, in a group of youth elite athletes entering a specialized Sport Academy High School program neither early single‐sport specialization nor performance level appears to represent risk factors for injury or illness after enrollment.     

Genotypes and distance running : clues from Africa

A look at the medal podium in almost any international sporting competition reveals that some athletes and certain countries enjoy regular success in particular events. While environmental influences such as training and diet are important, it is likely that there is also some genetic component to elite athletic performance. One of the most compelling examples of athletic domination is that of east African runners in international distance running competition. This phenomenon has led to the suggestion that east Africans possess some inherent genetic advantage predisposing them to superior athletic performances. The concurrent success of athletes of west African ancestry in sprint events also appears to have augmented this belief given their similar skin colour. A growing body of evidence suggests that genetic variation does influence athletic performance, yet despite the speculation that African athletes have a genetic advantage for physical performance, there is no genetic evidence to suggest that this is the case. The only available genetic studies of elite African athletes do not find that these athletes possess a unique genetic makeup; rather, they serve to highlight the high degree of genetic diversity in east African populations and also among elite east African athletes.     

Optimizing sleep to maximize performance: implications and recommendations for elite athletes

Despite a growing body of literature demonstrating a positive relationship between sleep and optimal performance, athletes often have low sleep quality and quantity. Insufficient sleep among athletes may be due to scheduling constraints and the low priority of sleep relative to other training demands, as well as a lack of awareness of the role of sleep in optimizing athletic performance. Domains of athletic performance (e.g., speed and endurance), neurocognitive function (e.g., attention and memory), and physical health (e.g., illness and injury risk, and weight maintenance) have all been shown to be negatively affected by insufficient sleep or experimentally modeled sleep restriction. However, healthy adults are notoriously poor at self‐assessing the magnitude of the impact of sleep loss, underscoring the need for increased awareness of the importance of sleep among both elite athletes and practitioners managing their care. Strategies to optimize sleep quality and quantity in athletes include approaches for expanding total sleep duration, improving sleep environment, and identifying potential sleep disorders.