Effects of supplementation with acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) berry-based juice blend on the blood antioxidant defence capacity and lipid profile in junior hurdlers. A pilot study

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine whether regular consumption of an acai berry-based juice blend would affect sprint performance and improve blood antioxidant status and lipid profile in junior athletes. Seven junior hurdlers (17.5±1.2 years) taking part in a pre-season conditioning camp were supplemented once a day, for six weeks, with 100 ml of the juice blend. At the start and the end of the camp the athletes performed a 300-m sprint running test on an outdoor track. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after the test and after 1 h of recovery. Blood antioxidant status was evaluated based on activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px], glutathione reductase [GR]), concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione [GSH], uric acid), total plasma polyphenols, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and activities of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as muscle damage markers. In order to evaluate potential health benefits of the acai berry, the post-treatment changes in lipid profile parameters (triglycerides, cholesterol and its fractions) were analysed. Six weeks’ consumption of acai berry-based juice blend had no effect on sprint performance, but it led to a marked increase in the total antioxidant capacity of plasma, attenuation of the exercise-induced muscle damage, and a substantial improvement of serum lipid profile. These findings strongly support the view of the health benefits of supplementation with the acai berry-based juice blend, mainly attributed to its high total polyphenol content and the related high in vivo antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic activities of this supplement.

Effect of 12-Week Interventions Involving Nordic Walking Exercise and a Modified Diet on the Anthropometric Parameters and Blood Lipid Profiles in Overweight and Obese Ex-Coal Miners

“…As the AIP values were consistently falling over the period of the intervention, at week 6 the risk dropped to moderate and at week 12 it dropped to low. The ability of regular PA to improve the AIP has also been reported by authors of studies with physically active subjects without lipid disorders [47][48][49].…”

Effects and Mechanisms of Fruit and Vegetable Juices on Cardiovascular Diseases

“…Serum lipid profile (triglycerides, cholesterol, and its fractions) was substantially improved after the intervention. The improving blood lipids effects of the juice blend were mainly in relation to the high content of total polyphenol [65]. Additionally, the effects of cloudy apple juice with vitamin C on serum cholesterol were investigated.…”

Blueberry Consumption Affects Serum Uric Acid Concentrations in Older Adults in a Sex-Specific Manner

“…On the one hand, red wine has been shown to acutely increase plasma urate concentrations [12], whereas, on the other hand, dealcoholized red wine has been shown to decrease plasma uric acid concentrations [13]. Similarly, cherry consumption has been shown to reduce SUA concentrations whereas acaiberry had no effects on them [14,15]. Although, to the best of our knowledge, blueberries have not been tested for their effects on SUA and no scientific evidence links them so far, they are thought to be functional foods for curing gout, an inflammatory arthritic disease caused by hyperuricemia, mainly for their anthocyanin content or antioxidant property.…”