Effect of Supplementation with Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Extract on Inflammatory Status and Selected Markers of Iron Metabolism in Young Football Players: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial

Abstract

The use of herbal medicinal products and supplements in amateur and professional sports has increased in the last decades. This is because most of these products and supplements contain bioactive compounds with a variety of biological properties that exert a physiological effect on the human body. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of dietary supplementation with lyophilized black chokeberry extract on the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, hepcidin, and selected markers of iron metabolism in a group of young football players. This double-blind study included 22 male football players (mean = 19.96 ± 0.56), divided into two groups: supplemented and placebo. Before and after a 90-day period of training combined with supplementation (6 g of lyophilized black chokeberry extract), participants performed maximal multistage 20-m shuttle run tests at the beginning and at the end of the supplementation period, with blood sampled for analysis at different times before and after exercise. The levels of IL-6, IL-10, ferritin, myoglobin, hepcidin, 8-OHdG, albumin, and TAC were analyzed. The analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of 90-day supplementation with the lyophilized extract on changes in the IL-6 and IL-10 levels, and TAC induced by maximal aerobic effort. In conclusion, supplementation with lyophilized black chokeberry extract improves the performance and antioxidant status of serum in humans and induces protective changes in inflammatory markers.

How can chokeberry (Aronia) (poly)phenol-rich supplementation help athletes? A systematic review of human clinical trials

“…[39][40][41] In one study, 8-8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine was reduced after supplementation. 38 In two studies chokeberry increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC), 25,38 but not in another. 28 Two studies measured endogenous antioxidants; in one, superoxide dismutase was reduced 24 hours-and glutathione peroxidase immediatelypost exercise compared to a control.…”

“…Among the included studies, five studies were randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trials, [25][26][27][28]38 three studies were randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trials, [39][40][41] one study was single-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial, 42 and one study was a non-randomised non-blind trial. 29 The participants of all the studies were athletes and this included rowers (n = 38), 25,26 football players (n = 42), 28,38 handball players (n = 48), 27,29 triathletes (n = 48), [39][40][41] and runners (n = 10). 42 In terms of supplementation form and dosage of the chronic studies four of nine chronic studies used pure chokeberry juice [25][26][27][28] for a period of 4-8 weeks.…”

“…[39][40][41] The total anthocyanin content of this juice was 50 mg day −1 . Two studies used extracts, of which, one used dry chokeberry extract 38 and another one used aqueous chokeberry extract 29 the anthocyanin content of these extracts was not determined. The only acute study in this review used a chokeberry juice with a ( poly)phenol dose of 2600 mg.…”

“…Eight studies measured the effects of chokeberry on markers of oxidative stress, i.e., lipid and DNA oxidation. [26][27][28][29]38,39,41 Three studies found that chokeberry had no effect on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), [26][27][28] while in one study TBARS was significantly reduced, as were nitrites. 29 In three studies by the same author, chokeberry was shown to reduce other urinary biomarkers of lipid peroxidation.…”

“…Two measured inflammatory markers. 25,38 In one tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha was lower 24-hour post-exercise following 8-week chokeberry supplementation compared to a placebo. 25 In the other interleukin (I)L-6 was lower and IL-10 was higher after supplementation.…”