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The Effect of Pomegranate Juice Supplementation on Strength and Soreness after Eccentric Exercise
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if pomegranate juice supplementation improved the recovery of skeletal muscle strength after eccentric exercise in subjects who routinely performed resistance training. Resistance trained men (n = 17) were randomized into a crossover design with either pomegranate juice or placebo. To produce delayed onset muscle soreness, the subjects performed 3 sets of 20 unilateral eccentric elbow flexion and 6 sets of 10 unilateral eccentric knee extension exercises. Maximal isometric elbow flexion and knee extension strength and muscle soreness measurements were made at baseline and 2, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 hours postexercise. Elbow flexion strength was significantly higher during the 2- to 168-hour period postexercise with pomegranate juice compared with that of placebo (main treatment effect; p = 0.031). Elbow flexor muscle soreness was also significantly reduced with pomegranate juice compared with that of placebo (main treatment effect; p = 0.006) and at 48 and 72 hours postexercise (p = 0.003 and p = 0.038, respectively). Isometric strength and muscle soreness in the knee extensors were not significantly different with pomegranate juice compared with those using placebo. Supplementation with pomegranate juice attenuates weakness and reduces soreness of the elbow flexor but not of knee extensor muscles. These results indicate a mild, acute ergogenic effect of pomegranate juice in the elbow flexor muscles of resistance trained individuals after eccentric exercise.
... Studies that involved adult humans (athletes and non-athletes) consuming a pomegranate supplement either "after 130 exercise" or "before and after exercise" were included if they met the following criteria: (1) The study design was 131 a randomized controlled trial (RCT), non-randomized, and cross-over intervention; (2) outcomes were muscle 132 soreness and/or proxy markers of muscle damage such as myoglobin, CK, LDH, lactate, and CRP; (3) authors 133 measured at least one outcome at baseline and immediately after, and/or 2, and/or 24, and/or 48, and/or 72 hours 134 after an acute exercise. (3) Participants were healthy, and those with any metabolic, cardiovascular, or 135 musculoskeletal disorders were excluded. ...
... Two studies were RCTs (33,34), three were non-randomized studies (35)(36)(37), and five were cross-over study 179 designs (2,20,21,38,39). Supplementation regimens of pomegranate ranged from 20 mL (33) to 1500 mL (35) 180 from 1 to 8 weeks in duration. ...
... Muscle soreness was assessed pre-exercise, 2h, 24h, 48h, and 72h after exercise, and myoglobin was assessed 189 pre-exercise, 0h, 24h, 48h, and 72h after exercise, and CK and CRP were measured 0h, 2h, 24h, 48h, and 72h 190 after exercise, and LDH and lactate levels were measured pre-exercise and 0h. participants (2,21,33,34,(36)(37)(38)(39)(40), and one study included both male and female participants (20). Eight studies 198 included athletes (2,20,21,(33)(34)(35)(36)38), while two studies focused on healthy participants (37,39 ...
... The effects of POM consumption on post-exercise recovery have only been investigated in relation to resistance-based exercise, and varying results have been obtained. In untrained males, the consumption of POM juice for at least 3 days prior to a maximal resistance-based exercise task was associated with improved post-exercise force recovery in both the elbow [54] and knee [55,56] muscles, despite no apparent effects on muscle soreness. In contrast, in trained males, reduced post-exercise soreness and improved force recovery were found following elbow but not knee exercise [55], suggesting that the knee exercise protocol used did not induce sufficient muscle damage in these trained individuals to allow an effect of POM to be observed. ...
... In untrained males, the consumption of POM juice for at least 3 days prior to a maximal resistance-based exercise task was associated with improved post-exercise force recovery in both the elbow [54] and knee [55,56] muscles, despite no apparent effects on muscle soreness. In contrast, in trained males, reduced post-exercise soreness and improved force recovery were found following elbow but not knee exercise [55], suggesting that the knee exercise protocol used did not induce sufficient muscle damage in these trained individuals to allow an effect of POM to be observed. Only one study has measured blood markers of inflammation, but since the exercise task used in that study failed to induce a large inflammatory response, no effect of POM could be observed [54]. ...
... Effects of nutritional compounds on aspects related to post-exercise recovery.Initial dose of 1000 mg and then 400 mg/day for 12 days pre-exercise[25] ↑ Serum antioxidant status ↓ Serum oxidative stress ↓ Serum markers of muscle damage with multi-day protocols ↑ Muscle force recovery ↑ Muscle function recovery ↓ Post-exercise muscle soreness ↓ Selected serum markers of inflammation consumed twice daily for at least 5 days pre-exercise[53][54][55] or 1000 mg extract 30 min pre-exercise ↑ Force recovery in selected muscle groups ↓ Systolic blood pressure, increased blood vessel diameter and blood flow ...
The metabolic and mechanical stresses associated with muscle-fatiguing exercise result in perturbations to bodily tissues that lead to exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), a state of fatigue involving oxidative stress and inflammation that is accompanied by muscle weakness, pain and a reduced ability to perform subsequent training sessions or competitions. This review collates evidence from previous research on a wide range of nutritional compounds that have the potential to speed up post-exercise recovery. We show that of the numerous compounds investigated thus far, only two—tart cherry and omega-3 fatty acids—are supported by substantial research evidence. Further studies are required to clarify the potential effects of other compounds presented here, many of which have been used since ancient times to treat conditions associated with inflammation and disease.
... Connolly et al. [9] were the first to demonstrate that a polyphenol-rich tart cherry/apple juice blend could accelerate recovery from eccentric elbow flexion. Accordingly, studies have subsequently investigated the efficacy of a large number of other foods and extracts rich in polyphenols including pomegranate [10], bilberry [11], blueberry [12], beetroot [13] and cocoa [14]. The results of these studies have been inconsistent, potentially due to methodological variation, including differences in exercise protocols, intervention periods, outcome markers, dosages, and the polyphenol content and bioactive constituents of the supplements consumed (e.g., beetroot is rich in nitrate, betalains and polyphenols) [15,16]. ...
... If no data were available we used a conservative correlation of 0.5 [20]. Some studies reported multiple measures of primary outcome markers (e.g., DOMS or MIVC at several anatomical sites [10,25,26]; or compared more than one treatment to a single placebo group [25,27,28]. To avoid these studies contributing more than one set of data (causing a unit of analysis error), we calculated combined means and SDs to produce a single SMD for each outcome marker at each time point per study [20,29]. ...
... Participants were randomised to treatment groups in 20 studies, whereas, a quasi-randomisation protocol was used in one cross-over [34] and four parallel studies [27,[35][36][37]. In 18 studies both investigators and participants were blinded to the treatment allocation [10,13,14,25,27,28,34,35,[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46], in 4 studies investigators were ...
Objectives. To determine the effects of consuming polyphenol-rich foods, juices and concentrates on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Method. Eligibility criteria. Randomised and quasi-randomised placebo-controlled trials with a parallel or cross-over design evaluating the effects of consuming polyphenol-rich foods, juices and concentrates on recovery from EIMD in humans. Eligible studies included at least one of the primary outcome measures: maximal isometric voluntary contraction; MIVC, delayed onset muscle soreness; DOMS, or countermovement jump; CMJ. Information sources. AMED, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, PUBMED, SCOPUS (Elsevier), SPORTDiscus (EBSCO), and the UK Clinical Trials Gateway were searched from inception to September 2020. Risk of bias and quality of evidence. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. Synthesis of results. Random effects models were used to determine the effect of polyphenol supplementation on recovery from EIMD. Data are presented as standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. Included studies. Twenty-five studies were included; 15 had a parallel, and 10 had a cross-over design. A total of 527 participants (male: n = 425; female: n = 102) were included in the meta-analysis. Synthesis of results. Consumption of polyphenol-rich foods, juices and concentrates accelerated recovery of MIVC immediately post-exercise (SMD = 0.23, 95% CI 0.04, 0.42; p = 0.02; low-quality evidence), 24 h (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI 0.15, 0.62; p = 0.001; low-quality evidence), 48 h (SMD = 0.48, 95% CI 0.28, 0.67; p < 0.001; moderate-quality evidence), 72 h (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI 0.11, 0.46; p = 0.001; low-quality evidence) and 96 h post-exercise (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI 0.16, 0.83; p = 0.004; very low-quality evidence). DOMS was reduced at 24 h (SMD = −0.29, 95% CI −0.47, −0.11; p = 0.002; low-quality evidence), 48 h (SMD = −0.28, 95% CI −0.46, −0.09; p = 0.003; low-quality evidence) and 72 h post-exercise (SMD = −0.46, 95% CI −0.69, −0.24; p < 0.001; very low-quality evidence). CMJ height was greater immediately post-exercise (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI 0.01, 0.53; p = 0.04; low-quality evidence), at 24 h (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI 0.11, 0.83; p = 0.01; very low-quality evidence), 48 h (SMD = 0.58, 95% CI 0.24, 0.91; p < 0.001; very low-quality evidence) and 72 h post-exercise (SMD = 0.57, 95% CI 0.03, 1.10; p = 0.04; very low-quality evidence). Polyphenol supplementation did not alter creatine kinase, c-reactive protein, and interleukin−6 at any time points. At 72 h post-exercise, protein carbonyls (SMD = −0.64, 95% CI −1.14, −0.14; p = 0.01) were reduced. Discussion. Limitations of evidence. Risk of bias was high for 10 studies and moderate for 15. Sensitivity analyses excluding the high risk of bias studies reduced the SMDs for MIVC and DOMS, and for CMJ effects at 24 and 48 h were no longer statistically significant. Interpretation. Consuming polyphenol-rich foods, juices and concentrates accelerated recovery of muscle function while reducing muscle soreness in humans. Maximal benefit occurred 48–72 h post-exercise, however, the certainty of the evidence was moderate to very low. Supplementation could be useful when there is limited time between competitive events and impaired recovery could negatively impact performance.
... Flavonoids are the largest subclass of polyphenols with over 6000 compounds identified to date [26]. Flavonoids have been the primary focus of research relating to polyphenols in both sporting performance and recovery, with most prevalently investigated foods which contain flavonoids including tart cherry [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34], green tea [35][36][37][38] and pomegranate [39][40][41]. The most widely researched flavonoid subclasses include anthocyanins, catechins and quercetin, among others. ...
... In the case of two studies, no appropriate data was obtained despite attempts to contact corresponding authors and, as such, these studies were excluded on the basis of missing data [38,54]. One study contained two discrete trials; an upper body muscle damage trial, and a lower-body muscle damage trial, these trials were included in this analysis as independent RCTs [41]. Two studies contained two differing treatment arms in comparison to a single placebo group, in these studies data from the highest dose treatment arm was extracted and included in the analysis [34,55]. ...
... Eight studies implemented a crossover study design while the remaining 18 studies utilised a parallel design. Polyphenol sources included tart cherry (n = 9) [27][28][29][30][31][32][57][58][59], various tea extracts (n = 7) [35-37, 55, 56, 60, 61], pomegranate (n = 3) [34,40,41], quercetin (n = 2) [62,63], lemon verbena (n = 1) [64], black currant (n = 2) [65,66], cacao (n = 1) [67] and mixed fruit anthocyanin juice (n = 1) [68]. Further study characteristics can be seen in Tables 1 and 2. Characteristics are reported as described in original publications. ...
Background Flavonoid polyphenols are bioactive phytochemicals found in fruits and teas among other sources. It has been
postulated that foods and supplements containing flavonoid polyphenols may enhance recovery from exercise-induced muscle
damage (EIMD) through upregulation of cell signalling stress response pathways, particularly the nuclear factor erythroid
2–related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway.
Objectives This study aims to investigate the ability of polyphenol treatments containing flavonoids to enhance recovery of
skeletal muscle strength, soreness and creatine kinase post EIMD.
Methods Medline (Pubmed), Embase and SPORTdiscus were searched from inception to August 2020 for randomised
placebo-controlled trials which assessed the impact of 6 or more days of flavonoid containing polyphenol ingestion on skeletal
muscle recovery in the 96-h period following a single bout of EIMD. A total of 2983 studies were screened in duplicate
resulting in 26 studies included for analysis. All meta-analyses were undertaken using a random-effects model.
Results The pooled results of these meta-analyses show flavonoid polyphenol treatments can enhance recovery of muscle
strength by 7.14% (95% CI [5.50–8.78], P < 0.00001) and reduce muscle soreness by 4.12% (95% CI [− 5.82 to − 2.41]
P = 0.00001), no change in the recovery of creatine kinase concentrations was observed.
Conclusion These results indicate that ingestion of polyphenol treatments which contain flavonoids has significant potential
to improve recovery of muscular strength and reduce muscle soreness in the 4-day period post EIMD. However, the characterisation
of polyphenol dosage and composition of study treatments should be prioritised in future research to facilitate
the development of specific guidelines for the inclusion of flavonoid-rich foods in the diet of athletes and active individuals.
... The anti-inflammatory effects of plant-derived polyphenols have been demonstrated previously [14]. The beneficial effects of cherry juice to reduce inflammatory markers [11][12][13]15], promote muscle strength recovery [11,[15][16][17], and ameliorate muscle soreness [15,17,18] have been reported in several studies. Blueberries might also have potential effects on muscle strength recovery, following a bout of eccentric exercise [19]. ...
... The anti-inflammatory effects of plant-derived polyphenols have been demonstrated previously [14]. The beneficial effects of cherry juice to reduce inflammatory markers [11][12][13]15], promote muscle strength recovery [11,[15][16][17], and ameliorate muscle soreness [15,17,18] have been reported in several studies. Blueberries might also have potential effects on muscle strength recovery, following a bout of eccentric exercise [19]. ...
... The anti-inflammatory effects of plant-derived polyphenols have been demonstrated previously [14]. The beneficial effects of cherry juice to reduce inflammatory markers [11][12][13]15], promote muscle strength recovery [11,[15][16][17], and ameliorate muscle soreness [15,17,18] have been reported in several studies. Blueberries might also have potential effects on muscle strength recovery, following a bout of eccentric exercise [19]. ...
Aims
This study is intended to investigate the effects of Phoneix Dactylifera pollen on markers of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) induced by eccentric resistance exercise in female athletes.
Methods
Thirty-six female athletes were randomly selected and equally divided into 3 groups of 12 subjects, including: (1) 100 mg of P. dactylifera, (2) 200 mg of P. dactylifera, and (3) 100 mg of starch (placebo). Having received 10-day supplementation based on their groups label, all participants performed a bout of eccentric leg curl exercise by lying leg curl machine (five sets, three repetitions, each set with 110–130% one-repetition maximum, 1-min rest between sets). The blood samples were collected before and 1, 2, 3 and 4 days after the exercise. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of P < 0.05).
Results
Neither 100 mg nor 200 mg doses of P. dactylifera had considerably significant effects on blood levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lymphocytes and neutrophils, thigh circumference, the angle of leg extension and the Sargent jump (the markers of DOMS) compared to the placebo.
Conclusions
Eccentric resistance exercise increased markers of DOMS; however, consuming either 100 or 200 mg P. dactylifera for 10 days before the exercise had no favorable effects on the DOMS markers in female athletes.
... Four studies were added from other sources and a total of 26 studies were finally included in the current review: 15 with tart cherry supplementation [8,13,21,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] and 11 with pomegranate supplementation [8,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47]. One study [8] was repeated because it had two intervention groups, one with TC supplementation and another with PG supplementation. ...
... Twelve studies with TC supplementation analysed any functional performance variable and six of them [29][30][31][32][33]35] found significantly better recovery of any of those variables after exercise in the TC group (vs PLA). Four studies with PG supplementation analysed any functional performance variable and three of them [42,45,46] found significantly better recovery of any of those variables after exercise in the PG group (vs PLA). ...
