Effect of an antioxidant functional food beverage on exercise-induced oxidative stress: a long-term and large-scale clinical intervention study

From Food Supplements to Functional Foods: Emerging Perspectives on Post-Exercise Recovery Nutrition

Effective post-exercise recovery is vital for optimizing athletic performance, focusing on muscle repair, glycogen replenishment, rehydration, and inflammation management. This review explores the evolving trend from traditional supplements, such as protein, carbohydrates, creatine, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), toward functional foods rich in bioactive compounds. Evidence highlights the benefits of functional foods like tart cherry juice (anthocyanins), turmeric-seasoned foods, and sources of omega-3 fatty acids, including fish, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts, for mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, probiotics and prebiotics support gut health and immune function, which are integral to effective recovery. Personalized nutrition, informed by genetic and metabolic profiling, is examined as a promising approach to tailor recovery strategies. A systematic search across PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (2000-2024) identified studies with high empirical rigor and relevance to recovery outcomes. Findings underscore the need for further research into nutrient interactions, dosage optimization, and long-term effects on athletic performance. Integrating functional foods with personalized nutrition presents a comprehensive framework for enhanced recovery, greater resilience to physical stress, and sustained performance in athletes.

Enhancing Supplemental Effects of Acute Natural Antioxidant Derived from Yeast Fermentation and Vitamin C on Sports Performance in Triathlon Athletes: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial

This study investigated the acute effects of natural antioxidants, derived from yeast fermentation containing glutathione and dietary vitamin C supplementation, on metabolic function, skeletal muscle oxygenation, cardiac function, and antioxidant function during submaximal exercise in middle-aged triathlon athletes. Twelve participants (aged 49.42 ± 5.9 years) completed 90 min submaximal cycling trials corresponding to 70% maximal oxygen uptake with either vitamin C and glutathione (VitC+Glu), vitamin C (VitC), glutathione (Glu) supplementation, or placebo. Metabolic function (minute ventilation, oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output [VCO2], respiratory exchange ratio [RER], oxygen pulse [O2pulse], carbohydrate oxidation, fat oxidation, and energy expenditure), skeletal muscle oxygenation (oxidized hemoglobin and myoglobin in skeletal muscle tissue, total hemoglobin and myoglobin in skeletal muscle tissue [tHb]), cardiac function (heart rate [HR], stroke volume [SV], cardiac output, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and ejection fraction), and antioxidant function parameters (blood lactate, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione [GSH], diacron reactive oxygen metabolite [dROM], and biological antioxidant potential [BAP]) were measured during submaximal exercise and recovery. VCO2, RER, HR, blood lactate after exercise, and dROM were significantly lower, and O2pulse, tHb, and BAP were significantly higher for VitC+Glu than for the other trials (p < 0.05). In conclusion, combined vitamin C and glutathione supplementation was more effective in improving metabolic function, skeletal oxygenation, cardiac function, and antioxidant function during prolonged submaximal exercise in middle-aged triathletes.

Regular exercise combined with ferulic acid exhibits antiobesity effect and regulates metabolic profiles in high-fat diet-induced mice

Exercise (Ex) has been recognized as an effective way of obesity prevention, but it shows a dual effect on the body's antioxidant system. Ferulic acid (FA) is a kind of phenolic acid with well-known antioxidant capacity and numerous health benefits. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare the antiobesity effect of Ex, FA, and Ex combined with FA (Ex-FA) in vivo and to illustrate the potential mechanisms. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) with or without administration of Ex, FA, and Ex-FA for 13 weeks. The body weight, antioxidant ability, Ex performance, and lipid profiles in the serum, liver, and skeletal muscle were compared among the groups, and serum metabolomics analysis was conducted. The results showed that Ex, FA, and Ex-FA exhibited a similar effect on body weight management. Ex had a more beneficial function by alleviating HFD-induced dyslipidemia than FA, while FA exerted a more efficient effect in mitigating lipid deposition in the liver and skeletal muscle. Ex-FA showed comprehensive effects in the regulation of the lipid contents in serum, liver, and skeletal muscle, and provoked enhancement effects on antioxidant ability and Ex capacity. Mice administered with Ex, FA, and Ex-FA showed different metabolic profiles, which might be achieved through different metabolic pathways. The findings of this research implied that Ex coupled with FA could become an effective and safe remedy for the management of dietary-induced obesity.

