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

© The Authors 2018. The functional significance of pomegranate (POM) supplementation on physiological responses during and following exercise is currently unclear. This systematic review aimed (i) to evaluate the existing literature assessing the effects of POM supplementation on exercise performance and recovery; exercise-induced muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation; and cardiovascular function in healthy adults and (ii) to outline the experimental conditions in which POM supplementation is more or less likely to benefit exercise performance and/or recovery. Multiple electronic databases were used to search for studies examining the effects of POM intake on physiological responses during and/or following exercise in healthy adult. Articles were included in the review if they investigated the effects of an acute or chronic POM supplementation on exercise performance, recovery and/or physiological responses during or following exercise. The existing evidence suggests that POM supplementation has the potential to confer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects during and following exercise, to improve cardiovascular responses during exercise, and to enhance endurance and strength performance and post-exercise recovery. However, the beneficial effects of POM supplementation appeared to be less likely when (i) unilateral eccentric exercise was employed, (ii) the POM administered was not rich in polyphenols (<1·69 g/l) and (iii) insufficient time was provided between POM-ingestion and the assessment of physiological responses/performance (≤1 h). The review indicates that POM has the potential to enhance exercise performance and to expedite recovery from intensive exercise. The findings and recommendations from this review may help to optimise POM-supplementation practice in athletes and coaches to potentially improve exercise-performance and post-exercise recovery

Effects of playing surface on physical, physiological and perceptual responses to a repeated sprint ability test: natural grass versus artificial turf

Purpose: The effect of playing surface on physical performance during a repeated sprint ability (RSA) test, and the mechanisms for any potential playing-surface-dependent effects on RSA performance, is equivocal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of natural grass (NG) and artificial turf (AT) on physical performance, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), feeling scale (FS) and blood biomarkers related to anaerobic contribution [lactate (Lac)], muscle damage [creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)], inflammation [c-reactive protein (CRP)] and immune function [neutrophils (NEU), lymphocytes (LYM) and monocytes (MON)] in response to a RSA test. Methods: Nine male professional football players from the same regional team completed two sessions of RSA testing (6 × 30 s interspersed by 35 s recovery) on NG and AT in a randomized order. During the RSA test, total (sum of distances) and peak (highest distance covered in a single repetition) distance covered were determined using a measuring tape and the decrement in sprinting performance from the first to the last repetition was calculated. Before and after the RSA test, RPE, FS, and blood [Lac], [CK], [LDH], [CRP], [NEU], [LYM] and [MON] were recorded in both NG and AT conditions. Results: Although physical performance declined during the RSA blocks on both surfaces (p=0.001), the distance covered declined more on NG (15%) compared to AT [11%; p=0.04, ES=-0.34, 95% CI (-1.21, 0.56)] with a higher total distance covered (+6 ± 2%) on AT [p=0.018, ES=1.15, 95% CI (0.16, 2.04)]. In addition, lower RPE [p=0.04, ES=-0.49, 95% CI (-1.36, 0.42)] and blood [Lac], [NEU] and [LYM] [p=0.03; ES=-0.80, 95% CI (-1.67, 0.14); ES=-0.16, 95% CI (-1.03, 0.72) and ES=-0.94, 95% CI (-1.82, 0.02), respectively)] and more positive feelings [p=0.02, ES=0.81, 95%CI (-0.13, 1.69)] were observed following the RSA test performed on AT compared to NG. No differences were observed in the remaining physical and blood markers. Conclusion: These findings suggest that RSA performance is enhanced on AT compared to NG. This effect was accompanied by lower fatigue perception and blood [Lac], [NEU] and [LYM], and a more pleasurable feeling. These observations might have implications for physical performance in intermittent team sports athletes who train and compete on different playing surfaces

Effects of pomegranate juice supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers following weightlifting exercise

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that pomegranate juice supplementation would blunt acute and delayed oxidative stress responses after a weightlifting training session. Nine elite weightlifters (21.0 ±1 years) performed two Olympic-Weightlifting sessions after ingesting either the placebo or pomegranate juice supplements. Venous blood samples were collected at rest and 3 min and 48 h after each session. Compared to the placebo condition, pomegranate juice supplementation attenuated the increase in malondialdehyde (-12.5%; p < 0.01) and enhanced the enzymatic (+8.6% for catalase and +6.8% for glutathione peroxidase; p < 0.05) and non-enzymatic (+12.6% for uric acid and +5.7% for total bilirubin; p < 0.01) antioxidant responses shortly (3 min) after completion of the training session. Additionally, during the 48 h recovery period, pomegranate juice supplementation accelerated (p < 0.05) the recovery kinetics of the malondialdehyde (5.6%) and the enzymatic antioxidant defenses compared to the placebo condition (9 to 10%). In conclusion, supplementation with pomegranate juice has the potential to attenuate oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant responses assessed acutely and up to 48 h following an intensive weightlifting training session. Therefore, elite weightlifters might benefit from blunted oxidative stress responses following intensive weightlifting sessions, which could have implications for recovery between training sessions

Experimental design.

<p><i>NB</i>: the pre sessions 1 and 2 values correspond to values of 48-h recovery; Weightlifting performance was calculated during both test sessions; Acute (RPE) and delayed (DOMS) perceived muscle fatigue and soreness were assessed respectively 3min and 48 after both test sessions.</p

Effect of 48h of recovery period associated to POMj supplementation in the biological responses.