... Fourteen studies analysed the effects of TC supplementation on any perceptual variable and seven of them [13,21,29,30,32,33,36] found significantly better recovery (or a tendency) of any of those variables after exercise in the TC group (vs PLA). Five studies analysed the effects of PG supplementation on perceptual variables and three of them [39,45,46] found that DOMS were significantly lower at any time after exercise in the PG group (vs PLA). Therefore, there were seven studies with TC supplementation and two with PG supplementation that, apparently, did not find any potential nutritional aid in TC or PG supplementation with regard to perceptual variables. ...
Phenolic compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may prevent inflammation and oxidative stress as well as help the athletes to recover from exercise-induced muscle damage
(EIMD). Tart cherry (TC) and pomegranate (PG) are two fruits with high content of polyphenols. Their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have recently attracted substantial interest for their potential to reduce strength loss and promote recovery from EIMD. The aims of this review are (1) to summarise the effects of tart cherry
and pomegranate supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation and recovery, and (2) to outline the differences found in supplementation with tart cherries or pomegranates. SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus were searched according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis
and 25 studies were included. The existing evidence suggests that both types of supplementation are good strategies to accelerate recovery of functional performance variables, perceptual variables and inflammation but PG supplementation shows better recovery of oxidative stress. However, positive effects are more likely: 1) when supplementation starts some days before muscle damage is induced and finishes some days after, for a total period of at least 8/10 days, 2) with pronounced muscle damage of the muscles involved, and 3) when total phenolic content is at least 1000 mg/day. This review may help to optimise TC or PG supplementation practice to improve post-exercise recovery.
... Similarly, the present study demonstrated significant improvements at the critical time point of muscle strength decline (i.e., 2 h after eccentric exercise) with a higher concentration of polyphenols from jaboticaba, even under a more demanding exercise protocol. In contrast, Trombold and colleagues [42] did not observe improvements in knee extensors muscle strength after supplementing 250 mL of pomegranate juice (containing 96 mg/250 mL of anthocyanins and 30 mg/250 mL of ellagic acid derivatives) twice a day for 15 days. The inconsistency between findings may be related to polyphenol dosage, which may not have been enough to protect the body against knee extensor muscle damage. ...
... However, the intake of jaboticaba berry juice reduced the ratings of perceived muscle soreness compared to the control group, specifically at 2 h post-exercise, with a tendency to remain reduced over 72 h. Although certain studies [41,42] did not observe improvements in DOMS with the consumption of polyphenols in the lower extremities, jaboticaba berry juice has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing DOMS, likely due to its high antioxidant activity [3,9,47] and its ability to modulate inflammatory response [1,43]. One of the justifications for the positive results from DOMS found in the present study is the neutralization of oxidizing compounds, such as ROS through ingestion of foods rich in polyphenols. ...
Introduction
The consumption of tropical fruits, including jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora), a popular Brazilian berry, has attracted attention due to its possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits in humans.
Purpose
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of jaboticaba berry juice (JBT) supplementation on markers of muscle damage and muscle quality after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in resistance-trained subjects.
Methods
Over 7 days, 24 trained participants were randomly assigned to consume 250 mL of JBT (containing approximately 1,060 mg of total polyphenols) or 250 mL of a fruit-flavored placebo drink (control). To induce EIMD, on the fourth day, participants performed ten sets of ten repetitions for the non-dominant knee extension and flexion using an isokinetic dynamometer. Assessments for maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), muscle thickness (MT), echo intensity (EI), and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) were measured before the initiation of the study and 2 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after EIMD protocol.
Results
The EIMD protocol significantly reduced MVIC (p < 0.001) while increasing MT (p = 0.013), EI (p = 0.024), and DOMS (p < 0.001). JBT supplementation accelerated the recovery of MVIC (p = 0.006), and mitigated DOMS (p = 0.043) at 2 h post-exercise. Furthermore, JBT also attenuated EI at 48 h (p = 0.012) and 72 h (p = 0.034) on the subsequent days after the EIMD.
Conclusion
Supplementation with JBT attenuated lower limb muscle soreness, enhanced isometric strength, and morphological characteristics of muscle following EIMD. Additional research on the anti-inflammatory effects of jaboticaba berry juice is necessary to clarify the exact mechanisms involved in these benefits.
Clinical trial registration
Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) (RBR-9fjqvng).
... Consumption of a polyphenol rich diet has shown to be inversely related to the risk of many ROS-related diseases (21). Citrus polyphenol hesperidin (and its derivative hesperetin) and ellagitannins (hydrolyzed into ellagic acid) present in pomegranate and several berries, have shown great potential to oppose the age-related decrease in muscle health (22)(23)(24)(25). Polyphenols including hesperetin and ellagic acid show strong antioxidant capacity in in vitro and rodent models by radical scavenging and upregulating levels of primary antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in lung and muscle tissue and in hepatic cells (22,(26)(27)(28). ...
... Interestingly, hesperetin has shown to promote myogenic differentiation in mouse myoblasts and ex vivo muscle tissue through activation of MyoD and thereby enhancing myogenin gene expression (23). Furthermore, supplementation with pomegranate juice containing high concentrations of ellagitannins and ellagic acid, has shown to accelerate muscle recovery and decrease muscle soreness after strenuous bouts of eccentric exercise in trained men, suggesting a beneficial role in promoting muscle regeneration (24,25). ...
Introduction
Skeletal muscle regeneration is impaired in elderly. An oxidative stress-induced decrease in differentiation capacity of muscle satellite cells is a key factor in this process. The aim of this study is to investigate whether orange polyphenol hesperetin and pomegranate polyphenol ellagic acid enhance myoblast differentiation in the presence and absence of oxidative stress, and to explore underlying mechanisms.
Methods
C2C12 myoblasts were proliferated for 24 h and differentiated for 120 h while exposed to hesperetin (5, 20, 50 μM), ellagic acid (0.05, 0.1 μM) or a combination (20 μM hesperetin, 0.05 μM ellagic acid) with and without oxidative stress-inducing compound menadione (9 μM) during 24 h of proliferation and during the first 5 h of differentiation. The number of proliferating cells was assessed using fluorescent labeling of incorporated 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine. Myosin heavy chain expression was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and cell fusion index was calculated. Furthermore, protein expression of phosphorylated p38 and myomixer were assessed using Western blot.
Results
None of the compounds induced effects on cell proliferation. Without menadione, 50 μM hesperetin increased fusion index by 12.6% compared to control (p < 0.01), while ellagic acid did not affect measured parameters of differentiation. Menadione treatment did not change myosin heavy chain expression and fusion index. In combination with menadione, 20 μM hesperetin increased myosin heavy chain expression by 35% (p < 0.01) and fusion index by 7% (p = 0.04) compared to menadione. Furthermore, the combination of menadione with hesperetin and ellagic acid increased myosin heavy chain expression by 35% compared to menadione (p = 0.02). Hesperetin and ellagic acid did not change p38 phosphorylation and myomixer expression compared to control, while treatment with menadione increased p38 phosphorylation (p < 0.01) after 5 h and decreased myomixer expression (p = 0.04) after 72 h of differentiation.
Conclusion and discussion
Hesperetin increased myosin heavy chain expression in the presence of oxidative stress induced by menadione, and increased cell fusion both in the presence and absence of menadione. Ellagic acid did not affect the measured parameters of myoblast differentiation. Therefore, hesperetin should be considered as nutritional prevention or treatment strategy to maintain muscle function in age-related diseases such as sarcopenia. Future research should focus on underlying mechanisms and translation of these results to clinical practice.
... Theoretically, consuming antioxidants will help inhibit ROS formation. This is because antioxidants will bind to metal ions, reduce hydrogen peroxide formation, quench the superoxide and singlet oxygen, and break the chain reaction (3,(16)(17)(18). This process will improve muscle recovery and performance as it helps reduce inflammatory responses, which cause muscle damages. ...
... Pomegranate juice supplementation was also studied by Trombold et al. (16) with significant and positive results. It was found that pomegranate consumption of 250 mL dosage at 12 h interval for 7 days pre-exercise, on the day of exercise and 7 days post-exercise has a protective effect against muscle soreness and fatigue after elbow flexor muscle exercise repetitions among 17 trained male athletes. ...
Strenuous exercise causes increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), creating an imbalance between ROS and antioxidants. The reduced antioxidant defence leads to defective elimination of ROS and consequently, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). DOMS due to exhaustive or prolonged exercise typically peaks between 24 h and 72 h after exercise results in soreness, inflammation, pain and decreased muscle function. As a result, muscle strength will be reduced progressively and this situation might be detrimental to one’s athletic performance, especially amidst competition season. Therefore, supplementation to improve muscle recovery and sports performance has become a common practice among athletes. However, it is suggested to consume natural-based fruit-derived antioxidants as a more effective and safe nutritional strategy. Fruits containing a high amount of polyphenol protect muscle cells from excessive and harmful ROS due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. To date, there are several expended studies on the consumption of supplements from various antioxidant-rich fruits to provide evidence on their effectiveness, giving better solutions and wider choices of supplementation to the athletes. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of nutritional standpoint from previous literature on the effect of fruit juices supplementation on muscle recovery and sports performance.
... The difference between the studies may be due, for example, to the type of phenolic compound present in the drink. Of the six studies that showed a positive effect of supplementation, three administered beverages whose phenolic compound was hydrolyzed tannins 7,13,30 or anthocyanin, a class of flavonoids 31 . In the other two studies, the beverages contained anthocyanin and phenolic acids 6,12 . ...
... In this sense, knowledge and control of the subjects' dietary patterns can help determine phenolic supplementation's effect on muscle recovery. However, only four studies recorded the dietary pattern of volunteers over the study period 9,12,34,35 , and three studies adopted the use of supplements as an exclusion criterion 6,7,30 . Furthermore, of the six studies that found a positive effect of supplementation with a fruit drink rich in phenolics, two were not double-blind clinical trials 6,12 . ...
Objective: To evaluate the effect of fruit and vegetable drink supplementation on muscle recovery after resistance exercise. Methods: 11 men performed two experimental conditions 12 days apart, in a randomized and double-blind manner: 1) Supplementation with Smoothie - drink based on pineapple, mint, sage, ginger, and pomegranate; and 2) Placebo - drink based on artificial pineapple juice. Participants ingested 400 mL of Smoothie or Placebo drinks daily for 9 days, starting one week before performing the exercise (10 sets of 10 unilateral maximum repetitions in leg press 45º). The perceived subjective recovery (PSR), thickness (MT) and soreness (MS) in the anterior thigh muscles, and maximum isometric strength (MIS) were measured before, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after exercise. Results: There was a reduction in MIS and PSR and an increase in MS 24 h after exercise (p < 0.05). In both situations, MIS returned to baseline values at 72 h (p > 0.05), while PSR and MS returned to baseline values 96 h after exercise. There was no change in MT (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Supplementation with pineapple, mint, sage, ginger, and pomegranate drinks did not accelerate muscle recovery over 96 h after the 45º leg press exercise.
... Owing to the variability in dosages, administration form of supplements, and stated target audience, understanding their results and making accurate decisions are difficult; therefore, the focus of the current review was more specific, and all eight studies selected are summarized in Table 1. Trombold et al. (2011) conducted the oldest study found in our search. For this crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the authors selected 17 men with an average age of 21 years who had been active for at least three months. ...
... However, the study's methods and forms of presentation did not allow such inferences. The data collected with the VAS in the study by Trombold et al. (2011) were expressed only in their relative form using the P-value associated with the comparative graph. Although the descriptive analysis containing the raw data was not presented, the graphs allowed us to observe that the maximum pain intensity reported by the volunteers occurred between 24 and 48 h for both the upper and lower limbs, with the average value being <5 in the VAS. ...
Exercise-induced muscular overload can trigger delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). DOMS is related to the indiscriminate use of analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without proper guidance, decreased physical exercise adherence and degenerating sports performance, increased risk of injury, and reduced muscle strength and function. Dietary anthocyanins have been extensively studied as potential natural treatments for DOMS, but the indication, dosage, and form of use remain highly variable. Therefore, this review aims to synergize and present evidence relating to the effect of anthocyanins on DOMS in clinical studies. Notably, the results of anthocyanin supplementation for DOMS were found to be inconclusive. The use of protocols with lower anthocyanin doses yielded better results than those with high-dose supplements, suggesting that anthocyanin-rich foods are more accessible as therapeutic tools, leading to the conclusion that these foods could be used to prevent and treat DOMS. However, consumption protocols for this purpose are not yet well established, and the answer is dependent on the methodological quality of future studies.
... In conjunction with red fruits, including grapes, tart cherries, blueberries, and pomegranates have also shown the capacity to enhance performance and promote recovery after various types of strenuous exercises [103,[261][262][263][264]. In particular, blackcurrants at a dose of 600 mg/day for one-week improved sprint performance in football players [265], and increased fat oxidation concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and glycerol in endurance-trained women exposed to prolonged cycling training [266]. ...
... On the other hand, an 8-week supplementation (815-1350 mg/day) of pomegranate fruits can increase VO2max, improve time trial performance in male and female cyclists [283], delay fatigue in treadmill running, and ameliorate vascular diameter and blood flow in active men and women [284]. On the other hand, their juice (500 mL/day) showed the capability to inhibit the type 1 activity of 11 βHSD and exert ergogenic effects during intermittent running, promoting beneficial effects on blood flow and reducing oxidative stress in obese and overweight individuals [285], as well as muscle soreness and weakness in resistancetrained men [263]. Participants who underwent 30 min of moderate treadmill training and consumed 500 mL/day for 7 days presented lower levels of malondialdehyde, urinary free cortisol, pre-and post-exercise systolic blood pressure, and lower diastolic blood pressure than placebo [285]. ...
In recent years, many efforts have been made to identify micronutrients or nutritional strategies capable of preventing, or at least, attenuating, exercise-induced muscle damage and oxidative stress, and improving athlete performance. The reason is that most exercises induce various changes in mitochondria and cellular cytosol that lead to the generation of reactive species and free radicals whose accumulation can be harmful to human health. Among them, supplementation with phenolic compounds seems to be a promising approach since their chemical structure, composed of catechol, pyrogallol, and methoxy groups, gives them remarkable health-promoting properties, such as the ability to suppress inflammatory processes, counteract oxidative damage, boost the immune system, and thus, reduce muscle soreness and accelerate recovery. Phenolic compounds have also already been shown to be effective in improving temporal performance and reducing psychological stress and fatigue. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the current knowledge on the effects of dietary phenolics on physical performance and recovery in athletes and sports practitioners. Overall, the reports show that phenolics exert important benefits on exercise-induced muscle damage as well as play a biological/physiological role in improving physical performance.
... Montmorency tart cherries (Howatson et al., 2010;Bell et al., 2016a;Keane et al., 2018) Blackcurrants (Cook et al., 2015;Willems et al., 2015;Willems et al., 2016) Procyanidins/tannins Wine, tea, coffee Pomegranate (Trombold et al., 2010(Trombold et al., , 2011 ...
... Pomegranate has also been examined for its effects on exercise recovery. Two studies in recreational exercisers examined the application of a pomegranate extract following muscle damaging exercise (Trombold et al., 2010(Trombold et al., , 2011 and showed improved return of function, but there were no measures of oxidative stress and inflammation to determine the underlying mechanisms. These data were later supported by Ammar et al. (Ammar et al., 2016) in resistance trained volunteers, which illustrated its potential application to well-trained cohorts. ...
... The industry has looked at natural products as a possible source for these new compounds because of the wide range of possible options available and the tendency for the public to be more open to using these type of products, additionally,some extracts and isolated compounds from natural products such as ginseng (Wang et al., 2010) caffeine (Graham, 2001) and pomegranate (Trombold et al., 2011) among others, have been tested, in both human and animal models and shown to exhibit effects on physical performance, mainly through gains in muscle strength. Additionally, supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid (omega-3 FA) and Cashews improve physical performance by mitigating oxidative stress and the production of inflammatory mediators that are harmful to the muscle tissue repair process, thus contributing to muscle strength. ...
