Supplementation of 100% Flesh Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai] Juice Improves Swimming Performance in Rats.

Abstract

Nutritional intervention of fruit juice supplementation is able to maximize exercise performance. Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai] contains high L-citrulline content and consumption of watermelon juice may promote ergogenic effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of 100% flesh watermelon juice and 100% rind watermelon juice supplementation for 14 days on swimming performance in rats. Twenty four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Cx group of rats supplemented with filtered tap water (negative control), L-cit group of rats supplemented with L-citrulline (positive control), FR group of rats supplemented with 100% flesh watermelon juice, and RR group of rats supplemented with 100% rind watermelon juice. Each group was supplemented for 14 days ad libitum prior to swimming exercise protocol. The rats were performed swimming exercise for 3 days and swimming time until exhaustion was measured. Plasma samples were collected to measure lactate concentration, ammonia concentration, and nitric oxide production. Rats supplemented with 100% flesh watermelon juice demonstrated significantly prolonged of swimming time until exhaustion, reduction of lactate and ammonia concentrations, and increased of nitric oxide production compared to Cx and L-cit groups (P<0.05). These findings postulate that supplementation with 100% flesh watermelon juice improves endurance in swimming performance.

Jus kombinasi semangka kuning (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) - pisang raja (Musa acuminata x Musa balbisiana) meningkatkan endurance dalam aktifitas aerobik

“…Dalam 100 g buah semangka kurang lebih terkandung 10,82 g karbohidrat, 91% air, dan 182 mg kalium (Kardina, 2021). Bagian mesokarp (bagian berwarna putih, antara daging buah dan kulit) mengandung kurang lebih 45.02 mg/g sitrulin sementara bagian daging buah mengandung kurang lebih 43,81 mg/g sitrulin (Ridwan et al, 2019). Kandungan sitrulin pada semangka kuning lebih tinggi dibandingkan semangka merah (Duran Barón et al, 2021).…”

The acute supplementation of combination juice of yellow watermelon (citrullus lanatus thunb.) - plantain (musa paradisiacal var. Sapientum l.) suppress post-exercise blood lactic acid production in rats

“…7 The rind watermelon juice contains 45.02 mg/g Lcitrulline and flesh watermelon juice contains 43.81 mg/g. 8 Rind watermelon juice contains a higher L-citrulline content compared to flesh watermelon, and L-citrulline in yellow watermelons is higher than red watermelons. 9 Nevertheless, the findings may suggest that both flesh and rind watermelon juices potentially offer similar benefits to pure L-citrulline for improving exercise performance.…”

“…10 A study by Ridwan, et al, showed that supplementation with 100% flesh watermelon juice improves endurance in swimming performance in rats. 8 Another type of fruit that has a beneficial effect as nutritional ergogenics is plantain. Plantain is one type of banana fruit, contains about 31.15 g of carbohydrates and 564 mg potassium.…”

“…16 Ridwan et al, who reported that supplementation with 100% flesh watermelon juice improves endurance in swimming performance did the experiment in the longer term to avert such drawbacks. 8 Nevertheless, this study design used acute term supplementation by considering that the nutritional ergogenics from both the fruits will give the effect in a short period. This study used rats as subjects not in athletes directly, because the formula with the best effect has not been found.…”

The Consumption of Yellow Watermelon-plantain Juice before Anaerobic Exercise Improves Blood Glucose and Suppresses Oxidative Stress Formation in Rats

“…Both foods have been previously reported to help improve exercise and training performance after ingestion. Plantain and yellow watermelon were known for endurance training improvement and muscle fatigue index due to their high citrulline contents [7], [8] However, not many studies have analyzed the effect of combined yellow watermelon-plantain juice toward blood glucose level and antioxidant effect during exercise.…”