Chinese Herbal Medicine Significantly Impacts the Haematological Variables of the Athlete Biological Passport

Abstract

In the fight against sports doping, the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) system aims to indirectly unveil the doping incidents by monitoring selected biomarkers; however, several unexplored extrinsic factors may dampen a fair interpretation of ABP profiles. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) plays a pivotal role in the health care system, and some remedies have a long history of being used to treat anaemia. In this study, we addressed the concerns of whether the CHM administration could yield a measurable effect on altering the ABP haematological variables. Forty-eight healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive two-week oral administration of one of the six selected CHM products that are commonly prescribed in Taiwan (eight subjects per group). Their blood variables were determined longitudinally in the phases of baseline, intervention, and recovery over 5 weeks. Blood collection and analyses were carried out in strict compliance with relevant operating guidelines. In the groups receiving Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Astragali Radix, and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, a significant increased reticulocyte percentage and decreased OFF-hr Score were manifested during the intervention, and such effects even sustained for a period of time after withdrawal. All other variables, including haemoglobin and Abnormal Blood Profile Score, did not generate statistical significance. Our results show that the use of CHM may impact the ABP haematological variables. As a consequence, we recommend athletes, particularly those who have been registered in the testing pool, should be aware of taking specific Chinese herbal-based treatment or supplementation, and document any of its usage on the anti-doping forms.

Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) Supplementation in Sports Training: A Systematic Review

“…Astragalus membranaceus supplementation was found to improve the subjects' aerobic performance, oxidative status, reticulocytes percentage, and response to acclimatization [12,14,21] without a specific effect on the athletes' strength [11]. The results of studies in which Astragalus was co-administered with other remedies showed similar results (see Table 1).…”

“…Overall, 529 articles (PubMed: 59; EMBASE: 111; Web of Science: 117; Cochrane Library: 26; Google Scholar: 216) were screened, and 11 of them were considered eligible for inclusion in this systematic review [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. The most important characteristics of these studies are summarized in Table 1.…”

“…The ergogenic action and immune function-related modifications appear to be synergistic with that of other supplements with similar pharmacodynamics, such as myco-therapeutic [19] or ginseng [15] extracts. Huangqi was also associated with a potential increase in the production of red blood cell precursors and a significant systemic antioxidant effect [12,21].…”

“…When we examine the ergogenic and anti-fatigue effects of Astragalus, which contribute to enhancing athletes' aerobic performance, it is postulated that these effects may be partly attributed to a potential combination of antioxidative actions, including When we examine the ergogenic and anti-fatigue effects of Astragalus, which contribute to enhancing athletes' aerobic performance, it is postulated that these effects may be partly attributed to a potential combination of antioxidative actions, including stimulating antioxidant enzymes and reducing the generation of oxygen free radicals [29,30]. Additionally, there may be an effect on the production of red blood cells, leading to improved tissue oxygenation [12,21]. Other mechanisms could encompass the expedited removal of byproducts from muscle metabolism, the anti-inflammatory effect, and the regulation of stress hormone levels [31][32][33], which may favor quicker post-exercise recovery and better physical performance.…”

“…Lastly, Huangqi, when supplemented at a daily dose of at least 3.6 g for two weeks, has the capacity to influence reticulocyte counts, leading to a significant increase in the reticulocyte percentage from 0.69% on day 1 to 1.53% on day 22 (p < 0.05 compared to day 1), with a further increase to 1.85% on day 29 (p < 0.05 compared to day 1) [21]. As demonstrated in mechanistic research, it is suggested that the impact of Radix Astragali on hematological parameters is linked to the dosage [44], with higher doses potentially associated with more pronounced effects.…”