... LDH is a less specific enzyme, since it is maintained at high levels even after several days of the stressor stimulus (Clarkson and Thompson, 2000). Sumners et al. (2011) andTrombold et al. (2011) evaluated the effect of montmorency cherry leaf extract and pomegranate juice concentrate, respectively, on the reduction of muscle damage induced by resistance exercise. Both supplements are rich in flavonoids and their use promoted a significant reduction in levels of biochemical markers of muscle injury, such as LDH and CK. ...
Background
The Erythroxylaceae family is known worldwide for its species that contain compounds with a marked positive effect on physical performance, such as ephedrine and coca. E. mucronatum is a species of this family found in several parts of South America, mainly in the northern and northeastern regions of Brazil, used by natives to improve strength and physical performance.
Purpose
We set out to investigate, for the first time, in a series of experiments whether the ethanolic extract of E. mucronatum (EEM) had any effect on performance and strength of rats undergoing resistance training.
Methods
We promoted a supplementation with EEM and searched it increased strength, muscular endurance and reduced body fat in the rodents.
Results
we registered a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation and an increase in superoxide dismutase in the exercised muscles. EEM supplementation did not alter the effect of exercise on blood pressure and heart rate. Additionally, we noticed a significant reduction in two markers of muscle damage, CK and LDH, but no alterations were observed in the levels of ALT and AST.
Conclusions
The results showed that EEM was able to improve the physical performance of the rats without any remarkable adverse effects on hemodynamic variables, so it should be further investigated to examine whether it also has potential as an effective dietary supplement in humans to improve performance in resistance exercise cycles.
... Moreover, this reduced pain perception was significantly correlated with lower Myoglobin, Creatinine and creatine kinase excretion, which is associated with muscle tissue damage [14]. Likewise, pomegranate juice attenuated muscle tenderness and improved force production following eccentric elbow flexion exercise [15]. Therefore, polyphenols may be an interesting alternative to reduce DOMS-related pain perception and reduced force production. ...
... The damage in muscle and connective tissues causes peripheral inflammation and pain, which in turn causes deficits in central voluntary drive that ultimately reduces force production [37,38]. It has been shown that force losses can be attenuated by improving eccentric strength [7], but also through the use of supplements, such as polyphenols [15,39]. However, there are previous studies demonstrating no differences between intervention and placebo groups when using supplementations such as vitamin C [39][40][41]. ...
PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine whether administering resveratrol (a naturally occurring antioxidant) can attenuate pain perception and force loss following exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD).Methods
Eighteen young untrained individuals were divided in a placebo (n = 9) and an intervention group (n = 9), on a blinded randomized trial. The intervention group administered 500 mg resveratrol 3 days prior the first test, whereas the placebo group administered 400 mg calcium capsules. After habituation on Day 1, baseline pain perception was assessed using pressure pain threshold on Day 2 (PreEIMD), followed by maximal dorsiflexors voluntary isometric test from which surface electromyography (EMG) from the tibialis anterior muscle was recorded. Subsequently, a 10 × 10 maximal eccentric dorsiflexion protocol was performed to induce muscle damage and subsequent delayed-onset muscle soreness. On Day 3 (PostEIMD, 24 h after PreEIMD), participants repeated the protocols to assess pain perception, maximal isometric force and EMG. The effects of time (Pre vs Post) and group were assessed for pain perception, maximal dorsiflexion torque and EMG median frequency.ResultsPain perception PostEIMD was reduced for both groups, but at a greater extend for the placebo group (10.1 ± 7.2%, p < 0.005) than for the intervention group (3.6 ± 9.4% reduction). In addition, maximal isometric torque was reduced for both groups PostEIMD (~ 18%), while no changes in EMG median frequency were found PostEIMD for both groups.Conclusion
Resveratrol administration prior to strenuous eccentric exercise can attenuate pain perception following EIMD, but this substance on this specific dosage did not allow for force preservation.
... Plant-derived polyphenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, show a high endogenous antioxidant capacity [5] and support innate immune defenses [6,7]. Studies that have explored the effects of polyphenolic supplements and rich food/drink sources, such as quercetin [8,9], beetroot [10], blueberry [11], cherry [12][13][14] and pomegranate juice [15,16] have shown equivocal results on recovery from EIMD. The majority find no difference in CK response after exercise [9][10][11][12][13]16], suggesting an inability to protect fibres from secondary muscle damage. ...
... A reduction in maximal isometric torque is regarded as the most valid indicator of EIMD [38]. Muscle strength decreased by~29% immediately after exercise and was restored within 96 h, in agreement with previous studies implementing a similar eccentric elbow flexor exercise protocol [15]. Although the magnitude of the decrease in MVC was the same between groups, the rate of MVC recovery was accelerated in the NZBC group. ...
Background:
Blackcurrant is rich in anthocyanins that may protect against exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and facilitate a faster recovery of muscle function. We examined the effects of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract on indices of muscle damage and recovery following a bout of strenuous isokinetic resistance exercise.
Methods:
Using a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled, parallel design, twenty-seven healthy participants received either a 3 g·day-1 NZBC extract (n = 14) or the placebo (PLA) (n = 13) for 8 days prior to and 4 days following 60 strenuous concentric and eccentric contractions of the biceps brachii muscle on an isokinetic dynamometer. Muscle soreness (using a visual analogue scale), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), range of motion (ROM) and blood creatine kinase (CK) were assessed before (0 h) and after (24, 48, 72 and 96 h) exercise.
Results:
Consumption of NZBC extract resulted in faster recovery of baseline MVC (p = 0.04), attenuated muscle soreness at 24 h (NZBC: 21 ± 10 mm vs. PLA: 40 ± 23 mm, p = 0.02) and 48 h (NZBC: 22 ± 17 vs. PLA: 44 ± 26 mm, p = 0.03) and serum CK concentration at 96 h (NZBC: 635 ± 921 UL vs. PLA: 4021 ± 4319 UL, p = 0.04) following EIMD.
Conclusions:
Consumption of NZBC extract prior to and following a bout of eccentric exercise attenuates muscle damage and improves functional recovery. These findings are of practical importance in recreationally active and potentially athletic populations, who may benefit from accelerated recovery following EIMD.
... For example, Draganidis et al (14) reported that knee extensor function did not return to baseline until 72 hours following 300 ECs when 20 g of milk protein (80 g on the day of ECs) was ingested daily. Moreover, the efficacy of cherry or pomegranate phenolic extracts on accelerating recovery of knee extensor function when ingested in isolation is equivocal, with the currently limited evidence demonstrating positive (20,30) or no effects (31). Presently, ECs caused an initial (24 hours) and sustained an (48 hours) ~37% decrease in muscle function with PLA ingestion. ...
... Skeletal muscle mRNA expression of genes that were differentially expressed during the postexercise (24-27 hours; A) or overnight(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36) hours; B) period (time effect; FDR < 5%) following 300 unilateral eccentric knee extensor contractions (time = 0 hours). Postexercise and prebed protein-polyphenol (PP; n = 8) or isocaloric maltodextrin placebo (PLA; n = 7) drinks were ingested for 7 days prior to, and 1 day following, eccentric contractions. ...
Context
The early events regulating the remodelling programme following skeletal muscle damage are poorly understood.
Objective
The objective of this study was to determine the association between myofibrillar protein synthesis (myoPS) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signalling by nutritionally accelerating recovery of muscle function following damage.
Design, setting, participants, and interventions
Healthy males and females consumed daily post-exercise and pre-bed protein-polyphenol (PP; n=9; 4 females) or isocaloric maltodextrin placebo (PLA; n=9; 3 females) drinks (parallel design), 6 days before and 3 days after 300 unilateral eccentric quadriceps contractions (EC) during complete dietary control.
Main outcome measures
Muscle function was assessed daily, and skeletal muscle biopsies were taken after 24, 27 and 36 h for measurements of myoPS rates using deuterated water, and gene ontology and NF-κB signalling analysis using an RT-qPCR gene array.
Results
EC impaired muscle function for 48 h in PLA, but for just 24 h in PP (P=0.047). EC increased myoPS compared to the control leg during post-exercise (24–27 h; 0.14±0.01 vs 0.11±0.01%·h -1, respectively; P=0.075) and overnight periods (27–36 h; 0.10±0.01 vs 0.07±0.01%·h -1, respectively; P=0.020), but was not further increased by PP (P>0.05). PP decreased post-exercise and overnight muscle IL1R1 (PLA=2.8±0.4, PP=1.1±0.4 and PLA=1.9±0.4, PP=0.3±0.4 log2 fold change, respectively) and IL1RL1 (PLA=4.9±0.7, PP=1.6±0.8 and PLA=3.7±0.6, PP=0.7±0.7 log2 fold change, respectively) mRNA expression (P<0.05) and downstream NF-κB signalling compared to PLA.
Conclusion
PP ingestion likely accelerates recovery of muscle function by attenuating inflammatory NF-κB transcriptional signalling, possibly to reduce aberrant tissue degradation rather than increase myoPS rates.
... London remained as an option, as Coubertin had proposed as a compromise to wait until the arrival of Herbert, who for some unknown reason did not participate in the deliberations. 62 There was agreement, however, that the international Games should take place every four years, and, with the exception of fencing, only amateurs should take part. No nation should be represented by athletes of another. ...
... Але були і противники цього заперечення, оскільки Греція вже перебувала у фінансовій скруті, а також вважалася надто далеко розташованою від центру Європи. Лондон залишався як альтернатива, оскільки Кубертен запропонував як компроміс почекати до прибуття Герберта, який з якоїсь невідомої причини не брав участі в обговореннях [62]. ...
Objective. The article is aimed to define the content and the components of e-learning system in Olympic education
based on the generalization of international experience of applying modern information and communication technologies
at the Centers for Olympic studies and education.
Methods: Theoretical analysis and analytical review of literature, materials of the Internet, web-sites of the Olympic study centers,
system analysis, questionnaires, SWOT-analysis, methods of mathematical statistics.
Results: The content, organizational structure and the impact of external and internal factors of the informational-educational
environment of the distance learning in the Olympic studies center were determined to reveal the effectiveness of the implementation
of distance learning technologies into the Olympic education system.
Conclusions. Results of the research showed that proposed module of distance education ‘Olympic Legacy’ in the International
centre for Olympic studies and education at the Olympic Educational and Scientific Institute of National University of Ukraine
on Physical Education and Sports should be considered as an instrument for raising the level of professional education in the
field of physical culture and sports.
Keywords: distance learning, Olympic education, center for Olympic research and education.
... They reported a 12% improvement in fatigue index. Similarly, it has been proven that ellagitannin obtained from pomegranate extract can help restore strength lost after exercise 46 . Paschalis et al. (2018) 47 applied Wingate Test to participants in a study with 600 mg N-acetylcysteine supplement twice a day for 30 days and reported that this supplement positively affected anaerobic power capacity. ...
alışmanın amacı, kuşburnu suyu takviyesinin 14-18 yaş aralığındaki takım sporcularının, farklı performans bileşenlerine olan etkilerini incelemektir. Araştırmada 4 haftalık öntest-sontest kontrol gruplu deneysel model kullanılmıştır. Çalışmaya 14-18 yaş aralığında, haftanın 3 günü sportif faaliyetlere katılan sporcular (n=66) katılmıştır. Katılımcılara ön testler olarak; Queen's College Step Test, Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test, Hexagonal Obstacle Test, 505 Agility Test, Shuttle Run Test ve 35 Metre Speed Test uygulanmıştır. Araştırma grubunun 4 hafta boyunca haftada 5 gün, 250 ml kuşburnu suyu tüketmesi sağlanmıştır. 4 haftalık takviye sonrası aynı testler tüm katılımcılara uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen verilerin değerlendirilmesinde SPSS 25.0 analiz programından yararlanılmıştır. Hexagonal Obstacle Test verilerinin iki grup arasındaki ön test-son test etki büyüklüklerinin farkı %7; 505 Agility Test verilerinin etki büyüklüklerinin farkı ise %22'dir. Queen's College Step Test verilerinden hesaplanan VO2max değeri, hız performansının değerlendirilmesi için uygulanan Shuttle Run Test ve 35 m Hız testinden elde edilen bulgular araştırma grubu lehine değildir. Anaerobik kapasitenin ve yorulma indeksinin değerlendirilebilmesi için Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen verilerle hesaplanan maksimum anaerobik güç %20, minimum anaerobik güç %22 ve ortalama anaerobik güç %31 oranında artmıştır. Araştırma grubunun yorulma indeksi verilerindeki farkı ise %34'tür. Bu çalışmaya göre; kuşburnu suyu takviyesinin çeviklik performansı (%7, %22), maksimum anaerobik güç kapasitesi (%20), minimum anaerobik güç kapasitesi (%22), ortalama anaerobik güç kapasitesi (%31) ve yorulma indeksi (%34) üzerine etkisi olumlu ve geniş ölçüdedir. ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rosehip juice supplement on different performance components of team athletes (n=66) aged 14-18 years who participated in sports activities 3 days a week. A 4-week pretest-posttest control group experimental model was used and Queen's College Step Test, Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test, Hexagonal Obstacle Test, 505 Agility Test, Shuttle Run Test and 35 Metre Sprint Test were administered as pre-tests. Research group consumed 250 ml of rosehip juice 5 days a week for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the same tests were administered to all participants. SPSS 25.0 analysis program was used to evaluate data. The difference between pre-test and post-test effect sizes between the two groups was 7% for Hexagonal Obstacle Test and 22% for 505 Agility Test. VO2max value calculated from the Queen's College Step Test data, findings of Shuttle Run Test and 35 m Sprint Test administered for speed performance were not in favour of the research group. Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) was administered to evaluate anaerobic capacity and fatigue index. The data obtained showed that maximum anaerobic power increased by 20%, minimum anaerobic power increased by 22% and mean anaerobic power increased by 31%. The difference of the research group in fatigue index data was 34%. As a conclusion, the effects of rosehip juice supplement on agility performance (7%, 22%), maximum anaerobic power capacity (20%), minimum anaerobic power capacity (22%), mean anaerobic power capacity (31%) and fatigue index (34%) were positive and comprehensive.
... Decreased blood pressure after exercise and heart rate, if observed during exercise, indicate that supplementation with pomegranate juice improves aspects of cardiovascular function, improves athletic performance, and reduces fatigue in subjects who exercise regularly. They could resist (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). Also, the results of a randomized controlled trial with two groups of placebo and other pomegranate juice supplements, about the acute response of hypotension after exercise in healthy volunteer subjects showed that daily consumption of 500 ml of pomegranate juice one week before exercise reduced SBP and DBP before and instantly after 30 minutes of running on a treadmill with intensity (50% Wmax) (36). ...
Introduction
Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Exercise and diet are recommended as low-cost, non-pharmacological lifestyle therapeutic options to prevent and treat hypertension. In this regard, this study aimed to investigate the supplementation of pomegranate juice (POMj) with combined training on post-exercise hypotension (PEH) in young healthy, normal weight adults with elevated blood pressure.
Methods
Young healthy, normal weight adults with elevated BP (n = 16; age: 25.43 ± 2.6 years; fat%: 14.2 ± 4.4) were randomly divided into two groups of receiving 330 ml POMj and 330 ml diluted isocaloric drink with starch as placebo (PLA) one hour before each training session over the six weeks. Two weekly sessions of aerobic exercise and two sessions of resistance training were performed for 6 weeks. Aerobic exercise was performed at an intensity of 50–70% of maximum heart rate progressing from 20 to 50 minutes. Eight resistance exercises were performed at an intensity of 40–60% one-repetition maximum (1RM) for 3 sets of 10 repetitions per set with 60–90 seconds rest between sets. By what methods and why was BP measured? Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) of participants was measured before and after training. Analysis of variance and Bonferroni was used to test the hypotheses. It was hypothesized that consuming POMj with combined training would improve PEH.
