Blood Tests for Nutrition, Fitness and Performance in Athletes | Fitness: body fat (DEXA). Metabolism. VO2 max (2023)

not rich ofSportperformance bloodBiomarker-Testit is a window into the athlete's body. It enables athletes to better understand their nutrition and performance by providing information on nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, injury risk, fluid status, muscle condition and much more.

Blood tests have been a common diagnostic tool for more than a century. However, these tests are becoming more accessible to consumers and a variety of biomarkers can now be tested and applied specifically to optimize human performance.

Athletes must present themselves in the best possible light. As technology advances, biomarkers are a great way to develop that edge.[UE]. Asimple blood testIt can provide very valuable data on the reactions taking place in the athlete's body. This type of detail can allow coaches to better manage training and nutrition, assess stress levels and muscle condition, identify deficiencies in the body and most importantly, optimize athlete performance and prevent injuries.[ii]. Also, every athlete is different.[iii]. Despite similar training plans and diets, results may vary because genetic and environmental factors can cause athletes' bodies to respond differently. These differences need to be measured and accounted for, especially when it comes to optimizing performance.

Biomarker test: A window into the athlete's body

A biomarker is a substance measured in a biological organism as an indicator of environmental exposure, effect, susceptibility, or clinical disease.[4]. To get a biomarker test, a blood test must be taken and then tested. According to the analysis, it is necessary to change the diet, training and lifestyle accordingly. Another test would be done three to five months later to see if these changes produce a chemical effect in the body. As such, this process must be constantly adjusted to ensure all layers are kept at peak performance.[v].

order oneBiomarker test for athletes

For example, biomarker analysis can be used to take direct measurements, enabling better injury prevention. Injury prediction is done by evaluating indicators of stress and risk of inflammation. Regarding stress indicators, creatine kinase (CK) can help athletes understand the potential risk of injury. When identifying inflammation risk, knowing the athlete's ferritin levels and white blood cell count can be invaluable. A full list of all biomarkers tested and their functions is included in the appendix.

The chart below shows the biological role of various biomarkers in helping coaches and athletes track their players' performance, recovery and overall health.[vi].

Biomarker testing is the way to give yourself an edge over other athletes competing in the same room. Understanding and adjusting what's going on in an athlete's body enables changes that directly address the athlete's needs. This personalized attention can help to identify weak points and thus improve them. Biomarkers can identify deficiencies in nutrition, hydration status, muscle fitness, cardiovascular endurance, risk of injury, and inflammation. All of these aspects are directly related to the athlete's performance, health and recovery, allowing for greater optimization.

Another benefit of biomarker testing is that it educates athletes about their own health. By conducting these tests, coaches can help athletes better understand their bodies and thereby improve their lifestyle habits. It also allows them to take more responsibility for their supplementation, knowing that deficiencies will arise if they don't take their supplements.[xviii].

Overall, the benefits are endless as they help both the average and professional athlete to significantly improve their level of performance and thus achieve better results when choosing their sport.

Benefits of biomarker testing for recreational athletes

Biomarker tests are not only for professional athletes, but can also provide useful information for amateur athletes. When entering a new sport, athletes invest a lot of time and money to improve their performance. The time, effort and money invested in training, nutrition, sports equipment and racing pays off in the long run. A test that costs a few hundred dollars allows people to train smarter.

Based on the results, the athlete can set benchmarks for categories such as cholesterol, white blood cells, vitamin D, cortisol, and other proteins. As a result, they can adjust their nutrition plan and train better.[xxiv].

Future of biomarker testing for athletes

Direct-to-consumer testing is a booming market. Athletes are among the first to benefit today as it creates a whole new level of personalized care and performance optimization. Athletes can tailor their training load, diet, and supplementation strategies specifically for their own bodies, rather than dealing with injury, overeating, or under-dosing of nutrients and vitamins. As biomarker testing becomes more accessible, particularly with the advent of direct-to-consumer test kits, athletes will drive this movement, making it popular with hobbyists and fitness enthusiasts alike.

references

[UE]Tirell, Meg. “This simple blood test promises to improve your athletic training. We put it to the test."CNBC, CNBC, 3. Februar 2017, www.cnbc.com/2017/02/03/this-simple-blood-test-promises-to-improve-your-athletic-training.html

[ii]Kroll, Tawny. "What it is and my experience - Part I".BlueprintFit, 30. June 2018, www.blueprintfit.com/blog/blueprintfit-experience-part/.

[iii]Project for Athletes By Quest Diagnostics, Director.New York Giants: Case Studies in the Application of Biomarker Data.Youtube, Quest Diagnostics Blueprint for Athletes, 23. Februar 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgGgbwLE6xk&feature=youtu.be.

[4]Trojian, Thomas H. "To Screen or Not to Test: Comments and Reviews on Laboratory Screening Tests in Elite Athletes."Alunos tun Dartmouth Health Services, American College of Sports Medicine, 2014, Students.dartmouth.edu/health-service/sites/students_health_service.prod/files/students_health_service/wysiwyg/screen_or_not_screen.pdf.

