Effects of Differing Dosages of Pomegranate Juice Supplementation after Eccentric Exercise

Abstract

Dietary supplementation with pomegranate juice improves isometric strength recovery after unaccustomed eccentric exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a dose response effect of pomegranate juice supplementation after eccentric exercise isometric strength recovery. Forty-five nonresistance trained, recreationally active men were assigned once-daily pomegranate juice, twice-daily pomegranate juice, or placebo supplementation. On day four of supplementation, 20 min of downhill running and 40 maximal eccentric elbow flexion repetitions were performed. Isometric knee extensor and elbow flexor strength, muscular soreness, and serum myoglobin concentrations were measured prior to exercise and 2, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after exercise. Throughout the postexercise time period, while isometric knee extensor and elbow flexor strength were similar between once-daily and twice-daily pomegranate juice supplementation groups, isometric strength was significantly higher in pomegranate juice groups than placebo. Knee extensor soreness, elbow flexor soreness, and myoglobin increased in response to exercise but were similar between groups. It is apparent that pomegranate juice supplementation improves strength recovery in leg and arm muscles following eccentric exercise; however, no dose response effect was present. We conclude that once-daily pomegranate juice supplementation is not different from twice-daily supplementation in regards to strength recovery after eccentric exercise.

Effects of mate tea consumption on muscle strength and oxidative stress markers after eccentric exercise

“…Our primary finding was that the consumption of 600 ml of MT (three 200 ml drinks/d) providing 890 mg of phenolic compounds/d improved the rate of recovery of isometric strength by 8·6 % during the 1st day after eccentric exercise. This positive effect of MT on muscle recovery was large and significant (d = 1·11; P = 0·007) and is in agreement with reports that dietary phytochemical supplementation ameliorated muscle function after EEIMD (4,(9)(10)(11)(12) . In addition, although the measures of recovery were not significantly different between treatments (Fig.…”

“…2) disagrees with the reports that supplementation with polyphenols-rich dietary sources improved muscle strength from 24 to 96 h after eccentric exercise (4,(9)(10)(11)(12) . However, this limited influence of MT on recovery might be due to the extent of muscle damage (2) .…”

“…There is growing evidence that supplementation with foods rich in phytochemicals that have antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory properties may improve the recovery from eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage (EEIMD) (9)(10)(11)(12) . Having several choices of dietary strategies for strength recovery can be quite advantageous for sportspeople.…”

Effects of a combined protein and antioxidant supplement on recovery of muscle function and soreness following eccentric exercise

“…4a). The current finding supports prior work suggesting antioxidant supplementation may reduce muscle soreness following ECC [7, 11, 34], although the positive effect of antioxidants on muscle soreness is not unanimous [8–10]. Although the precise mechanism(s) for reduced muscle soreness is unknown, it may be related to either the high leucine or essential amino acid content within whey protein [35], antioxidants potential to reduce muscle soreness following ECC exercise [36], or may be related to the many bioactives present within various forms of whey protein.…”

“…In agreement, previous studies have also found no effect of antioxidant supplementation (using either vitamin C or fruit, berry and vegetable concentrate) on muscle recovery [10, 11, 34]. In contrast, previous studies using either a berry or fruit derived antioxidant supplement demonstrate an interaction between groups with no clear direction of improved muscle function [9] or show enhanced recovery of muscle function with a pre-loading period prior to ECC [8]. Collectively, future work is needed to determine if optimal dosing strategy, types of antioxidants, may influence the impact of antioxidant supplementation on muscle function following fatiguing eccentric exercise.…”