<p>Effect of 48h of recovery period associated to POMj supplementation in the biological responses.</p

Effects of natural polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice supplementation on plasma ion and lipid profiles following resistance exercise: a placebo-controlled trial

Background: Pomegranate juice (POMj) contains abundant soluble polyphenolic antioxidant compounds and is recommended for its cardioprotective/atheroprotective properties. However, very few studies have investigated the efficacy of POMj supplementation to alter physiological responses during intensive physical exercise. This placebo-controlled study aimed to examine whether supplementation with natural polyphenol-rich-POMj could influence the ionic or lipid responses to an intensive resistance training session in elite athletes. Methods: Nine elite weightlifters (21 ± 1 years) performed two Olympic-weightlifting sessions after ingesting placebo and POMj supplements. Venous blood samples were collected at rest and 3 min after each session for assessment of plasma sodium ([Na+]), potassium ([K+]), chloride ([Cl-]), calcium ([Ca2+]), triglyceride ([TG]) and high-density lipoprotein ([HDL-C]), low-density lipoprotein ([HDL-C]) and total ([TC]) cholesterol concentrations. Results: Plasma [K+] and [TG] were lowered post-exercise compared to resting values in the PLA condition (p = 0.03 for K+ and p = 0.02 for TG) with no pre-to-post exercise differences in the other plasma ion and lipid markers (p > 0.05). Compared to rest, plasma [Na+] and [Cl-] were increased (p = 0.04, %change = 4.10% for Na+ and p = 0.02, %change = 4.44% for Cl-), but there were no differences in the other plasma ion or lipid markers post-exercise after POMj supplementation (p > 0.05). Post-exercise plasma [Na+], [Cl-], and [HDL-C] were greater following POMj supplementation compared to PLA (p = 0.01 for Cl-A nd HDL-C, p = 0.02 for Na+, and p = 0.04 for TC), with no between-supplement post-exercise differences in the other ion and lipid markers (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, supplementation with POMj has the potential to attenuate the acute imbalance of plasma [K+] and to improve blood lipid responses (i.e., HDL-C) following resistance exercises in elite weightlifters. However, further large research in both athletic and non-athletic populations is needed to corroborate these preliminary observations and to elucidate the potential underlying mechanisms and translational potential of our novel observations. Trial registration: Name of the registry: ClinicalTrials.gov PRS The registration number: NCT02697903. Date of Registry: 03/03/2016 'Retrospectively registered'. The registration title: Pomegranate Improve Biological Recovery Kinetics in Elite Weightlifter. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: See fulltext.

RPE values using Placebo and natural POMj supplementations.

<p>*: Significant differences between PLA and POMj conditions.</p

Acute biological responses to weightlifting training sessions using natural POMj and PLA supplementations.

<p>Acute biological responses to weightlifting training sessions using natural POMj and PLA supplementations.</p

Calculated performances with PLA and natural POMj supplementations.

<p>*:Significant differences between PLA and POMj conditions.</p

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

Background: Maximal strength-speed exercise is a powerful stimulus to acutely increase concentrations of circulating steroid hormones and homocysteine [Hcy]. There is some evidence that antioxidant beverages rich in polyphenols can attenuate [Hcy] levels and modulate endocrine responses in favor of an anabolic environment. Polyphenols-rich pomegranate (POM) have been reported to possess one of the highest antioxidant capacities compared to other purported nutraceuticals and other food stuffs. Studies focused on proving the beneficial effect of POM consumption during maximal strength exercises have only measured physical performance, muscle damage, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, while POM effects on [Hcy] and hormonal adaptations are lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of consuming natural polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice (POMj) on the acute and delayed [Hcy] and steroidal hormonal responses to a weightlifting exercises session. Methods: Nine elite weightlifters (21.0 ± 1 years) performed two Olympic-weightlifting sessions after ingesting either the placebo (PLA) or POMj supplements. Venous blood samples were collected at rest and 3 min and 48 h after each session. Results: Compared to baseline values, circulating cortisol [C] decreased (p < 0.01) and testosterone/cortisol [T/C] ratio increased immediately following the training session in both PLA and POMj conditions (p = 0.003 for PLA and p = 0.02 for POM). During the 48 h recovery period, all tested parameters were shown to recover to baseline values in both conditions with significant increases in [C] and decreases in [T/C] (p < 0.01 for PLA and p < 0.05 for POMj) from 3 min to 48 h post-exercises. Compared to PLA, a lower level of plasma testosterone [T] was registered 3 min post exercise using POMj supplementation (p = 0.012) and a significant decrease (p = 0.04, %change =-14%) in plasma [Hcy] was registered during the 48 h recovery period only using POMj. A moderate correlation was observed between [Hcy] and [T] responses (p = 0.002, r =-0.50). Conclusion: In conclusion, supplementation with POMj has the potential to attenuate the acute plasma [T] response, but did not effect 48 h recovery kinetics of [Hcy] following weightlifting exercise. Further studies investigating androgen levels in both plasma and muscular tissue are needed to resolve the functional consequences of the observed acute POMj effect on plasma [T]. Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov, ID: NCT02697903. Registered 03 March 2016