[v]Project for Athletes By Quest Diagnostics, Director.FC Dallas: Using Biomarker Data to Assess Injury Risk and Define Recovery Strategies in MLS Players.Youtube, Blueprint for Athletes von Quest Diagnostics, 2. April 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4f2ni1MsVw&feature=youtu.be.

[vi]Quest Diagnostics Athlete Blueprint. "Webinar: Optimizing for Best-in-Class Performance."Youtube, Blueprint for Athletes by Quest Diagnostics, December 13, 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?

[vii][PubMed] Fragala MS, Goldman SM, Goldman MM, Bi C, Colletti JD, Arent SM, Walker AJ, Clarke NJ. Measurement of cortisol and testosterone in athletes:Precision of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assays measuring cortisol and testosterone in whole blood microsamples. J Força Cond Res: 2425-2434, 2018.

[vii]Trojian, Thomas H. "To Screen or Not to Test: Comments and Reviews on Laboratory Screening Tests in Elite Athletes."Alunos tun Dartmouth Health Services, American College of Sports Medicine, 2014, Students.dartmouth.edu/health-service/sites/students_health_service.prod/files/students_health_service/wysiwyg/screen_or_not_screen.pdf.

[ix]Tal, Carlos. "7 Reasons to Get Blood Tested on Athletes - SimpliFaster".Blog Simplifaster, Spikes Only, 11. April 2019, simplifaster.com/articles/blood-testing-athletes-benefits/.

[X]Volfinger L, Lassourd V, Michaux JM, Braun JP, Toutain PL. Kinetic assessment of muscle damage during exercise by calculating the amount of creatine kinase released. I am J Physiol266: R434-R441, 1994.

[XI]Sorichter S, Puschendorf B, Mair J. Skeletal muscle injury from eccentric muscle action: muscle proteins as markers of muscle fiber injury. Exerc Immunol Rev 5:5-21, 1999.

[xii]Shahim P, Tegner Y, Wilson DH, Randall J, Skillbäck T, Pazooki D, Kallberg B, Blennow K, Zetterberg H. Blood biomarkers for brain injury in professional ice hockey players with concussion. JAMA Neurol 71: 684-692, 2014.

[xiii]Beck TJ, Ruff CB, Shaffer RA, Betsinger K, Trone DW, Brodine SK. Stress fracture in military recruits: gender differences in muscle and bone susceptibility factors. Bone 27: 437-444, 2000.

[xiv]Svoboda SJ, Harvey TM, Owens BD, Brechue WF, Tarwater PM, Cameron KL. Changes in serum biomarkers of cartilage turnover after anterior cruciate ligament injury. I am J Sports Med41: 2108-2116, 2013.

[xv] Hespanhol Jr., L.C., van Mechelen, W., Postuma, E., Verhagen, E. (2015) Health and economic burden of running-related injuries in runners training for an event: a prospective cohort study. Scandinavian Journal of Sports Medicine and Science, 26(9):1091-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12541

[xxx]Haas JD, Brownlie T. Iron deficiency and reduced work capacity: a critical review of research to determine a causal relationship. J Nutr 131: 676S-688S, 2001; Discussion 688S-690S.

[xviii]Lee, Elaine C. et al. "Biomarkers in Sport and Exercise: Monitoring Health, Performance and Recovery in Athletes".Journal of Strength and Conditioning Researchvol. 31,10 (2017): 2920-2937. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000002122

[xviii]Sawka MN, Cheuvront SN, Kenefick RW. Hypohydration and human performance: influence of environmental and physiological mechanisms. Sports Med 45 (Supplement 1): S51-S60, 2015.

[xx]Dahlquist DT, Dieter BP, Koehle MS. Possible ergogenic effects of vitamin D on athletic performance and recovery. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 12:33, 2015

[xx]Henry C. Lukaski. Vitamin and mineral status: effects on physical performance. Nourishment. 2004 July-August; 20:632-644. DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2004.04.001.

[xx]Lee, Elaine C. et al. "Biomarkers in Sport and Exercise: Monitoring Health, Performance and Recovery in Athletes".Journal of Strength and Conditioning Researchvol. 31,10 (2017): 2920-2937. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000002122

[xxx]Huss, Ralph. "Biomarkers".Biomarkers: An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, 2015, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/biomarkers.

[xiii]Tirell, Meg. “This simple blood test promises to improve your athletic training. We put it to the test."CNBC, CNBC, 3. Februar 2017, www.cnbc.com/2017/02/03/this-simple-blood-test-promises-to-improve-your-athletic-training.html.

[xiv]Hall, Brandon. "Bleeding for an Edge: Why More and More Professional Athletes Are Using Blood Tests to Maximize Their Performance".BATTERY, March 25, 2016, www.stack.com/a/bleeding-for-an-edge-why-a-growing-number-of-professional-athletes-are-using-blood-analysis-to-measure-their-performance.

[xxiv]Brown, Ashton. "Fact: Every body is different."BlueprintFit, July 16, 2018, www.blueprintfit.com/blog/fact-everybodys-body-different/.