Results
The results showed that there was a significant difference between the Systolic blood pressure of the POMj group and the PLA in the 30, 45 and 60 minutes (P < 0.05). Also, a significant difference in the POMj group is observed in these minutes with the pre-exercise (P < 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure did not change in any of the groups. The results showed that aerobic power increased in the POMj group, as well as a greater improvement than in the PLA group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
According to the findings of the present study, a six-week of combined exercise with POMj improved aerobic power and PEH in young men active compared to the PLA group.
... In another study involving turmeric capsules, researchers reported a reduction in the biological markers of inflammation after exercise-induced muscle damage and improved functional capacity during subsequent exercise sessions [42]. Pomegranate extract was provided to recreationally active males in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, randomised design, and those randomised to the pomegranate group reported significantly attenuated weakness and reduced soreness of the elbow flexor muscles [61]. Likewise, pomegranate extract provided to elite weightlifters reduced post-exercise soreness, accelerated muscle recovery, and ameliorated the capacity to adhere to an intensive training programme [62]. ...
Natural phytochemicals (PCs) are responsible for the taste, colour, and aroma of many edible plants. Cohort studies have linked higher intake to a reduced risk of chronic degenerative diseases and premature ageing. The ability of foods rich in PCs, such as phytanthocyanins, apigenin, flavonols, flavonoids, bioflavonoids, gallic acid, ellagic acid, quercetin, and ellagitannins, to support physical activity has also been highlighted in a number of published pre-clinical and prospective clinical studies. This literature mostly emphasises the ability of PCs to enhance the adaptive upregulation of antioxidant enzymes (AEs), which reduces exercise-associated oxidative stress, but there are several other mechanisms of benefit that this narrative review addresses. These mechanisms include; protecting joints and tendons from physical trauma during exercise; mitigating delayed-onset muscle symptoms (DOMS) and muscle damage; improving muscle and tissue oxygenation during training; cultivating a healthy gut microbiome hence lowering excess inflammation; cutting the incidence of upper respiratory tract viral infections which disrupt training programmes; and helping to restore circadian rhythm which improves sleep recovery and reduces daytime fatigue, which in turn elevates mood and motivation to train.
... Studies that investigated the effects of supplementation with fruits rich in polyphenols, especially anthocyanins (Tart Cherry, Montmorency Cherry, and Pomegranate) have shown encouraging results regarding strength recovery, and decreased markers of muscle damage and symptoms of exercise-induced muscle soreness (DOMS) 24 and 48 h after protocols involving eccentric exercise (Connolly et al., 2006;J. L. Bowtell et al., 2011;Trombold et al., 2011). ...
... Studies that investigated the effects of supplementation with fruits rich in polyphenols, especially anthocyanins (Tart Cherry, Montmorency Cherry, and Pomegranate) have shown encouraging results regarding strength recovery, and decreased markers of muscle damage and symptoms of exercise-induced muscle soreness (DOMS) 24 and 48 h after protocols involving eccentric exercise (Connolly et al., 2006;J. L. Bowtell et al., 2011;Trombold et al., 2011). ...
... Studies that investigated the effects of supplementation with fruits rich in polyphenols, especially anthocyanins (Tart Cherry, Montmorency Cherry, and Pomegranate) have shown encouraging results regarding strength recovery, and decreased markers of muscle damage and symptoms of exercise-induced muscle soreness (DOMS) 24 and 48 h after protocols involving eccentric exercise (Connolly et al., 2006;J. L. Bowtell et al., 2011;Trombold et al., 2011). ...
The objective was to evaluate the effects of acai supplementation (AS) on markers of muscle damage. Twelve men participated in the 21-day study. All performed the damage protocol (DP) in two moments, separated by 7 days. The DP consisted of 10 sets of 10 CMJs, with a recovery of 1 min between sets. The AS was performed for 7 days with 40 g/day of dehydrated acai (GA) or placebo (GP). Blood parameters (CK, LDH and Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity - TEAC) were evaluated at 0 h and 24 h. Ultrasound images (VL, RF and GM), DOMS in lower limbs and isometric peak torque (IPT) of knee extensors and flexors were evaluated at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after DP. A time-treatment interaction was observed for TEAC (p = 0.01), in which the GA presented increases of 11% after 24 h. Similarly, time-treatment interaction was observed for knee flexors IPT (p = 0.02), where GA showed superior recovery after 24 h (GA = 108 ± 23 vs. GP = 92 ± 24 N∙m) and 72 h (GA = 113 ± 31 vs. GP = 98 ± 26 N∙m). No significance was observed in the fatigue index for knee extensors (p = 0.75) and flexors (p = 0.89), indicating similar fatigue in both situations. We concluded that AS increased the TEAC and promoted faster recovery of the knee flexors IPT when compared to GP.
... Vitale et al. [12] summarized data from 11 studies using TC supplementation in athletes to accelerate recovery, for example, after eccentric elbow flexion contractions [12,13]. Other polyphenolicrich foods commonly used are pomegranate juice [14], New Zealand blueberry [15], beetroot juice [16], cocoa pods [17] and black currant nectar [18]. However, there is inconsistency in the results of the different studies and the different methodologies may be the reason for these differences [17]. ...
Previous studies have shown that polyphenol consumption enhances recovery of the muscle after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). However, EIMD markers have not been studied by sport type. The main aim of this research was to perform a systematic review to determine the efficacy of polyphenolic consumption in increasing muscle recovery for performing team sport skills. Eligible studies included, following PICOS structure, presented at least one of the following outcomes: maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVIC); countermovement jump (CMJ); delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS); 20 m sprint test; creatine kinase (CK); and C-reactive protein (hsCRP). A structured search was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale tool. The review showed a possibly positive impact of polyphenol consumption on recovery after EIMD in team sports athletes. No differences were found between sexes. Considering the limitations, there is moderate to very low certainty of polyphenol supplementation effects on recovery of team sport females and males. A dose of 60 mL/day, divided into two times per day, ingested for >7 days may present positive effects on muscle function and muscle soreness in team sport athletes. However, further investigation is required, specifically in females.
... Supplementation with grape juice in male volleyball athletes did not result in improved handgrip strength (35), while a significant improvement in handgrip strength 24 hours after intense resistance exercise was observed in male adults (36). Similar to our study, several polyphenol-rich intervention studies using different isometric strength tests have observed improvements in recreationally active males and older subjects (37)(38)(39). Here, we observed a slight increase in the intervention group as well as a decrease in the placebo group. ...
Objectives
This study investigates whether a citrus and pomegranate complex (CPC) improves physical fitness, mental well-being, and blood biomarkers for oxidative stress and endothelial function in healthy elderly.
Design
A randomized placebo-controlled cross-over trial.
Participants
The study included 36 healthy elderly aged 60–75 years old.
Intervention and Measurements
Participants received four weeks of CPC supplementation and performed the handgrip strength and senior fitness test. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed and blood samples were analyzed for oxidative stress and endothelial function markers.
Results
After four weeks of CPC supplementation, handgrip strength significantly improved (p=0.019), compared to placebo. Moreover, the thinking, memory, learning, and concentration facets were improved (p=0.042), compared to placebo, and plasma malondialdehyde decreased, compared to placebo (p=0.033). The intervention did not affect senior fitness and the other QOL domains and blood parameters.
Conclusion
Four weeks of daily CPC supplementation significantly improves handgrip strength and self-evaluated measures of psychological function in healthy older adults. Further research should focus on mechanisms associated with physical performance.
... Further studies need to confirm these proposed benefits of PE on skeletal muscle. PE has gained attention as a food supplement in sport science, with high-polyphenol containing pomegranate juice given twice daily to participants for seven days prior to intense eccentric exercise, found to enhance strength and delay muscle soreness [140]. Several human trials have shown promising outcomes for PE in different exercise modalities by improving performance, enhancing power output and vascular oxygen content and accelerating muscle recovery [141]. ...
Cancer cachexia is the progressive muscle wasting and weakness experienced by many cancer patients. It can compromise the response to gold standard cancer therapies, impair functional capacity and reduce overall quality of life. Cancer cachexia accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer-related deaths and has no effective treatment. The pathogenesis of cancer cachexia and its progression is multifactorial and includes increased oxidative stress derived from both the tumor and the host immune response. Antioxidants have therapeutic potential to attenuate cancer-related muscle loss, with polyphenols, a group of plant-derived antioxidants, being the most widely investigated. This review describes the potential of these plant-derived antioxidants for treating cancer cachexia.
... Plant flavonoids have gained particular attention as dietary compounds for keeping good health and preventing a number of diseases, particularly cardiac disorders and cancer [22]. Several studies have reported the effects of polyphenolic-flavonoids-containing supplements in the attenuation of oxidative stress and muscle damage, particularly after intensive strength and resistance exercise [23][24][25][26][27][28]. In this regard, previous research has shown the benefits of polyphenols contained in green tea and its extracts on the endurance capacity by preventing muscle impairment in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy [29] and mouse models of this disease [30][31][32], and also in aging [33,34] and immobilization-induced muscle loss [35,36]. ...
Besides skeletal muscle wasting, sarcopenia entails morphological and molecular changes in distinct components of the neuromuscular system, including spinal cord motoneurons (MNs) and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs); moreover, noticeable microgliosis has also been observed around aged MNs. Here we examined the impact of two flavonoid-enriched diets containing either green tea extract (GTE) catechins or cocoa flavanols on age-associated regressive changes in the neuromuscular system of C57BL/6J mice. Compared to control mice, GTE- and cocoa-supplementation significantly improved the survival rate of mice, reduced the proportion of fibers with lipofuscin aggregates and central nuclei, and increased the density of satellite cells in skeletal muscles. Additionally, both supplements significantly augmented the number of innervated NMJs and their degree of maturity compared to controls. GTE, but not cocoa, prominently increased the density of VAChT and VGluT2 afferent synapses on MNs, which were lost in control aged spinal cords; conversely, cocoa, but not GTE, significantly augmented the proportion of VGluT1 afferent synapses on aged MNs. Moreover, GTE, but not cocoa, reduced aging-associated microgliosis and increased the proportion of neuroprotective microglial phenotypes. Our data indicate that certain plant flavonoids may be beneficial in the nutritional management of age-related deterioration of the neuromuscular system.
... Excessive oxygen supply to tissues is one of the most important causes of increased oxidative stress, and this increase is the result of intense aerobic exercise [23]. In this regard, Trambold et al. showed that consumption of pomegranate extract increases antioxidant levels [24]. ...
Aims: Heavy exercise can damage the immune system by oxidative stress. The role of herbal supplements during and after strenuous exercise is unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine hydroethanolic extract of pomegranate peels and a period of high-intensity interval training on the C-reactive protein and antioxidant enzyme activity in rats.
Methods & Materials: This research was an experimental study. The statistical population was rats, of which 36 Wistar rats were randomly selected and were divided into 4 groups (control, hydroethanolic extract of pomegranate peels, high-intensity interval training, and hydroethanolic extract of pomegranate peels + high-intensity interval training). After 8 weeks of interval training and supplementation, blood samples were taken from the rats. Then, the C-reactive protein and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase and catalase were assessed by 1-way analysis of variance.
Findings: The results showed that in the group of hydroethanolic extract of pomegranate peels + high-intensity interval training, the superoxide dismutase (P=0.000) and catalase (P=0.003) significantly increased, and the C-reactive protein (P=0.002) decreased. Tukey’s test confirmed the significance of these changes in the hydroethanolic extract of pomegranate peels+high-intensity interval training compared to the control group.
Conclusion: The combination of high-intensity interval training and hydroethanolic extract of pomegranate peels could strengthen the immune system, potentially enhances athletic performance, and accelerates recovery after exercises. The hydroethanolic extract of pomegranate peels and high-interval training synergistically boost the immune system and increase physical endurance.
... While changes in oxidative stress and/or markers of muscle damage would be promising to demonstrate whether polyphenol supplementation is efficacious, it would be important to demonstrate a measureable improvement in physical performance level resulting from that reduced oxidative stress. While the majority of research has demonstrated some form of enhanced performance level during the recovery process as a result of polyphenol supplementation, such as maximal voluntary contraction [3,12,24,27], isokinetic performance [21,25] or time trial performance [10], some studies have failed to show performance benefits [6,15,26]. However, it is important to note that neither Peschek et al. [26] nor McCormick et al. [15] successfully reduced their performance measures with their exercise protocol, thus providing no performance decrement for the supplements to attenuate. ...
Background Tart cherry supplementation has been shown to enhance recovery from strenuous exercise due to its antioxidant properties. The majority of these studies used tart cherry juice, with a significant calorie content. The primary purpose of this study was to assess whether powdered tart cherry extract with minimal calorie content reduces oxidative stress and enhances recovery following intense resistance exercise. Methods Thirteen men (mean age: 26.2 ± 5.3 years; height: 184.3 ± 8.2 cm; weight: 92.9 ± 15.6 kg) performed a demanding resistance exercise protocol consisting of 6 sets of 10 repetitions of barbell back squat with 80% 1RM. The protocol was performed once following 7 days of 500 mg of tart cherry extract and once following placebo. Serum protein carbonyl (PC) content, creatine kinase activity (CK) and creatine kinase myocardial band content (CK-MB) were used to assess oxidative stress, skeletal and cardiac muscle damage respectively. Muscle soreness was assessed by visual analog scale. Physical performance was measured by countermovement jump power and handgrip dynamometer strength. Results There was a significant increase in PC in the placebo (PL) condition when compared to the Tart Cherry (TC) condition at Immediate Post (IP) (PL: 0.4 ± 0.3 vs. TC: − 0.4 ± 0.2 nmol∙mg− 1; p
... In the context of anaerobic exercises, recreationally active subjects (weightlifters, n = 13) who consumed a PE for 9 days showed a marked improvement of the isometric strength recuperation between 2 and 3 days after the practice of intensive exercise (Trombold et al., 2010). A year later, the same authors published a new study describing the relationship between PJ intake (237 mL) after exercise and amelioration of weakness and soreness of the elbow flexor (compared with placebo) in 17 resistance-trained subjects (Trombold et al., 2011). In compliance with these studies, young elite weightlifters also showed higher performance, lower rating of perceived exertion scale, and delayed onset soreness regarding the knee extensors after PJ intake, compared with the placebo group (Ammar et al., 2016(Ammar et al., , 2020. ...
Background
The consumption of pomegranate juices and extracts has long been linked to many health benefits beyond nutrition, described mainly by innumerable preclinical studies. However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in 2010 that a cause and effect relationship could not be established between the consumption of pomegranate-derived products and all the health claims presented. There are no additional EFSA opinions on health claims specifically addressed to pomegranate in the last decade.
Scope and approach
This review comprehensively compiles all human studies conducted on pomegranate. The aim is to discuss these studies critically to identify possible flaws and propose guidelines that might help establish a cause and effect relationship between pomegranate-derived product consumption and health.
Key findings and conclusions
To date, 86 human studies have evaluated the health benefits of pomegranate juices and extracts. The most promising, albeit scarce, evidence is related to blood pressure improvement. Less evidence deals with inflammation, cancer, cognitive function, physical activity, and gut microbiota modulation (prebiotic effects). After a decade since EFSA's opinion, human evidence remains inconsistent, making it difficult to support most claimed health effects. The lack of effects and(or) data discrepancy might be attributable to design limitations, including insufficient product characterization and interindividual variability that influence pomegranate polyphenols' bioefficacy. New coordinated strategies between policy makers, research/academic institutions, and industry are needed to move forward. Therefore, this review presents a roadmap to conduct well-designed trials and cover existing gaps, which could establish a cause-effect relation between pomegranate consumption and health benefits beyond nutrition.
