January 23, 2025

by: Vlady Zankavets

🍺The negative effects of nicotine and alcohol consumption by athletes

 

🧫In-season, 50% of athletes use nicotine and nicotine-containing products  [1, 6]. Athletes frequently consume it for a variety of reasons, including lowering anxiety levels [6], promoting relaxation [3], and improving focus and reaction times [2].

🤕On the other hand, there are numerous drawbacks: 

  • regular nicotine users experience withdrawal symptoms, which can start as early as 30 minutes after deprivation and last for up to 24 hours [5];
  • increased heart rate and blood pressure [6];
  • poor sleep quality [4];
  • decrease in max force (-12%) and rate of force development (-10%) manifestation [1];
  • impairment of anaerobic endurance [6].

🍺Another prevalent addiction among athletes is alcohol consumption, which has a wide range of detrimental effects on athletic performance, including:

  • decreased protein synthesis, muscle cramps and strength loss [7];
  • increased fluid loss, dehydration, and consequently decreased work tolerance [8];
  • reduced glycogen storage [9], which has a negative effect on endurance;
  • a dose-dependent impairment of balance, reaction time, visual search, recognition, memory and accuracy of fine motor skills [9];
  • loss in sleep depth [10].

    Thank you!

References:

  1. Mündel T. Nicotine: Sporting Friend or Foe? A Review of Athlete Use, Performance Consequences and Other Considerations
  2. Glover ED, et al. Implications of smokeless tobacco use among athletes
  3. Connolly GN, Orleans CT, Kogan M. Use of smokeless tobacco in major-league baseball
  4. Jaehne A, et al. Effects of nicotine on sleep during consumption, withdrawal and replacement therapy
  5. Hendricks PS, et al. The early time course of smoking withdrawal effects
  6. Chague F. Smokeless tobacco, sport and the heart
  7. Vella LD, Cameron-Smith D. Alcohol, Athletic Performance and Recovery
  8. Graham T. Alcohol ingestion and man’s ability to adapt to exercise in a cold environment
  9. Burke LM, Maughan RJ. Sports Nutrition
  10. Roehrs T, Yoon J, Roth T. Nocturnal and next-day effects of ethanol and basal level of sleepiness

Got questions?