The metabolic demands and nutritional strategies that characterize short, medium and long duration sports will be addressed. Sports practices characterized by high intensity intermittent activities will also be explored from a metabolic and nutritional point of view. The influence of different nutritional strategies on post-exercise recovery and training will also be described. Finally, for each type of exercise the main supplements used for ergogenic purposes will be described

The course consists of 21 lessons of two hours each and is divided into 6 Teaching Units (UD).

-UD#1 Introduction to the main nutrients and nutritional recommendations: carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and proteins; the water; vitamins and minerals; nutritional recommendations; ketone bodies, standard, low-carb and ketogenic diets. [2 lessons]

-UD#2 Athlete's gastrointestinal function and absorption and digestion of nutrients: digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins; the intestinal microbiota; physiological, mechanical and nutritional causes of gastrointestinal problems; prevention of gastrointestinal problems during and after exercise. [3 lessons]

-UD#3 Energy metabolism and nutritional strategies in short and high intensity intense sports: intracellular energy charge, anaerobic metabolic pathways, the phosphagen system and the glycolytic system, biochemical characteristics of type I and II fibres, myokinase, catabolism of adenyl nucleotides in exercise. Effects of nutrition on performance and training and main supplements used in short and high intensity intense sports. [4 lessons]

- UD#4 Energy metabolism and nutritional strategies in intense sports lasting several minutes. Main energetic substrates used in intense exercises lasting several minutes, causes of fatigue in intense exercises lasting several minutes, intracellular pH, lactate, post-exercise recovery, cool-down, the Cori cycle, pyruvate transamination, intracellular buffers. Effects of nutrition on performance and training and main supplements used in intense sports lasting several minutes. [4 lessons]

- UD#5 Energy metabolism and nutritional strategies in endurance sports. Main energy substrates used in endurance exercise, aerobic power, energy metabolism in endurance activities, integration of the use of energy substrates, onset of fatigue in endurance activities, localization of glycogen granules, factors limiting the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue into the bloodstream and the transport of fatty acids to the muscle. Effects of nutrition on performance and training and main supplements used in endurance sports. [4 lessons]

- UD#6 Energy metabolism and nutritional strategies in team sports. Physiological and metabolic responses of repeated sprinting activities. Main energy substrates used in team sports, influence of sprint duration and interval on the use of energy substrates, onset of fatigue in team sports. Effects of nutrition on performance and training and main supplements used in team sports. [4 lessons]

None

Knowledge and understanding. The student must be able to describe, with adequate scientific terminology, the main metabolic pathways and nutritional strategies in short, medium and long-term sports practice and in high-intensity intermittent sports. Must have mastery of the concepts of macromolecules, energy metabolism, anabolism, catabolism, biochemical adaptations, nutritional status and ergogenic supplements.

Applied knowledge and understanding. The student must be able to read texts, publications and watch films, also in English, relating to the topics covered during the course. They will also have to apply the concepts acquired in describing the metabolic and nutritional characteristics of the different types of sports.

Autonomy of judgement. The student must be able to critically evaluate the effect of different nutritional strategies on sporting performance and post-competition recovery. They will also have to apply the concepts learned to daily life also in relation to experiences in the sporting field.

Communication skills. The student must be able to express their knowledge on the metabolism and nutritional requirements of the different types of sports using appropriate terms and adequate language.

Ability to learn. The student must be able to deepen their knowledge critically. In this regard, in addition to information on the texts and teaching material, the teacher will provide information on how to find other study material, including the most recent scientific publications and national and international guidelines useful for building an independent path.

The achievement of the expected results will be verified through an oral interview.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

none

All materials used during the course is availabe on Moodle platform from the web site of the university

Teaching

Frontal lesson

Innovative teaching methods

Discussion on specific topics will be proposed that can be carried out individually and in groups during the course. Students will have scientific publications, seminars and presentations at national and international conferences available on the University's Moodle platform. This material will be used to develop short presentations also through using the practice of the "flipped lesson" and "debate".

Attendance

In order to fully achieve the course's educational objectives, attendance at lectures is strongly recommended, although not mandatory. Students are considered 'attending' upon reaching at least 50% of the course hours.

Course books

- The Biochemical Basis of Sports Performance. Second Edition.

Ronald J Maughan and Michael Gleeson

OXFORD University press (2010)

- Sport nutrition

Asker Jeukendrup and Michael Gleeson.

Third edition. Champaign, IL : Human Kinetics (2019)

-Slides and other teaching materials are available on the moodle platform

Assessment

The oral examination will evaluate knowledge and ability to make judgments and communicate. In addition to being able to express the theoretical concepts outlined in the lesson, the student must demonstrate complete comprehension through appropriate examples and applications to different typologies of sports.

The evaluation criteria are the following: - relevance of the answers in relation to the contents of the programme; - ability to synthesize and grasp the fundamental aspects of the question; - correctness of the disciplinary language used.

Each of the criteria is evaluated on the basis of a multi-level scale of values. The final evaluation is expressed in thirtieths.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

The program and teaching materials are the same for both attending and non attending students

Attendance

In order to fully achieve the course's educational objectives, attendance at lectures is strongly recommended, although not mandatory. Students are considered 'attending' upon reaching at least 50% of the course hours.

Course books

-The Biochemical Basis of Sports Performance. Second Edition.

Ronald J Maughan and Michael Gleeson

OXFORD University press

-Biochimica per le scienze motorie.

Curatore: Antonio Di Giulio, Amelia Fiorilli, Claudio Stefanelli

Editore: CEA

-Slides and other teaching materials are available on the moodle platform

Assessment

The oral examination will evaluate knowledge and ability to make judgments and communicate. In addition to being able to express the theoretical concepts outlined in the lesson, the student must demonstrate complete comprehension through appropriate examples and applications to different typologies of sports.

The evaluation criteria are the following: - relevance of the answers in relation to the contents of the programme; - ability to synthesize and grasp the fundamental aspects of the question; - correctness of the disciplinary language used.

Each of the criteria is evaluated on the basis of a multi-level scale of values. The final evaluation is expressed in thirtieths.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.