... Nephroprotection [93] Mutraghata (urinary retention) 4 Inflammatory diseases Amavata (rheumatism due to ama) 3 Antiarthritic activity [94] Anti-inflammatory [95] Analgesic activity [96] Vatarakta (gout) 2 Vatavyadhi (disorder due to vata) 14 Bhagashotha (inflammation of female genital) 2 Shoola (colic pain) 21 Garbhashoola (pain due to fetus) 1 Oral diseases Dantaroga (tooth disorder) 5 Dental plaque microorganism [97] Mukharoga (oral cavity disorder) 2 Gynecological diseases Sutika roga (puerperial disorder) 3 Uterine contractile activity [98] Bandhyatva (female infertility) 2 Estrogenic activity [99] Male reproductive diseases Lingavridhhikar (penis enhancer) 2 Erectile dysfunction activity [100] Vajikarana (aphrodisiac) 8 Spermprotective activity [101] Other diseases Vrana (wound) 2 Wound healing activity [102] Prameha (diabetes) 10 Antidiabetic with hyperlipidemia [103][104][105] Medoroga (obesity) 2 Antiobesity activity [106] Jvara (fever) 11 Antimalarial activity [107] Krimi (worm ) 6 Anthelmintic [108] Shramahara (anti-fatigue) 1 Ergogenic activity [109] Rasayana (rejuvenation) 1 Immunomodulatory activity [110] Amlapitta (hyperacidity) 3 Antiulcerative activity [111] Tvaka Vaivarnyata (skin discoloration) 3 ...
Introduction
The description of plants used in Ayurveda can be traced from hundreds of written texts. Dadima ( Punica granatum L.), of family Lytheraceae , is one among the plants described under Phala Varga , a classification of Aahara Varga mentioned by ancient scriptures of Ayurveda; it is highlighted for its wide range of use as an Aahara (diet) and Aushadha (drug) in different diseased conditions. Single-hand information about this plant is still lacking.
Aim
To obtain comprehensive information on Dadima (as an aushadha ) different classical texts of Ayurveda.
Results
Thirty-two names, known as Paryaya (synonyms), have been attributed, highlighting its morphological characteristics and pharmacological properties and actions. Dadima , as an ingredient, is included in 634 formulations. Among 530 Aushadha Kalpana (a drug), 433 were indicated for its internal use, 93 for its external use, and 4 for its external as well as internal use. Dadima is indicated in 80 different diseased conditions; among them, the maximum formulations have been found to be used in Atisara (76). Various research activities, such as antidiarrheal, cardioprotective, nephroprotective, antiarthritic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory, have been reported to validate Dadima as an ingredient of various Ayurveda indications.
Conclusion
Dadima as a single drug or as an ingredient in 530 formulations have been indicated for its use as an Aushadha in 80 different diseased conditions. Dadima , a drug of Phala Varga , is a very important fruit and has a wide range of clinical indications.
... With respect to other pomegranate health implications, a cream containing pomegranate extract has recently shown to improve skin hydration, providing photoprotective effects (Kaur and Saraf 2012). Furthermore, prospects of pomegranate juice consumption on muscle strength and soreness after eccentric exercise has been displayed (Trombold et al. 2011). ...
The role of pomegranate on folk medicine has been largely established and in recent years a notable increase of scientific support has occurred. However, what is real? Evidence suggests that phenolic phytochemicals of pomegranate fruit, mainly anthocyanins and ellagitannins, could exert multiple therapeutic properties on health management as playing an essential role in oxidative stress balance, preventing important cardiovascular diseases, and fighting as chemoprotective agent against several kinds of cancer. In addition, pomegranate antioxidant bioactives also could possess a role as neuroprotectors in some neurological disorders just as broad antimicrobial activities among other beneficial implications. Regarding promising prospects of pomegranate phenolics, this review summarizes the available scientific information related to health promotion features of pomegranate-derived products and underlines the influence of multiple constituents on the observed biological actions, pointing out pomegranate juice as an interesting source to obtain health benefits.
... In the same perspective, seven studies analyzed muscle damage after 24-71 h of exercise. Foods able to attenuate responses in muscle damage parameters were: beetroot (Clifford et al. 2016), fermented milk (Iwasa et al. 2013), watermelon juice (Tarazona-D ıaz et al. 2013), and pomegranate, in which the researchers extended the evaluation protocol up to 96 h (Trombold et al. 2010) and 168 h (Trombold et al. 2011). Foods which did not show a positive effect for this same parameter were grape juice (O'Connor et al. 2013) and chocolate milk (Peschek et al. 2013). ...
In recent years, there have been studies in the literature reporting the ergogenic effect of some different foods on sports performance. Given the reasonable number of studies in which some food has shown improvement in some physiological variables related to physical performance, a review is pertinent in order to produce a compilation of these studies, providing new elements for athletes and coaches which aim to optimize their performance. Thus, the objective of this work was to present a systematic review of the findings regarding the potential ergogenic effect of food for athletes. Researchers performed a double-blind research in Medline/PubMed considering articles published until January 2019 which resulted in 71 articles. Increased time until exhaustion, improved aerobic capacity and strength recovery were the most commonly reported physical effects. In general, food showed equal or superior ergogenic activity over supplements. Although the number of foods investigated is reasonable, there is still no body of evidence for each studied food, except beets. The current data support the possibility of certain foods being able to enhance athletic performance, as well as serving as an energy source. However, a larger volume of studies is needed to form a body of evidence on each of these foods.
Optimal adaptation to resistance exercise requires maximal rates of myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS), which can be achieved by postexercise consumption of >20 g of protein or ~2 g of the essential amino acid (EAA) leucine. These nutritional recommendations are based on studies in males. The aim of the present study was to compare the postexercise MyoPS response to nutrition in young females. Twenty-eight healthy, females (age: 28±8 y; BMI: 24±3 kg⋅m ² ) received a primed-continuous infusion of L-[ ring- ² H 5 ]-phenylalanine and completed a bout of unilateral resistance exercise before ingesting a drink containing either 1.5 g EAA ( n=10), 15 g ( n=10) or 20 g ( n=8) whey protein, containing 0.6, 1.5, and 2.0 g leucine, respectively. Blood and muscle samples were collected pre- and post-exercise and drink ingestion to assess MyoPS and gene expression. Drink ingestion increased plasma leucine concentrations following 15 and 20 g whey protein compared with 1.5 g EAA ( P<0.0001). Exercise and drink ingestion increased basal (0.060±0.026, 0.063±0.034, 0.051±0.023%·h ⁻¹ ) MyoPS rates between 0-2 h to 0.117±0.028, 0.098±0.051 and 0.116±0.034%·h ⁻¹ ( P<0.0001) and between 2-4 h to 0.110±0.028, 0.074±0.038, and 0.082±0.061%·h ⁻¹ ( P=0.009) for 1.5, 15, and 20 g drinks, respectively, with no differences observed between drinks ( P=0.416). The postexercise changes in muscle mRNA expression of genes involved in protein turnover, substrate utilization, remodeling and inflammation, did not differ between drinks ( P>0.050). Post-exercise MyoPS did not differ following ingestion of 1.5, 15 and 20 g drinks, hence 0.6 g leucine may be sufficient to stimulate post-exercise MyoPS in young females.
Purposes: The aim was to investigate of the effect of two weeks of dry pomegranate seed powder supplementation on muscle soreness response following a volleyball match in young volleyball girls. Materials and Methods: The present research is semi-experimental in a crossover manner. From the population of volleyball girls, 12 people were selected and divided into two experimental groups: A (users of dry pomegranate seed powder + volleyball match) and B (placebo user + volleyball match). Muscle stiffness (thigh circumference and calf circumference) was measured in three stages (baseline, 24 hours after the last day of two weeks of supplementation and after the competition). The supplement and placebo were taken daily in the amount of two capsules (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) for two weeks. All the steps were repeated after one week of the washout period, with the difference that the subjects of group A and B were moved crosswise. To analyze the data, the analysis of variance test with repeated measurements was used at the significance level of p <0.05. Results: The results showed that two weeks of dry pomegranate seed powder supplementation has an effect on the indicators of muscle soreness thigh circumference (p=0.001) and leg circumference (p=0.001) following a volleyball match, in young volleyball girls. So that, the dry pomegranate seed powder supplement reduced muscle soreness indicators (thigh and leg circumference). Conclusion: The use of dry pomegranate seed powder has a reduction effect on the indicators of muscle soreness in young volleyball girls. Therefore, sports professionals can use the results of this research to advise their athletes regarding the consumption of dry pomegranate seed powder supplements to reduce fatigue.
Excessive exercise can induce cell damage and impair muscle function by generating oxidative
stress. Carob rich phenolic components have attracted the attention of many researchers because of their
antioxidant actions. We utilized a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled design to study the putative
antioxidant role of six weeks of daily polyphenol supplementation on selected blood markers of oxidative stress
and performance in taekwondo athletes. We studied the effects of daily supplementation with carob (40 g/d,
for six-weeks) on performance levels and antioxidant capacity in 22 taekwondo athletes (age 21.9 ± 1.2 years;
height 1.66 ± 0.34 m; weight 68.3 ± 16.9 kg; women = 10, men = 12) using a randomized, double-blinded
study. Participants were divided into an experimental group (EG) or placebo group (PG). All athletes performed
a frequency speed of kick test mult (FSKTmult) before and after a six-week training period. Superoxide dismutase
(SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured 5 min after a FSKTmult. Physical performances
improved significantly after six weeks in EG compared to PG for kicks number per set (from set 1 to set 5:
p = 0.032, d = 0.70; p = 0.020, d = 0.77; p = 0.001, d = 1.12; p = 0.001, d = 1.25; p = 0.003, d = 1.01),
total kicks number (p = 0,002, d = 1.04), and kick decrement index (%) (p = 0.017, d = 0.13). There were
significant increases in CAT (p = 0.001, d = 1.85) and SOD (p = 0.001, d = 1.98) activities and significant
decreases in MDA levels (p = 0.002, d = 0.81) in the EG. Carob supplementation during a six-week training
program reduced oxidative stress and improved physical performance levels in taekwondo athletes.
The intricate interplay between plant-based nutrition, antioxidants, and their impact on athletic performance forms the cornerstone of this comprehensive review. Emphasizing the pivotal importance of dietary choices in the realm of sports, this paper sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of how stress and physical performance are interconnected through the lens of nutrition. The increasing interest among athletes in plant-based diets presents an opportunity with benefits for health, performance, and recovery. It is essential to investigate the connection between sports, plants, and antioxidants. Highlighting the impact of nutrition on recovery and well-being, this review emphasizes how antioxidants can help mitigate oxidative stress. Furthermore, it discusses the growing popularity of plant-based diets among athletes. It elaborates on the importance of antioxidants in combating radicals addressing stress levels while promoting cellular health. By identifying rich foods, it emphasizes the role of a balanced diet in ensuring sufficient intake of these beneficial compounds. Examining stress within the context of sports activities, this review provides insights into its mechanisms and its impact on athletic performance as well as recovery processes. This study explores the impact of plant-based diets on athletes including their types, potential advantages and challenges. It also addresses the drawbacks of relying on plant-based diets, concerns related to antioxidant supplementation and identifies areas where further research is needed. Furthermore, the review suggests directions for research and potential innovations in sports nutrition. Ultimately it brings together the aspects of sports, plant-based nutrition, and antioxidants to provide a perspective for athletes, researchers and practitioners. By consolidating existing knowledge, it offers insights that can pave the way for advancements in the ever-evolving field of sports nutrition.
Excessive exercise can induce cell damage and impair muscle function by generating oxidative
stress. Carob rich phenolic components have attracted the attention of many researchers because of their
antioxidant actions. We utilized a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled design to study the putative
antioxidant role of six weeks of daily polyphenol supplementation on selected blood markers of oxidative stress
and performance in taekwondo athletes. We studied the effects of daily supplementation with carob (40 g/d,
for six-weeks) on performance levels and antioxidant capacity in 22 taekwondo athletes (age 21.9 ± 1.2 years;
height 1.66 ± 0.34 m; weight 68.3 ± 16.9 kg; women = 10, men = 12) using a randomized, double-blinded
study. Participants were divided into an experimental group (EG) or placebo group (PG). All athletes performed
a frequency speed of kick test mult (FSKTmult) before and after a six-week training period. Superoxide dismutase
(SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured 5 min after a FSKTmult. Physical performances
improved significantly after six weeks in EG compared to PG for kicks number per set (from set 1 to set 5:
p = 0.032, d = 0.70; p = 0.020, d = 0.77; p = 0.001, d = 1.12; p = 0.001, d = 1.25; p = 0.003, d = 1.01),
total kicks number (p = 0,002, d = 1.04), and kick decrement index (%) (p = 0.017, d = 0.13). There were
significant increases in CAT (p = 0.001, d = 1.85) and SOD (p = 0.001, d = 1.98) activities and significant
decreases in MDA levels (p = 0.002, d = 0.81) in the EG. Carob supplementation during a six-week training
program reduced oxidative stress and improved physical performance levels in taekwondo athletes.
Objectives:
Numerous studies have shown the pharmacological effects of pomegranate, such as: anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, anti-diabetic, and antihypertensive features. Pomegranate consumption has also revealed some adverse effects. This systematic review aimed to explore the adverse effects of pomegranate reported in clinical studies.
Content:
The keywords "pomegranate", "Punica granatum", "side effect", "clinical trial", and "case report or case series" were searched for in valid databases. Reports about adverse effects of pomegranate were also collected from several international registries.
Summary:
This systematic review included a total of 66 clinical articles. Eleven articles have reported side effects of pomegranate. Twenty-one articles have recorded no side effects in the pomegranate group while 34 articles have not mentioned any side effects for this plant. The study also included 7 case report studies. The most common side effects included gastrointestinal problems, flu-like symptoms, and urinary problems. In case report studies, the most significant reported side effect was allergic reaction.
Outlook:
In summary, pomegranate and its extract seem to be safe according to the reported adverse effects. Meanwhile, conducting more robust controlled trials with pomegranate products and documentation of any probable side effect is warranted.
Malnutrition is a highly prevalent condition in older adults. It is associated with low muscle mass and function and increased occurrence of health problems. Maintaining an adequate nutritional status as well as a sufficient nutrient intake in older people is therefore essential to address this public health problem. For this purpose, protein supplementation is known to prevent the loss of muscle mass during aging, and the consumption of various pomegranate extracts induces numerous health benefits, mainly through their antioxidant properties. However, to our knowledge, no study has to date investigated the impact of their combination on the level of malnutrition in older people. The objective of this preliminary study was thus to evaluate the safety of a combination of protein and a pomegranate extract in healthy subjects aged 65 years or more during a 21-day supplementation period. Thirty older participants were randomly assigned to receive protein and a pomegranate extract (Test group) or protein and maltodextrin (Control group) during a 21-day intervention period. The primary outcomes were the safety and tolerability of the supplementation defined as the occurrence of adverse events, and additional secondary outcomes included physical examination and hematological and biochemical parameters. No serious adverse events were reported in any group. Changes in physical, hematological, and biochemical parameters between the initial screening and the end of the study were equivalent in both groups, except for glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and prealbumin, for which a decrease was observed only in the Test group. Our initial findings support the safety of the combination of protein and a pomegranate extract in healthy elderly people. Future clinical trials on a larger sample and a longer period are needed to determine the efficacy of this combination.
Tribulus terrestris L. contains compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its effects on exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses are unclear. The aim of this study was to examine whether Tribulus terrestris L. supplementation can attenuate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses to acute aerobic exercise and improve DOMS. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover design study, thirteen healthy men received either a daily supplement of Tribulus terrestris L. or a placebo for 4 weeks (2-week wash-out period between trials). Before and after the supplementation periods, participants performed an exercise test to exhaustion (75% VO2max). DOMS, thigh girth, and knee joint range of motion (KJRM) were assessed before and after the exercise (2, 24, and 48 h). Blood samples were analyzed for reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, GSH/GSSG ratio, protein carbonyls, total antioxidant capacity, creatine kinase activity, white blood cell count, and TBARS. Acute exercise to exhaustion induced inflammatory responses and changed the blood redox status in both Tribulus and Placebo groups (p < 0.050). Tribulus terrestris L. improved GSH fall (p = 0.005), GSSG rise (p = 0.001) and maintained a higher level of GSH/GSSG ratio at the 2 h point (p = 0.034). TBARS were lowered, protein carbonyls, creatine kinase activity, and white blood cell count elevation diminished significantly (p < 0.050). Tribulus terrestris L. administration did not affect DOMS, thigh girth, or KJRM (p > 0.050). 4-weeks of Tribulus terrestris L. supplementation effectively attenuates oxidative stress responses but cannot improve DOMS.
