Ten young, healthy, physically active male college students were crossed over for AST or placebo supplements randomized into placebo or AST trials and orally consumed placebo or AST (28 mg/d) supplements for four days. Short-term AST supplementation enhanced endurance performance and effectively reversed cycling challenge-induced muscle damage and lipid peroxidation.
AST is composed of two β-ionone ring systems that are linked by a polyene chain and contain oxygenated keto and hydroxyl moieties, which are responsible for its powerful antioxidant activity. AST has been shown to have numerous health benefits in humans, including improved antioxidant and inflammatory status under different stress conditions. Therefore, this study will explore AST supplement to improve exercise-induced muscle damage and/or physiological anomalies in adults. Ten physically active male adults were randomized into placebo or AST trials and consumed placebo or AST (28 mg/d) supplements orally for 4 days. On day-4, participants performed an exhaustive cycling challenge at 75% V̇O2max, and the time to exhaustion (TTE) was recorded. Blood and gaseous samples were collected before, during, and immediately after cycling to determine changes in muscle damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and substrate utilization.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
10
The Placebo capsule supplement was taken for 4 days (7 capsules per day)
The AST capsule supplement was taken for 4 days, with a daily dosage of 28 mg of AST (equivalent to 7 capsules per day, each containing 4 mg of AST).
China Medical University
Taichung, Taiwan
Time to Exhaustion Exercise
Investigators conducted a double-blind test, where volunteers' basal maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was measured both before the intervention. The pretest VO2max is a reference to adjust the exercise intensity for each individual. To assess exhaustive endurance, participants exercised at 75% of their VO2max, and the cycling time from the start to the point of exhaustion was recorded.
Time frame: 21 days
Clinical Biochemistry of muscle damage biomarkers and blood glucose
Blood samples were collected at five different time points (one hour before (B), at the beginning (0 min), during (20 min, 40 min), and immediately (E) after the exhaustive cycling exercise challenge. Changes in blood glucose levels were estimated using blood from the fingertips via an Accu-Chek® Guide blood glucose glucometer (Roche, Mannheim, Germany). Muscle damage biomarkers, including creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and uric acid (UA), were measured in the serum. The CK (EC2.7.3.2), LDH (EC 1.1.1.27), and UA (C97792) concentrations were estimated using commercial analytical reagents (Beckman Coulter). An automated clinical chemistry analyzer was used to measure CK and LDH levels on a Beckman Coulter AU5800 (Beckman Coulter Inc., CA, USA).
Time frame: 21 days
Clinical Biochemistry of total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation
Blood samples were collected at five different time points (one hour before (B), at the beginning (0 min), during (20 min, 40 min), and immediately (E) after the exhaustive cycling exercise challenge. The scavenging ability of antioxidants (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, Trolox) was determined using a curve, and the amount of Trolox equivalent to the test serum's inhibition rate was calculated. Next, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a standard biomarker of lipid peroxidation, was determined by an ELISA kit provided by the Caman Company (Cayman Chemical Company, Michigan, USA). As described in the protocol, the reaction mixture was boiled at 90-100°C for 60 min, and the absorbance at 550 nm was measured using an ELISA plate reader (Tecan GENios, A-5082, Austria). The values are expressed as micromoles of MDA per liter.
Time frame: 21 days
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Clinical Biochemistry of the inflammatory response
Blood samples were collected at five different time points (one hour before (B), at the beginning (0 min), during (20 min, 40 min), and immediately (E) after the exhaustive cycling exercise challenge. According to the manufacturer's instructions, the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was analyzed with a commercial ELISA kit (BioLegend, San Diego, CA). An enzyme immunoassay read The absorbance at 450 nm within 15 minutes (Tecan GENios, A-5082, Austria). Concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured using a human ELISA kit (E-80CRP, Immunology Consultants Laboratory, Inc., Newberg, OR, USA). The sample absorbance was read at 450 nm within 30 min.
Time frame: 21 days
Assessment of the profile of mood state (POMS)
POMS brief was chosen for this study to evaluate the mood of individuals. After the TTE, participants completed the form, and their responses were analyzed using simple statistics. The results were shown in six dimensions, one positive: (1) vigor; and five negatives: (2) tension, (3) depression, (4) anger, (5) fatigue and (6) confusion.
Time frame: 21 days
Assessment of the RER, fat oxidation rate and carbohydrate oxidation rate
Ggaseous samples were collected at five different time points (one hour before (B), at the beginning (0 min), during (20 min, 40 min), and immediately (E) after the exhaustive cycling exercise challenge.The pulmonary oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) during exercise were used to determine metabolic substrate utilization. The gaseous exchange ratio during exercise reflects the relative contributions of carbohydrates and fat to energy metabolism. The RER was calculated by dividing the VCO2 value by the VO2 value (RER =(VCO2)⁄(VO2 )). The fat oxidation rate was calculated using the following equation: Fat oxidation rate=1.695×VO2-1.701×VCO2 ). Similarly, the carbohydrate oxidation rate was calculated using the following equation: Carbohydrate oxidation rate=4.585×VCO2-3.226×VO2
Time frame: 21 days