Characterization and Validation of an "Acute Aerobic Exercise Load" as a Tool to Assess Antioxidative and Anti-inflammatory Nutrition in Healthy Subjects Using a Statistically Integrated Approach in a Comprehensive Clinical Trial

The homeostatic challenge may provide unique opportunities for quantitative assessment of the health-promoting effects of nutritional interventions in healthy individuals. Objective. The present study is aimed at characterizing and validating the use of acute aerobic exercise (AAE) on a treadmill at 60% of VO_2max for 30 min, in assessing the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of a nutritional intervention. In a controlled, randomized, parallel trial of Korean black raspberry (KBR) (n = 24/group), fasting blood and urine samples collected before and following the AAE load at either baseline or 4-week follow-up were analyzed for biochemical markers, ¹H-NMR metabolomics, and transcriptomics. The AAE was characterized using the placebo data only, and either the placebo or the treatment data were used in the validation. The AAE load generated a total of 50 correlations of 44 selected markers, based on Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis of 105 differential markers. Subsequent mapping of selected markers onto the KEGG pathway dataset showed 127 pathways relevant to the AAE load. Of these, 54 pathways involving 18 key targets were annotated to be related to oxidative stress and inflammation. The biochemical responses were amplified with the AAE load as compared to those with no load, whereas, the metabolomic and transcriptomic responses were downgraded. Furthermore, target-pathway network analysis revealed that the AAE load provided more explanations on how KBR exerted antioxidant effects in healthy subjects (29 pathways involving 12 key targets with AAE vs. 12 pathways involving 2 key targets without AAE). This study provides considerable insight into the molecular changes incurred by AAE and furthers our understanding that AAE-induced homeostatic perturbation could magnify oxidative and inflammatory responses, thereby providing a unique opportunity to test functional foods for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory purposes in clinical settings with healthy subjects.

Suppression of DNA/RNA and protein oxidation by dietary supplement which contains plant extracts and vitamins: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background

Excessive oxidative stress may impair bio-molecules and cellular function. Multi antioxidant supplementation is thought to be more effective than a single antioxidant probably through the synergistic or complementary action of natural substances that could enhance the prospective effect.

Methods

In order to estimate the effect of a plant extract based supplement in apparently healthy volunteers’ oxidative stress markers, a double-blind and placebo controlled intervention was performed. 62 apparently healthy volunteers, overweight with medium adherence to the Mediterranean diet, were recruited and randomly allocated into two intervention groups (supplement or placebo) for 8 weeks. Basic biochemical markers, oxidized LDL (oxLDL), resistance of serum in oxidation, protein carbonyls in serum and 8-isoprostane and DNA/RNA damage in urine were measured.

Results

No differentiation was observed in basic biochemical markers, in oxLDL levels as well as in serum resistance against oxidation, during intervention in the examined groups. A significant resistance regarding urine isoprostanes levels in the supplement group compared to the placebo one, was observed. Reduction on DNA/RNA damage and on protein carbonyls levels (almost 30% and 20% respectively, at 8 weeks) was detected in volunteers who consumed the supplement compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Consumption of plant extract based supplement seems to reduce DNA/RNA and protein oxidation and in less extent lipids peroxidation.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier for this study is: NCT02837107.