Objective Consumption of pomegranate extract along with resistance training can improve the blood flow, resting metabolism and cause weight loss. However, their effect on body composition and weight control has not been studied. This study aims to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of resistance training combined with pomegranate extract supplementation on resting metabolic rate, hypertrophy and muscle strength of inactive male college students.
Methods In this quasi-experimental study, 42 inactive male college students voluntary participated after signing a written informed consent form. They were randomly divided into four groups: resistance training (n=11), resistance training + supplementation (n=11), supplementation (n=10), and control (n=10). The resistance training was performed for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week and included two movements for the upper body (barbell chest press and barbell shoulder press) and two movements for the lower body (leg extension and leg press with machine). The pomegranate extract was consumed at a dose of 100 mL 3 times a week (half an hour before training). Data analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance with least significant difference post hoc test and paired t-test considering a significance level of P≤0.05.
Results The rate of muscle hypertrophy (hip circumference) increased significantly after intervention in two groups of resistance training and resistance training + supplementation, which was higher in the combined intervention group (P=0.001). The maximum strength in lower body muscles also increased significantly after intervention in these two groups (P=0.001). Body fat percentage decreased significantly in the resistance training + supplementation group (P=0.03). No significant change was observed in the resting metabolic rate of the study groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion It seems that the combination of resistance training with pomegranate extract supplementation increases the muscle strength and hypertrophy in young men.
The contribution of myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS) to recovery from skeletal muscle damage in humans is unknown. Recreationally active males and females consumed a daily protein-polyphenol beverage targeted at increasing amino acid availability and reducing inflammation (PPB; n=9), both known to affect MyoPS, or an isocaloric placebo (PLA; n=9) during 168 h of recovery from 300 maximal unilateral eccentric contractions (EE). Muscle function was assessed daily. Muscle biopsies were collected 24, 27, 36, 72 and 168 h for MyoPS measurements using ² H 2 O and expression of 224 genes using RT-qPCR and pathway analysis. PPB improved recovery of muscle function, which was impaired for five days following EE in PLA (interaction; P<0.05). Acute postprandial MyoPS rates were unaffected by nutritional intervention (24-27 h). EE increased overnight (27-36 h) MyoPS versus control leg (PLA: 33±19%; PPB: 79±25%; leg P<0.01), and PPB tended to increase this further (interaction P=0.06). Daily MyoPS rates were greater with PPB between 72-168 h after EE, albeit after function had recovered. Inflammatory and regenerative signaling pathways were dramatically upregulated and clustered following EE but were unaffected by nutritional intervention. These results suggest that accelerated recovery from EE is not explained by elevated MyoPS or suppression of inflammation.
Background: Tart cherry supplementation has been shown to enhance recovery from strenuous exercise due to its antioxidant properties. The majority of these studies used tart cherry juice, with a significant calorie content. The primary purpose of this study was to assess whether powdered tart cherry extract with minimal calorie content reduces oxidative stress and enhances recovery following intense resistance exercise.
Methods: Thirteen men (mean age: 26.2±5.3 years; height: 184.3±8.2 cm; weight: 92.9±15.6 kg) performed a demanding resistance exercise protocol consisting of 6 sets of 10 repetitions of barbell back squat with 80% 1RM. The protocol was performed once following 7 days of 500 mg of tart cherry extract and once following placebo. Serum protein carbonyl (PC) content, creatine kinase activity (CK) and creatine kinase myocardial band content (CK-MB) were used to assess oxidative stress, skeletal and cardiac muscle damage respectively. Muscle soreness was assessed by visual analog scale. Physical performance was measured by countermovement jump power and handgrip dynamometer strength.
Results: There was a significant increase in PC in the placebo (PL) condition when compared to the Tart Cherry (TC) condition at IP (PL: 0.4±0.3 vs. TC: -0.4±0.2 nmol∙mg⁻¹; p<0.001), 1 hr (PL: 0.3±0.3 vs. TC: -0.7±0.3 nmol∙mg⁻¹; p<0.001) and 24 hr (PL: 0.1±0.4 vs. TC: -0.3±0.5 nmol∙mg⁻¹; p=0.010). There was a significant increase in CK activity in PL when compared to the TC at IP (PL: 491.1±280 vs. TC: 296.3±178 U∙L⁻¹; p=0.008) and 3 hr (PL: -87±123 vs. TC: 43.1±105.3 U∙L⁻¹; p=0.006). There was a significant (p=0.003) increase in CKMB concentration in PL when compared to the TC (PL: 21.6±12.4 vs. TC: -0.3±11.8 ng∙ml⁻¹; p=0.006) at 1 hr post. There was a significant increase in handgrip strength in TC when compared to PL (PL: -2±5.1 vs. TC: 1.7±3 kg; p=0.017) at 24 hours post.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that tart cherry extract reduced oxidative stress and markers of muscle and cardiac damage following intense resistance exercise. This occurred along with a prevention of the decrease in strength seen following the intense exercise protocol. These benefits were seen with minimal energy intake.
This investigation determined the efficacy of a tart cherry juice in aiding recovery and reducing muscle damage, inflammation and oxidative stress. Twenty recreational Marathon runners assigned to either consumed cherry juice or placebo for 5 days before, the day of and for 48 h following a Marathon run. Markers of muscle damage (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, muscle soreness and isometric strength), inflammation [interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and uric acid], total antioxidant status (TAS) and oxidative stress [thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and protein carbonyls] were examined before and following the race. Isometric strength recovered significantly faster (P=0.024) in the cherry juice group. No other damage indices were significantly different. Inflammation was reduced in the cherry juice group (IL-6, P<0.001; CRP, P<0.01; uric acid, P<0.05). TAS was ~10% greater in the cherry juice than the placebo group for all post-supplementation measures (P<0.05). Protein carbonyls was not different; however, TBARS was lower in the cherry juice than the placebo at 48 h (P<0.05). The cherry juice appears to provide a viable means to aid recovery following strenuous exercise by increasing total antioxidative capacity, reducing inflammation, lipid peroxidation and so aiding in the recovery of muscle function.
Thirty-two volunteers participated in a two-period crossover study in which ibuprofen was tested against an identical placebo for its effectiveness in reducing muscle soreness and damage after two bouts of downhill running. Subjective soreness, quadriceps isometric strength and isometric endurance time at 50 percent of maximum strength, serum activities of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate transaminase and serum levels of creatinine and urea were recorded at intervals up to 72 hours after exercise. Each downhill run produced muscle soreness, and a decline in muscle strength and 50 percent endurance time, although these parameters were unaffected by ibuprofen treatment. All serum parameters measured increased after both runs, but for the three enzymes this increase was smaller after the second run. Serum creatine kinase and urea levels were higher in the ibuprofen group after both runs. These results indicate that ibuprofen is not an appropriate treatment for delayed onset muscle soreness and damage.
Twenty untrained male volunteers were required to run downhill for 45 minutes on a motor driven treadmill to induce muscle soreness. The volunteers took diclofenac or placebo before and for 72 hours after two runs 10 weeks apart, in a randomised double blind crossover design. Subjective soreness was assessed before and at intervals up to 72 hours after each run; venous blood samples, collected at the same time intervals, were used to estimate serum activities of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase and serum concentrations of creatinine and urea. Subjective soreness and the biochemical parameters increased after both runs, although the serum enzyme response to the second run was reduced. Diclofenac had no influence on the serum biochemical response to downhill running. Although overall soreness was not affected by diclofenac, individual soreness measurements were reduced by diclofenac at the first period of the study. These results suggest that diclofenac does not influence muscle damage, but may slightly reduce the associated soreness.
Five women and three men (aged 24-43 yr) performed maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors (for 20 min) on three occasions, spaced 2 wk apart. Muscle pain, strength and contractile properties, and plasma creatine kinase (CK) were studied before and after each exercise bout. Muscle tenderness was greatest after the first bout and thereafter progressively decreased. Very high plasma CK levels (1,500-11,000 IU/l) occurred after the first bout, but the second and third bouts did not significantly affect the plasma CK. After each bout the strength was reduced by approximately 50% and after 2 wk had only recovered to 80% of preexercise values. Each exercise bout produced a marked shift of the force-frequency curve to the right which took approximately 2 wk to recover. The recovery rate of both strength and force-frequency characteristics was faster after the second and third bouts. Since the adaptation occurred after the performance of maximal contractions it cannot have been a result of changes in motor unit recruitment. The observed training effect of repeated exercise was not a consequence of the muscle becoming either stronger or more resistant to fatigue.
The peripheral adaptation process associated with repeating eccentric training over a longer period of time was studied in m. vastus lateralis of eleven healthy males aged 24 +/- 4 years. The maximal dynamic concentric muscle strength was only slightly improved after 8 weeks of training. However, eccentric work capacity was dramatically increased (375%). A maximal eccentric stint immediately after fulfilled 8 weeks of training caused a selective glycogen depletion from the type 28 fibers. An increased number of type 2C fibers was observed. The ultrastructure analysis showed an essentially well-preserved fine structure. Volume density of mitochondria was somewhat higher in all fiber types after training. Z-band widths were not affected by eccentric training. It is concluded that skeletal musculature adapts itself in a functional manner to the extreme tension demands put on them. Improved coordination and reorganization of the contractile apparatus of muscle fibers are the determining mechanisms of this adaptation.
Muscle soreness that has a delayed onset is a common feature among both athletes and untrained individuals who engage in unusual exercises. This study was designed to provide additional morphological data to assess the relevance and significance of our previous findings that the sore muscles contain fibers with disorganized myofibrillar material. Muscle biopsies were obtained from 12 males (mean age 25 +/- 7 years), who suffered from severe soreness in their thigh muscles 18--72 h following eccentric bicycle exercise. Their strength performance were tested in parallel. Knee extensor strength was decreased at all angular velocities soon after exercise but gradually increased over the subsequent days although slower at the fastest contractions. Disturbances of the cross-striated band pattern were constantly observed. They originated from the myofibrillar Z-band, which showed marked streaming, broadening and, at places, total disruption. The disturbances were found in every second to every third fiber up to 3 days after exercise and in one tenth of the fibers 6 days following the exercise. Type 2 fibers were predominantly affected. Thus, the eccentric exercise gives rise to muscles soreness and influences, on mechanical basis and selectively with regard to fiber type, the fine structure of the contractile apparatus.
1. Mechanical factor(s) associated with the initiation of eccentric contraction-induced muscle injury were investigated in isolated rat soleus muscles (n = 180; 42 protocols with 4-6 muscles per protocol). Five eccentric contractions were performed with 4 min between contractions. Three levels of peak eccentric contraction force (100, 125 and 150% of pre-injury maximal isometric tetanic tension, P0), length change (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 muscle length, L0) and lengthening velocity (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 L0/s) were utilized. Force was varied with stimulation frequency (10-150 Hz). The eccentric contractions were initiated at muscle lengths of 0.85 or 0.90 L0. Following the fifth eccentric contraction, the muscle was incubated in Krebs-Ringer buffer for 60 min. Peak isometric twitch tension (PT), P0, maximal rate of tension development (+ dP/dt), maximal rate of relaxation (-dP/dt), and creatine kinase (CK) release were measured prior to the five eccentric contractions and at 15 min intervals during the incubation period. Total muscle [Ca2+] was measured after 60 min incubation. 2. The mean (+/- S.E.M.) initial decline in P0 for the muscles performing the most injurious protocol was 13.6 +/- 4.8% (n = 6); P0 in control muscles immediately following performance of five isometric contractions was elevated 1.2 +/- 1.0% (n = 8). These means were different at probability, p = 0.005. Mean [ATP] in muscles immediately following the isometric control and most injurious protocols, respectively, were 16.30 +/- 1.49 and 19.84 +/- 1.38 mumol/g dry wt (p = 0.229). 3. Decrements in P0, PT, +dP/dt, and -dP/dt immediately after the injury protocol were related most closely to the peak forces produced during the eccentric contractions; greater initial declines in P0, +dP/dt and -dP/dt were also observed at higher lengthening velocities independent of peak force. Slow declines in P0 and -dP/dt during the 60 min incubation following the injury protocol were greatest for muscles performing contractions at the longer initial length. CK release was independent of all mechanical factors with the exception of lengthening velocity. CK activity at 45 and 60 min into the incubation period was greater for muscles lengthened at the highest velocity used (1.5 L0/s). Mean total muscle [Ca2+] for muscles performing the eccentric contractions was elevated by 38% over isometric control muscles but the elevation was unrelated to any of the four mechanical factors. 4. These data support the hypothesis that eccentric contraction-induced injury is initiated by mechanical factors, with muscle tension playing the dominant role.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The objectives of this research were to determine the contribution of excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling failure to the decrement in maximal isometric tetanic force (Po) in mouse extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles after eccentric contractions and to elucidate possible mechanisms. The left anterior crural muscles of female ICR mice (n = 164) were injured in vivo with 150 eccentric contractions. Po, caffeine-, 4-chloro-m-cresol-, and K+-induced contracture forces, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release and uptake rates, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were then measured in vitro in injured and contralateral control EDL muscles at various times after injury up to 14 days. On the basis of the disproportional reduction in Po (approximately 51%) compared with caffeine-induced force (approximately 11-21%), we estimate that E-C coupling failure can explain 57-75% of the Po decrement from 0 to 5 days postinjury. Comparable reductions in Po and K+-induced force (51%), and minor reductions (0-6%) in the maximal SR Ca2+ release rate, suggest that the E-C coupling defect site is located at the t tubule-SR interface immediately after injury. Confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated that resting [Ca2+]i was elevated and peak tetanic [Ca2+]i was reduced, whereas peak 4-chloro-m-cresol-induced [Ca2+]i was unchanged immediately after injury. By 3 days postinjury, 4-chloro-m-cresol-induced [Ca2+]i became depressed, probably because of decreased SR Ca2+ release and uptake rates (17-31%). These data indicate that the decrease in Po during the first several days after injury primarily stems from a failure in the E-C coupling process.
The objective of this review is to evaluate the measurement tools currently used in the study of eccentric contraction-induced muscle injury, with emphasis on their usefulness for quantifying the magnitude and duration of the injury and as indicators of muscle functional deficits. In studies in humans, it was concluded that measurements of maximal voluntary contraction torque and range of motion provide the best methods for quantifying muscle injury. Similarly, in animal studies, the in vitro measurement of electrically elicited force under isometric conditions was considered to be the best of the measurement tools currently in use.
For future studies, more effort should be put into measuring other contractile parameters (e.g. force/torque-velocity and force/torque-length relationships, maximal shortening velocity and fatigue susceptibility) that may reflect injury-induced functional impairments. The use of histology, ratings of soreness and the measurement of blood or bath levels of myofibre proteins should be discouraged for purposes of quantifying muscle injury and/or functional impairment.
The antioxidant activity of pomegranate juices was evaluated by four different methods (ABTS, DPPH, DMPD, and FRAP) and compared to those of red wine and a green tea infusion. Commercial pomegranate juices showed an antioxidant activity (18-20 TEAC) three times higher than those of red wine and green tea (6-8 TEAC). The activity was higher in commercial juices extracted from whole pomegranates than in experimental juices obtained from the arils only (12-14 TEAC). HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses of the juices revealed that commercial juices contained the pomegranate tannin punicalagin (1500-1900 mg/L) while only traces of this compound were detected in the experimental juice obtained from arils in the laboratory. This shows that pomegranate industrial processing extracts some of the hydrolyzable tannins present in the fruit rind. This could account for the higher antioxidant activity of commercial juices compared to the experimental ones. In addition, anthocyanins, ellagic acid derivatives, and hydrolyzable tannins were detected and quantified in the pomegranate juices.
