Macronutrient-driven skin temperature responses in para-athletes: A randomized cross-over study using infrared
Carolina Batista Simões1, Marcelo Teixeira de Andrade2, Lucas Siqueira-Moraes1
1Sports Physiology Section (SFE), Sports Training Center (CTE), School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy (EEFFTO), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Ergogenic & Systemic and Molecular Physiology Research Group (ERGOFIS), School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Abstract:
Infrared thermography (IRT) is a valuable tool in sports science and clinical settings for detecting early changes in skin temperature (TSKIN), an indicator of tissue stress. Accuracy and reliability of IRT are influenced by various factors. Surprisingly, dietary influences remain underexplored in the literature. This study investigated TSKIN responses in sport-specific body regions of para-athletics and para-powerlifting using IRT after isocaloric carbohydrate (CHO), protein (PTN), fat-rich (FAT) meals, and overnight fasting (OVF). Ten para-athletes participated in a randomized crossover study, with TSKIN measured at multiple acute time-points after each dietary condition. A mixed linear model analysis included diet, and biological and environmental variables. The analysis revealed significant TSKIN increases in CHO (b = 0.004; p < 0.001) and PTN (b = 0.003; p < 0.001) interactions with time. Significant interactions were observed between FAT and the dominant anterior arm (b = -0.164; p = 0.040) and non-dominant anterior deltoid (b = -0.184; p = 0.021), age and FAT (b = -0.006; p = 0.004), period of the day and PTN (b = 0.357; p = 0.001), as well as between physical disabilities and both PTN (b = -0.22; p = 0.003) and FAT (b = 0.198; p = 0.005). We provide the first evidence of the critical effects of macronutrient intake on the TSKIN of para-athletes by demonstrating that 1) CHO and PTN significantly elevate TSKIN, and 2) FAT reduces it, depending on the type of disability, in the sport-specific body regions. Other biological, such as age, and environmental factors, such as relative humidity, also modulate IRT responses. By revealing the macronutrient-specific effects on TSKIN, this study underscores the importance of dietary standardization to enhance the diagnostic and performance utility of IRT. Identification at Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC), Identification number: RBR-8xz3t35.
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