Consumption of açai (Euterpe oleraceaMart.) functional beverage reduces muscle stress and improves effort tolerance in elite athletes: a randomized controlled intervention study

The study analyzed the effect of an açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) functional beverage (AB) on muscle and oxidative stress markers, cardiorespiratory responses, perceived exertion, and time-to-exhaustion during maximal treadmill running. The beverage was developed as an ergogenic aid for athletes and contained 27.6 mg of anthocyanins per dose. Fourteen athletes performed 3 exercise tests: a ramp-incremental maximal exercise test and 2 maximal exercise bouts performed in 2 conditions (AB and without AB (control)) at 90% maximal oxygen uptake.Blood was collected at baseline and after maximal exercise in both conditions to determine biomarkers. AB increased time to exhaustion during short-term high-intensity exercise (mean difference: 69 s, 95% confidence interval = –296 s to 159 s, t = 2.2, p = 0.045), attenuating the metabolic stress induced by exercise (p < 0.05). AB also reduced perceived exertion and enhanced cardiorespiratory responses (p < 0.05). The AB may be a useful and practical ergogenic aid to enhance performance during high-intensity training.

Effects of repeated bouts of long-duration endurance exercise on muscle and urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in moderately trained cyclists

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of repeated bouts of long-duration endurance exercise on both muscle and urinary levels of oxidative DNA damage in moderately trained individuals. Seven moderately trained male cyclists participated in this study. All participants repeated two sessions consisting of a 5-h cycling period (equivalent to approximately 52%[Formula: see text]O2peak) followed by a 15-h rest, then a 40-km time trial. During the sessions, participants were instructed to take water ad libitum and to consume a standard sports drink consisting of 0.12 g·kg(-1) body weight·hr(-1) of carbohydrates. For each session, 24 h urine output was collected on the day before the 5-h exercise, and also between the 5-h exercise and 40-km time trial, in addition to between days 1-5 post-exercise. Subsequently, muscle and urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2'- deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were determined using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. No significant alterations were observed between two sessions at the muscle or urinary levels of 8-OHdG. These results suggest that repeated bouts of exercise with a 7-day washout period may not lead to an accumulation of DNA damage products after a second 5-h stationary cycling bout.

Tai chi improves oxidative stress response and DNA damage/repair in young sedentary females

[Purpose] This study was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of Tai Chi (TC) exercise on antioxidant capacity, and DNA damage/repair in young females who did not perform regular physical exercise. [Subjects and Methods] Ten female students from a Chinese university voluntarily participated in this program. All of them practiced the 24-form simplified Tai Chi, 5 times weekly, for 12 weeks. Plasma levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), hydroxyl radical inhibiting capacity (OH·-IC), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) were measured at 0, 8, and 12 weeks. Heart rate (HR) was monitored during the last set of the training session at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. [Results] Plasma SOD and OH·-IC levels were increased at 8 and 12 weeks compared to the baseline (0 weeks). Gpx and GSH levels did not change significantly throughout the study period. The plasma MDA level was decreased significantly at 8 weeks but not at 12 weeks compared to the baseline value. While the plasma 8-OHdG level did not change throughout the study period, the plasma OGG1 level was significantly increased at 8 and 12 weeks compared to the baseline value. [Conclusion] TC practice for 12 weeks efficiently improved the oxidative stress response in young females who did not perform regular physical exercise. The TC exercise also increased the DNA repairing capacity.

Effects of the consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated instant coffee beverages on oxidative stress induced by strenuous exercise in rats

Many authors attribute the antioxidant activity of brewed coffee to its caffeine content. In addition, caffeine intake has been associated with increased performance during physical exercise. This study analyzed the in vivo effects of drinking caffeinated and decaffeinated instant coffee (8%, w/v) on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity in the anterior tibialis muscles of rats subjected to intense exercise. It was observed that exercise induced lipid peroxidation (estimated using malondialdehyde) and protein oxidation (evaluated by determining the formation of carbonyl groups) in the muscle (P < 0.05). Decaffeinated instant coffee and caffeine solution did not exhibit antioxidant activity in vivo. Caffeinated instant coffee beverage intake did not induce changes in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities but was able to diminish lipid and protein oxidation in the anterior tibialis muscles of rats after exercise (P < 0.05), contributing to a reduction in the oxidative stress triggered by exercise.