Micronutrients & recovery
Severe caloric restriction in bodybuilders leads to micronutrient deficiencies (specifically Vitamins A and E) which correlate with increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant enzyme activity.
When cutting calories, do not neglect micronutrients. This study found that 75% of bodybuilders failed to meet the Recommended Daily Allowance for Vitamin E during their cut. This deficiency was strongly correlated with higher oxidative stress. Ensure your diet includes sufficient sources of Vitamins A and E, and adequate dietary fats to aid absorption, as fat intake was also severely restricted.
75% of the athletes had intakes below the RDA for vitamin E in PreC... Vitamin E displayed a positive correlation with CAT (r=0.723) and GR (r=0.60) and an inverse correlation with TBARs (r=-0.789).
Why this rating
Strong correlation data provided, though observational.
Source
Oxidative stress, inflammation, psychological status, and severity of respiratory infections are negatively affected during the pre-contest period in amateur bodybuilders
Wilson Max Almeida Monteiro de Moraes et al. · Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism · 2018
DOI 10.1139/apnm-2018-0430
More from this paper
- Amateur bodybuilders in the pre-contest period experience significantly increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and upper respiratory tract infection severity due to severe caloric restriction and macronutrient deficits.Good
- Pre-contest bodybuilding preparation is associated with worsened psychological status, including increased fatigue, mood disturbance, and perceived stress, alongside reduced recovery.Good
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