COMBINATION OF CARDIOPROTECTION AND DIET OPTIMIZATION AS A VECTOR OF IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL FITNESS OF ATHLETES

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the rationale, structure, and effectiveness of a targeted nutritional–metabolic support program designed to enhance the training outcomes of qualified middle-distance runners. The study focuses on the synergistic use of cardioprotective strategies and scientifically grounded dietary optimization to improve athletes’ functional readiness. Within the framework of nutritional support, specialized sports supplements were systematically introduced into the athletes’ diet, including the protein formulation After Training Protein and chewable Maltofer tablets as an additional source of bioavailable iron. These interventions aimed to maintain adequate recovery processes and support hematological stability during intensive training loads. To evaluate the dynamics of physical performance, the standardized running test (2 × 400 m) × 2 series was applied, allowing for a reliable assessment of speed endurance and aerobic–anaerobic interaction. The 32-day pedagogical experiment was organized as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and included 24 qualified athletes divided into two groups. For the first time, the research demonstrated that the combined use of the metabolitotropic cardioprotector Tivortin Aspartate alongside dietary optimization led to statistically significant improvements in physical endurance parameters. Results of dynamic laboratory monitoring indicated a meaningful enhancement of the oxygen-transport function of the blood, primarily through erythrocytic mechanisms, as well as a measurable reduction in blood viscosity – factors that are critically important for middle-distance performance. Both the literature review and the experimental findings confirm that the proposed integrated nutritional–metabolic program exerts a positive influence on functional preparedness and contributes to improved physical fitness among middle-distance runners.