Effects of pomegranate extract on blood flow and vessel diameter after high‐intensity exercise in young, healthy adults

Abstract

The effects of pomegranate extract (PE) supplementation were evaluated on high-intensity exercise performance, blood flow, vessel diameter, oxygen saturation (SPO2), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP). In a randomized, crossover design, nineteen recreationally resistance trained participants were randomly assigned to PE (1000 mg) or placebo (PL), which were consumed 30 min prior to a repeated sprint ability (RSA) test and repetitions to fatigue (RTF) on bench and leg press. The RSA consisted of ten six-second sprints on a friction-loaded cycle ergometer with 30 s recovery. Brachial artery blood flow and vessel diameter were assessed by ultrasound. Blood flow, vessel diameter, SPO2, HR, and BP were assessed at baseline, 30 min post ingestion, immediately post exercise (IPost), and 30 min post exercise (30minPost). With PE, blood flow significantly increased IPost RSA (mean difference [MD]=18.49 mL·min−1; P<0.05), and IPost and 30minPost RTF (P <0.05) according to confidence intervals (CI). Vessel diameter increased significantly 30minPost RSA according to CI and resulted in a significant interaction IPost and 30minPost RTF (P <0.05). With PE, according to CI, average and peak power output increased significantly in sprint 5 of the RSA (P <0.05). There was no significant difference between PE and PL for bench (P =0.25) or leg press (P =0.15) repetitions. Acute PE supplementation enhanced vessel diameter and blood flow, suggesting possible exercise performance enhancement from increased delivery of substrates and oxygen. The acute timing and capsule form of PE may be advantageous to athletic populations due to ergogenic effects, taste, and convenience.

Effects of pomegranate supplementation on exercise performance and post-exercise recovery in healthy adults: a systematic review

“…A total of eleven studies (17)(18)(19)(25)(26)(27)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the current systematic review. The studies examined either the effects of POM intake on exercise performance and/or exercise-induced fatigue, soreness, muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and cardiovascular function.…”

“…Further measures completed to assess the physiological effects of POM supplementation included RPE (18) , perceptions of DOMS (17,18,25) and pain and vitality scales (28) , which are presented with performance in Table 1. Concerning the acute (up to 2 h) and delayed (at least 24/48 h) responses to exercise, four studies assessed the acute and delayed performance and/or physiological responses (17)(18)(19)25) , five studies only assessed the acute responses (27,32,(34)(35)(36) , while two studies (26,33) only assessed the delayed responses.…”

“…These eleven studies targeted healthy adult participants of varying fitness status. In all, four studies recruited recreationally- (25,33,34) to highly- (32) active participants (total n 100 participants), four studies (17)(18)(19)35) recruited resistance trained participants (n 54 participants) and three studies (26,27,36) recruited endurance trained athletes (total n 74).…”

Effects of natural polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice on the acute and delayed response of Homocysteine and steroidal hormones following weightlifting exercises: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…Since POM supplementation has the potential to enhance physiological responses of people manifesting symptoms of physiological stress [5][6][7][8][9], and as intensive physical exercise is a potent and multifaceted physiological stressor [20][21][22][23], previous reports have suggested POM supplementation as an effective ergogenic and recovery aid for athletic populations [24,25]. The effectiveness of POM supplementation on exercise performance and post-exercise recovery has been shown by numerous studies [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. Indeed, POM supplementation appears to hold potential as a nutritional aid to enhance performance during and alleviate muscle fatigue and soreness following endurance [27][28][29] and strength [10,24,25,31] exercise.…”

“…The effectiveness of POM supplementation on exercise performance and post-exercise recovery has been shown by numerous studies [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. Indeed, POM supplementation appears to hold potential as a nutritional aid to enhance performance during and alleviate muscle fatigue and soreness following endurance [27][28][29] and strength [10,24,25,31] exercise. POM also appears to enhance post exercise recovery of skeletal muscle function during different type of exercises [11] by attenuating muscle damage following weightlifting exercise [10], promoting antioxidant defenses following exhaustive strength exercises [26] and aerobic based-exercises [30,32,33], mitigating inflammation during exhaustive running exercise [32] and enhancing cardiovascular function during strength [10,30] and treadmill running exercise [29].…”