Exercise involving lengthening muscle actions, such as downhill running, results in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which may be attributable to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although exercise causes oxidative stress, any link between ROS and DOMS remains speculative. There is emerging evidence to suggest that ROS play an important physiological role, assisting in the recovery process and protecting the cell from future damage; however, this has not been fully established. Despite this uncertainty as to the precise role of ROS, attempts to prevent post-exercise ROS production through antioxidant intervention are still common. The study investigated the effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on ROS production and DOMS following downhill running. Subjects were assigned to two groups. The ascorbic acid group (group AA) received 1 g ascorbic acid 2 h pre-, and for 14 d post-downhill running, whilst the placebo group (Pl group) received a placebo. Blood samples were drawn pre-supplement, pre- and post-exercise, and then 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 14 d post-exercise for analysis of ascorbate, malonaldehyde and total glutathione. DOMS was assessed using a visual analogue scale and pressure algometry. Muscle function was assessed using isokinetic dynamometry. Plasma ascorbate was elevated throughout in group AA compared with the Pl group. Downhill running resulted in DOMS in both groups. Muscle function was impaired post-exercise in both groups, although a delayed recovery was noted in group AA. Malonaldehyde increased 4 d post-exercise in the Pl group only. Ascorbic acid supplementation attenuates ROS production following downhill running, without affecting DOMS. Furthermore, ascorbic acid supplementation may inhibit the recovery of muscle function.
Numerous antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents have been identified in tart cherries.
To test the efficacy of a tart cherry juice blend in preventing the symptoms of exercise induced muscle damage.
This was a randomised, placebo controlled, crossover design. Fourteen male college students drank 12 fl oz of a cherry juice blend or a placebo twice a day for eight consecutive days. A bout of eccentric elbow flexion contractions (2 x 20 maximum contractions) was performed on the fourth day of supplementation. Isometric elbow flexion strength, pain, muscle tenderness, and relaxed elbow angle were recorded before and for four days after the eccentric exercise. The protocol was repeated two weeks later with subjects who took the placebo initially, now taking the cherry juice (and vice versa). The opposite arm performed the eccentric exercise for the second bout to avoid the repeated bout protective effect.
Strength loss and pain were significantly less in the cherry juice trial versus placebo (time by treatment: strength p<0.0001, pain p = 0.017). Relaxed elbow angle (time by treatment p = 0.85) and muscle tenderness (time by treatment p = 0.81) were not different between trials.
These data show efficacy for this cherry juice in decreasing some of the symptoms of exercise induced muscle damage. Most notably, strength loss averaged over the four days after eccentric exercise was 22% with the placebo but only 4% with the cherry juice.
A long-lasting fatigue was measured in human biceps muscle, following 40 maximal isokinetic concentric or eccentric contractions of the forearm, as the response to single-shock stimuli every minute for 4 h. This protocol allowed new observations on the early time course of long-lasting fatigue. Concentric contractions induced a novel progressive decline to 30.2% (SE 7.8, n = 7) of control at 23 min with complete recovery by 120 min. Eccentric contractions lead initially to a smaller force reduction of similar time course followed by a slower decline to 40.0% (SE 5.1, n = 7) control at 120 min with recovery less than half complete at 4 h. A 50-Hz test stimuli overcame both fatigues, identifying low-frequency fatigue. EMG recordings from the biceps muscle showed moderate (<20%) changes during the fatigue. A visual-tracking task showed no decrement in performance at the time of maximal fatigue of the single-shock response. Because the eccentric contractions have a similar activation, a larger force, but much smaller metabolic usage than concentric contractions, it is concluded that the initial decline is related to the effects of metabolites, whereas the slower phase after eccentric contractions is associated with higher mechanical stress.
Downhill running is associated with fiber damage, inflammation, delayed-onset muscle soreness, and various functional deficits. Curcumin, a constituent of the Indian spice turmeric has been investigated for its anti-inflammatory activity and may offset some of the damage and functional deficits associated with downhill running. This study examined the effects of curcumin on inflammation and recovery of running performance following downhill running in mice. Male mice were assigned to downhill placebo (Down-Plac), downhill curcumin (Down-Cur), uphill placebo (Up-Plac), or uphill curcumin (Up-Cur) groups and run on a treadmill at 22 m/min at -14% or +14% grade, for 150 min. At 48 h or 72 h after the up/downhill run, mice (experiment 1) underwent a treadmill performance run to fatigue. Another subset of mice was placed in voluntary activity wheel cages following the up/downhill run (experiment 2) and their voluntary activity (distance, time and peak speed) was recorded. Additional mice (experiment 3) were killed at 24 h and 48 h following the up/downhill run, and the soleus muscle was harvested for analysis of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha), and plasma was collected for creatine kinase analysis. Downhill running decreased both treadmill run time to fatigue (48 h and 72 h) and voluntary activity (24 h) (P < 0.05), and curcumin feedings offset these effects on running performance. Downhill running was also associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines (24 h and 48 h) and creatine kinase (24 h) (P < 0.05) that were blunted by curcumin feedings. These results support the hypothesis that curcumin can reduce inflammation and offset some of the performance deficits associated with eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.
This study compared resistance-trained and untrained men for changes in commonly used indirect markers of muscle damage after maximal voluntary eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors. Fifteen trained men (28.2 +/- 1.9 years, 175.0 +/- 1.6 cm, and 77.6 +/- 1.9 kg) who had resistance trained for at least 3 sessions per week incorporating exercises involving the elbow flexor musculature for an average of 7.7 +/- 1.4 years, and 15 untrained men (30.0 +/- 1.5 years, 169.8 +/- 7.4 cm, and 79.9 +/- 4.4 kg) who had not performed any resistance training for at least 1 year, were recruited for this study. All subjects performed 10 sets of 6 maximal voluntary eccentric actions of the elbow flexors of one arm against the lever arm of an isokinetic dynamometer moving at a constant velocity of 90 degrees .s. Changes in maximal voluntary isometric and isokinetic torque, range of motion, upper arm circumference, plasma creatine kinase activity, and muscle soreness before, immediately after, and for 5 days after exercise were compared between groups. The trained group showed significantly (P < 0.05) smaller changes in all of the measures except for muscle soreness and faster recovery of muscle function compared with the untrained group. For example, muscle strength of the trained group recovered to the baseline by 3 days after exercise, where the untrained group showed approximately 40% lower strength than baseline. These results suggest that resistance-trained men are less susceptible to muscle damage induced by maximal eccentric exercise than untrained subjects.
Pomegranate juice (PJ), a rich source of polyphenols including ellagitannins, has attracted much attention due to its reported health benefits. This has resulted in the consumption of liquid and powder pomegranate extracts as alternatives to PJ. Therefore establishing the bioavailability of polyphenols from these extract preparations is necessary. Sixteen healthy volunteers sequentially consumed, with a 1-week washout period between treatments, PJ (8 ounces, Wonderful fruit variety), a pomegranate polyphenol liquid extract (POMxl, 8 ounces), and a pomegranate polyphenol powder extract (POMxp, 1,000 mg). The three interventions provided 857, 776, and 755 mg of polyphenols as gallic acid equivalents, respectively. Plasma bioavailability, judged based on ellagic acid levels over a 6-hour period, did not show statistical differences in area under the curve for the three interventions: 0.14 +/- 0.05, 0.11 +/- 0.03, and 0.11 +/- 0.04 micromol . hour/L for PJ, POMxl, and POMxp, respectively. The time of maximum concentration was delayed for POMxp (2.58 +/- 0.42 hours) compared to PJ (0.65 +/- 0.23 hours) and POMxl (0.94 +/- 0.06 hours). Urolithin-A glucuronide, a urinary metabolite of ellagic acid, was not significantly different with the three interventions, reaching levels of approximately 1,000 ng/mL. This study demonstrates that ellagitannin metabolites, delivered from pomegranate fruits, as PJ, POMxl, and POMxp, reach equivalent levels with a delay in time of maximum concentration of POMxp compared to PJ and POMxl.
Skeletal muscle is often the site of tissue injury due to trauma, disease, developmental defects or surgery. Yet, to date, no effective treatment is available to stimulate the repair of skeletal muscle. We show that the kinetics and extent of muscle regeneration in vivo after trauma are greatly enhanced following systemic administration of curcumin, a pharmacological inhibitor of the transcription factor NF-κB. Biochemical and histological analyses indicate an effect of curcumin after only 4 days of daily intraperitoneal injection compared with controls that require >2 wk to restore normal tissue architecture. Curcumin can act directly on cultured muscle precursor cells to stimulate both cell proliferation and differentiation under appropriate conditions. Other pharmacological and genetic inhibitors of NF-κB also stimulate muscle differentiation in vitro. Inhibition of NF-κB-mediated transcription was confirmed using reporter gene assays. We conclude that NF-κB exerts a role in regulating myogenesis and that modulation of NF-κB activity within muscle tissue is beneficial for muscle repair. The striking effects of curcumin on myogenesis suggest therapeutic applications for treating muscle injuries.
The antioxidant activity of pomegranate juices was evaluated by four different methods (ABTS, DPPH, DMPD, and FRAP) and compared to those of red wine and a green tea infusion. Commercial pomegranate juices showed an antioxidant activity (18−20 TEAC) three times higher than those of red wine and green tea (6−8 TEAC). The activity was higher in commercial juices extracted from whole pomegranates than in experimental juices obtained from the arils only (12−14 TEAC). HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses of the juices revealed that commercial juices contained the pomegranate tannin punicalagin (1500−1900 mg/L) while only traces of this compound were detected in the experimental juice obtained from arils in the laboratory. This shows that pomegranate industrial processing extracts some of the hydrolyzable tannins present in the fruit rind. This could account for the higher antioxidant activity of commercial juices compared to the experimental ones. In addition, anthocyanins, ellagic acid derivatives, and hydrolyzable tannins were detected and quantified in the pomegranate juices. Keywords: Pomegranate; Punica granatum; Punicaceae; juice; phenolics; anthocyanins; ellagic acid; punicalagin; tannins; antioxidant activity; ABTS; DPPH; DMPD; FRAP
Dietary supplementation with polyphenols,particularly ellagitannins, may attenuate the muscular damage experienced after eccentric exercise, producing delayed-onset muscle soreness. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ellagitannin supplementation from Wonderful variety pomegranate extract (POMx) improved recovery of skeletal muscle strength after eccentric exercise.
Recreationally active males were randomized into a crossover design with either pomegranate extract (POMx) or placebo (PLA), each given during a period of 9 d.To produce delayed-onset muscle soreness, subjects performed two sets of 20 maximal eccentric elbow flexion exercises with one arm.Maximal isometric elbow flexion strength and muscle soreness as well as serum measures of creatine kinase, myoglobin, interleukin 6, and C-reactive protein were made at baseline and 2, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after exercise.
With both treatments, strength was similarly reduced 2 h after exercise (i.e., 72% of baseline), and recovery of strength was incomplete after 96 h (i.e., 91% of baseline).However, strength was significantly higher in POMx compared with that in PLA at 48 h (85.4% +/- 2.5% and 78.3% +/- 2.6%, P = 0.01) and 72 h (88.9% +/- 2.0% and 84.0% +/- 2.0%, P = 0.009) after exercise. Serum markers of inflammation and muscle damage did not provide insight regarding possible mechanisms.
Supplementation with ellagitannins from pomegranate extract significantly improves recovery of isometric strength 2-3 d after a damaging eccentric exercise.
We hypothesized that training with eccentric contractions only (therefore using higher loads) would yield greater muscle structural and strength gains compared with conventional resistance training. Nine older adults (mean +/- s.d. age, 74 +/- 3 years) were assigned to a conventional (CONV) resistance training group performing both concentric and eccentric contractions and 10 (age, 67 +/- 2 years) to an eccentric-only (ECC) resistance training group. Both groups trained three times per week for 14 weeks at 80% of the five-repetition maximum, specific to each training mode. Maximal knee extensor torque was assessed during isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions across a range of angular velocities (0-3.49 rad s(-1)). Vastus lateralis muscle architecture (fascicle length, pennation angle and muscle thickness) was assessed in vivo at rest using ultrasonography. Training increased fascicle length in both groups, but the increase was significantly greater in the ECC (20% increase) than the CONV group (8% increase). Conversely, pennation angle significantly increased in the CONV (35% increase) but not in the ECC group (5% increase). Muscle thickness increased to a similar extent in both groups (approximately 12% increase). In the ECC group, eccentric knee extensor torque increased by 9-17% across velocities, but concentric torque was unchanged. Conversely, in the CONV group, concentric torque increased by 22-37% across velocities, but eccentric torque was unchanged. Instead, isometric torque increased to a similar extent in both groups (approximately 8% increase). Thus, the two training regimens resulted in differential adaptations in muscle architecture and strength. These results suggest that the stimulus for adding sarcomeres in-series and in-parallel may be different, which implies that different myogenic responses were induced by the two different training methods.
The superoxide anions scavenging activity and antioxidation of seven flavonoids--quercetin, rutin, morin, acacetin, hispidulin, hesperidin, and naringin--were studied. The superoxide anions were generated in a phenazin methosulphate-NADH system and were assayed by reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. The scavenging activity ranked: rutin was the strongest, and quercetin and naringin the second, while morin and hispidulin were very weak. The concentration values yielding 50% inhibition of lipid peroxidation in mouse liver homogenate were in order of 10(-6) M for quercetin, rutin, and morin; and of 10(-5) M for acacetin and hispidulin, while naringin and hesperidin had no antioxidative action. In comparison with the antioxidative and scavenging activities of flavonoids, there are no correlations.
We tested the hypotheses that 1) muscles of old mice are more susceptible to injury than muscles of young and adult mice, and 2) secondary or delayed onset injury results from free radical damage. Extensor digitorum longus muscles were injured in situ by lengthening contractions. Injury was assessed by measurement of maximum isometric tetanic force (Po) expressed as a percentage of the control value and by morphological damage. Mice were treated with a free radical scavenger, polyethylene glycol-superoxide dismutase (PEG-SOD). Three days postinjury, the Po of 44% for muscles of nontreated old mice was significantly lower than the Po of 58 and 61% for those of young and adult mice. In each group, the secondary injury at 3 days was alleviated by treatment with PEG-SOD. For treated muscles of young, adult, and old mice, values for Po were 88, 80, and 70%, respectively. We conclude that muscles of old mice are more susceptible to injury than muscles of young or adult mice and that free radicals contribute to the secondary or delayed onset injury.
This study examined exercise-induced muscle damage, repair, and rapid adaptation. Eight college-age women performed three eccentric exercises of the forearm flexors. One arm performed 70 maximal contractions (70-MAX condition), and the other arm performed 24 maximal contractions (24-MAX) followed 2 wk later by 70 maximal contractions (70-MAX2). Criterion measures of serum creatine kinase, muscle soreness and pain, isometric strength, and muscle shortening were assessed before, immediately after, and for 5 days after each exercise. Significant changes in all criterion measures were found after the 70-MAX exercise with a slow recovery that was not complete by day 5 after exercise. The 24-MAX condition showed only small changes in the criterion measures. Changes in the criterion measures after the 70-MAX2 exercise were significantly smaller than those after the 70-MAX exercise. Results from this study, with regard to the ability of the muscle to adapt to exercise-induced damage, suggest that an adaptation takes place such that the muscle is more resistant to damage and any damage that does occur is repaired at a faster rate. It is also clear that a relatively small insult will produce this adaptation.
These experiments were designed to study skeletal muscle pathology resulting from eccentric-biased exercise in rats. The effects on the muscles of running on a treadmill on a 0 degrees incline (similar amounts of concentric and eccentric contractions), down a 16 degrees incline (primarily eccentric contractions), and up a 16 degrees incline (primarily concentric contractions) at 16 m . min-1 for 90 min were assessed by following postexercise changes in 1) plasma creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities, 2) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDase) activity (bio- and histochemically) in the physiological extensor muscles, and 3) histological appearance of the muscles. The data indicate the following. 1) Whereas all exercise protocols resulted in elevations of plasma enzymes immediately after running, only eccentric exercise caused late phase elevations 1.5-2 days postexercise. 2) Significant increases in muscle G-6-PDase activity, which were always associated with accumulations of mononuclear cells, always occurred within some muscles of each extensor group 1-3 days following downhill and uphill running and did not occur following level running; the increases in activity were usually of lower magnitude in the muscles of uphill runners than in those of downhill runners; the deeply located, predominantly slow-twitch muscles were most affected by both down- and uphill running. 3) Muscle histology demonstrated localized disruption of normal banding patterns of some fibers immediately after exercise and accumulations of macrophages in the interstitium and in some (less than 5%) muscle fibers by 24 h postexercise in the deep slow muscles of the antigravity groups. Although the data generally indicated that eccentric exercise causes greater injury to the muscles, questions remain.
The anticlastogenic effect of 12 structurally different flavonoids was investigated in whole body gamma-ray irradiated mice. Each flavonoid was administered to ICR male mice by a single gastric intubation (5 mumol/kg) 6 h before gamma-ray irradiation (1.5 Gy) and the frequency of micronucleated reticulocytes (MNRETs) in peripheral blood was determined. In order to elucidate the mechanism of the anticlastogenic effect of these flavonoids, their antioxidative activities were examined by the thiobarbituric acid method using methyl linoleate and Fenton's reagent (Fe2+/H2O2). Of the 12 flavonoids, luteolin had the most marked effect on reducing the frequencies of MNRETs and also inhibiting lipid peroxidation. However, quercetin tetramethylether, which has methoxy groups instead of hydroxyl groups at the 3,7,3',4'-positions, and phloretin with an open C-ring showed the least anticlastogenic and antioxidative activity. A good correlation (r = 0.717, P < 0.01) was observed between the anticlastogenic activity and the antioxidative activity of the 12 flavonoids. These results suggest that the radioprotective effect of flavonoids in mice may be attributed to the hydroxyl radical scavenging potency in a direct or an endogenous enzyme mediated manner.
Vitamin E supplementation may confer a protective effect against eccentrically biased exercise-induced muscle damage through stabilization of the cell membrane and possibly via inhibition of free radical formation. Evidence supporting a protective role of vitamin E after contraction-induced muscle injury in humans is, however, inconsistent. The present study sought to determine the effect of vitamin E supplementation on indices of exercise-induced muscle damage and the postexercise inflammatory response after performance of repeated eccentric muscle contractions.
Young healthy men performed a bout of 240 maximal isokinetic eccentric muscle contractions (0.52 rad.s-1) after being supplemented for 30 d with either vitamin E (N = 9; 1200 IU.d-1) or placebo (N = 7; safflower oil).
Measurements of torque (isometric and concentric) decreased (P < 0.05) below preexercise values immediately post- and at 48 h post-exercise. Biopsies taken 24 h postexercise showed a significant increase in the amount of extensive Z-band disruption (P < 0.01); however, neither the torque deficit nor the extent of Z-band disruption were affected by vitamin E. Exercise resulted in increased macrophage cell infiltration (P = 0.05) into muscle, which was also unaffected by vitamin E. Serum CK also increased as a result of the exercise (P < 0.05) with no effect of vitamin E.
We conclude that vitamin E supplementation (30 d at 1200 IU.d-1), which resulted in a 2.8-fold higher serum vitamin E concentration (P < 0.01), had no affect on indices of contraction-induced muscle damage nor inflammation (macrophage infiltration) as a result of eccentrically biased muscle contractions.
This study investigated the relationship between delayed-onset muscle soreness and other indicators of muscle damage following eccentric exercise. Male students (n = 110) performed 12 (12ECC), 24 (24ECC), or 60 maximal eccentric actions of the elbow flexors (60ECC). Maximal isometric force, relaxed and flexed elbow joint angles, upper arm circumference, and plasma creatine kinase activity were assessed immediately before and after, and for 4 days after exercise. Muscle soreness (SOR) was evaluated by a visual analog scale (a 50-mm line, 0: no pain, 50: extremely painful) when the elbow flexors were palpated (SOR-Pal), flexed (SOR-Flx) and stretched (SOR-Ext). Although 24ECC and 60ECC resulted in significantly (P <; 0.05) larger changes in all indicators and slower recovery compared to 12ECC, no significant differences were evident for SOR-Pal and SOR-Flx between 12ECC and 24ECC, or 12ECC and 60ECC. In contrast, SOR-Ext was significantly (P <; 0.05) lower for 12ECC compared to 24ECC and 60ECC. A Pearson product-moment correlation showed SOR-Pal did not correlate significantly with any indicators, however, SOR-Ext and SOR-Flx showed weak (r <; 0.32) but significant (P <; 0.05) correlations with other indicators. Because of generally poor correlations between DOMS and other indicators, we conclude that use of DOMS is a poor reflector of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation, and changes in indirect markers of muscle damage and inflammation are not necessarily accompanied with DOMS.
The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the CD11b-dependent respiratory burst in neutrophil oxidant generation and activation, interleukin-8 (IL-8) production, and myofiber damage after muscle stretch injury by using the monoclonal antibody M1/70 to block this pathway. Twelve male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to a treatment group: M1/70 (n = 6), IgG isotype control (n = 3), or saline control (n = 3). After intravenous injection of the assigned agent under gas anesthesia, a standardized single-stretch injury was created in the right tibialis anterior, whereas the left tibialis anterior underwent a sham surgery. Blood-borne neutrophil oxidant generation and CD11b receptor density and plasma IL-8 levels were measured pre- and 24 h postinjury. Damage was assessed histologically at the hematoma site by counting torn myofibers. M1/70 group demonstrated decreased blood-borne neutrophil oxidant generation (P < 0.05) and CD11b receptor density (P < 0.05), an increase in plasma IL-8 concentration (P < 0.01), and less torn myofibers (P < 0.01) compared with IgG isotype or saline control groups. These data indicate that 1). CD11b-dependent respiratory burst is a major source of oxidants produced by the neutrophil, and that treatment with M1/70 2). attenuates neutrophil activation status, 3). increases plasma IL-8 concentration, and 4). minimizes myofiber damage 24 h postmuscle stretch injury.
This study investigated the effects of a dietary supplement on exercise-induced markers of cell damage and the inflammatory mediators C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).
The supplement contained mixed tocopherols, flavonoids, and docosahexaenoate. Forty healthy, nonsmoking, untrained males (aged 18-35 yr) were randomly assigned to receive either the supplement (N = 20) or placebo (N = 20) during the 14-d experimental protocol. Blood samples were collected on day 0 (baseline), day 7 (eccentric exercise-induced injury), day 10, and day 14.
Markers of cell damage (creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) and inflammation IL-6 and CRP were assessed at these time points in conjunction with subjective range of motion (ROM) and perceived pain measurements. Statistical analyses were conducted using nonparametric methods (P < 0.05).
Eccentric arm curl exercise was used to induce an acute phase injury response as evidenced by significant (P < 0.0001) increases in CK, LDH, and pain, as well as a decreased range of motion 3 d after the exercise. There were no significant differences between groups in CK and LDH responses. In contrast, there were significant group differences for IL-6 (P = 0.008) and CRP (P = 0.003). At day 10, by Mann-Whitney U test of changes, the placebo group had significantly greater increases in IL-6 and CRP than the treatment group (P = 0.05 and P < 0.01), respectively.
This study suggested that exercise-induced inflammation, evaluated by changes in IL-6 and CRP, was significantly reduced by the dietary supplement.
Dietary supplementation with polyphenolic antioxidants to animals was shown to be associated with inhibition of LDL oxidation and macrophage foam cell formation, and attenuation of atherosclerosis development. We investigated the effects of pomegranate juice (PJ, which contains potent tannins and anthocyanins) consumption by atherosclerotic patients with carotid artery stenosis (CAS) on the progression of carotid lesions and changes in oxidative stress and blood pressure. Ten patients were supplemented with PJ for 1 year and five of them continued for up to 3 years. Blood samples were collected before treatment and during PJ consumption. In the control group that did not consume PJ, common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) increased by 9% during 1 year, whereas, PJ consumption resulted in a significant IMT reduction, by up to 30%, after 1 year. The patients' serum paraoxonase 1 (PON 1) activity was increased by 83%, whereas serum LDL basal oxidative state and LDL susceptibility to copper ion-induced oxidation were both significantly reduced, by 90% and 59%, respectively, after 12 months of PJ consumption, compared to values obtained before PJ consumption. Furthermore, serum levels of antibodies against oxidized LDL were decreased by 19%, and in parallel serum total antioxidant status (TAS) was increased by 130% after 1 year of PJ consumption. Systolic blood pressure was reduced after 1 year of PJ consumption by 12% [corrected] and was not further reduced along 3 years of PJ consumption. For all studied parameters, the maximal effects were observed after 1 year of PJ consumption. Further consumption of PJ, for up to 3 years, had no additional beneficial effects on IMT and serum PON1 activity, whereas serum lipid peroxidation was further reduced by up to 16% after 3 years of PJ consumption. The results of the present study thus suggest that PJ consumption by patients with CAS decreases carotid IMT and systolic blood pressure and these effects could be related to the potent antioxidant characteristics of PJ polyphenols.
Diabetes is associated with increased oxidative stress and atherosclerosis development. In the present study, we investigated the effects of pomegranate juice (PJ; which contains sugars and potent anti-oxidants) consumption by diabetic patients on blood diabetic parameters, and on oxidative stress in their serum and macrophages. Ten healthy subjects (controls) and 10 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients who consumed PJ (50ml per day for 3 months) participated in the study. In the patients versus controls serum levels of lipid peroxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were both increased, by 350% and 51%, respectively, whereas serum SH groups content and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, were both decreased (by 23%). PJ consumption did not affect serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but it resulted in a significant reduction in serum lipid peroxides and TBARS levels by 56% and 28%, whereas serum SH groups and PON1 activity significantly increased by 12% and 24%, respectively. In the patients versus controls monocytes-derived macrophages (HMDM), we observed increased level of cellular peroxides (by 36%), and decreased glutathione content (by 64%). PJ consumption significantly reduced cellular peroxides (by 71%), and increased glutathione levels (by 141%) in the patients' HMDM. The patients' versus control HMDM took up oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) at enhanced rate (by 37%) and PJ consumption significantly decreased the extent of Ox-LDL cellular uptake (by 39%). We thus conclude that PJ consumption by diabetic patients did not worsen the diabetic parameters, but rather resulted in anti-oxidative effects on serum and macrophages, which could contribute to attenuation of atherosclerosis development in these patients.
A number of different beverage products claim to have antioxidant potency due to their perceived high content of polyphenols. Basic and applied research indicates that pomegranate juice (PJ), produced from the Wonderful variety of Punica granatum fruits, has strong antioxidant activity and related health benefits. Although consumers are familiar with the concept of free radicals and antioxidants, they are often misled by claims of superior antioxidant activity of different beverages, which are usually based only on testing of a limited spectrum of antioxidant activities. There is no available direct comparison of PJ's antioxidant activity to those of other widely available polyphenol-rich beverage products using a comprehensive variety of antioxidant tests. The present study applied (1) four tests of antioxidant potency [Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), total oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), free radical scavenging capacity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)]; (2) a test of antioxidant functionality, that is, inhibition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation by peroxides and malondialdehyde methods; and (3) evaluation of the total polyphenol content [by gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)] of polyphenol-rich beverages in the marketplace. The beverages included several different brands as follows: apple juice (3), açaí juice (3), black cherry juice (3), blueberry juice (3), cranberry juice (3), Concord grape juice (3), orange juice (3), red wines (3), iced tea beverages (10) [black tea (3), green tea (4), white tea (3)], and a major PJ available in the U.S. market. An overall antioxidant potency composite index was calculated by assigning each test equal weight. PJ had the greatest antioxidant potency composite index among the beverages tested and was at least 20% greater than any of the other beverages tested. Antioxidant potency, ability to inhibit LDL oxidation, and total polyphenol content were consistent in classifying the antioxidant capacity of the polyphenol-rich beverages in the following order: PJ>red wine>Concord grape juice>blueberry juice>black cherry juice, açaí juice, cranberry juice>orange juice, iced tea beverages, apple juice. Although in vitro antioxidant potency does not prove in vivo biological activity, there is also consistent clinical evidence of antioxidant potency for the most potent beverages including both PJ and red wine.
Although consumption of dietary supplements containing pomegranate extract (POMx) by patients with arthritis is on the rise, the efficacy of such preparations in suppressing joint inflammation and damage is not known. The present study was designed to evaluate a standardized preparation of POMx using collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice, a widely used animal model of rheumatoid arthritis.
CIA-susceptible DBA/1 mice were fed POMx by gavage before and after immunization with chicken type II collagen. Severity of clinical arthritis was scored using a visual scoring system. Arthritic joints were analyzed by histopathology and graded. Lysates were generated from mouse joints and levels of anti-type II collagen immunoglobulin G and inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of POMx on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production was determined by Griess reaction and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation was studied by western immunoblotting in mouse macrophages.
Consumption of POMx potently delayed the onset and reduced the incidence of CIA in mice. Severity of arthritis was also significantly lower in POMx-fed animals. Histopathology of the arthritic joints from POMx-fed mice demonstrated reduced joint infiltration by the inflammatory cells, and the destruction of bone and cartilage were alleviated. Levels of IL-6 were significantly decreased in the joints of POMx-fed mice with CIA. In mouse macrophages, POMx abrogated multiple signal transduction pathways and downstream mediators implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Our studies suggest that inhibition of a spectrum of signal transduction pathways and the downstream pathogenic cellular response by POMx or compounds derived from it may be a useful approach for the prevention of the onset and severity of inflammatory arthritis.
Connolly, DAJ, McHugh, MP, Padilla-Zakour, OI, Carlson, L, and Sayers, SP. Efficacy of a tart cherry juice blend in preventing the symptoms of muscle damage.
Davis, JM, Murphy, EA, Carmichael, MD, Zielinski, MR, Groschwitz, CM, Brown, AS, Gangemi, JD, Ghaffar, A, and Mayer, EP. Curcumin effects on inflammation and performance recovery following eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.
Shimoi, K, Masuda, S, Furugori, M, Esaki, S, and Kinae, N. Radioprotective effect of antioxidative flavonoids in {gamma}-ray irradiated mice.
Beaton, LJ, Allan, DA, Tarnopolsky, MA, Tiidus, PM, and Phillips, SM. Contraction-induced muscle damage is unaffected by vitamin E supplementation.
Chen, YT, Zheng, RL, Jia, ZJ, and Ju, Y. Flavonoids as superoxide scavengers and antioxidants.
Howatson, G, McHugh, MP, Hill, JA, Brouner, J, Jewell, AP, van Someren, KA, Shave, RE, and Howatson, SA. Influence of tart cherry juice on indices of recovery following marathon running.
Aviram, M, Rosenblat, M, Gaitini, D, Nitecki, S, Hoffman, A, Dornfeld, L, Volkova, N, Presser, D, Attias, J, Liker, H, and Hayek, T. Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation.
Seeram, NP, Zhang, Y, McKeever, R, Henning, SM, Lee, RP, Suchard, MA, Li, Z, Chen, S, Thames, G, Zerlin, A, Nguyen, M, Wang, D, Dreher, M, and Heber, D. Pomegranate juice and extracts provide similar levels of plasma and urinary ellagitannin metabolites in human subjects.