Polyphenols are bioactive compounds extracted from botanicals. Their biological effects have been largely attributed to antioxidant properties; however, recent data suggests that polyphenols can exert modulatory action and improve not only the metabolic function but also individual performance.
This abstract focuses on the benefits of three polyphenol-based ingredients to fulfill athletes’ specific requirements in their sport’s practice: performance, endurance and recovery. In collaboration with the Research Center of High Performance Sport of the University of Murcia (Spain), randomised and double-blind clinical trials were run by Fytexia.
PerfLoad®
A crossover study was conducted to evaluate whether PerfLoad, could improve physical performance during high-intensity exercise in anaerobic conditions. The effect of this ingredient formulated from grape, pomegranate and green tea extract was investigated on 15 recreationally-active males.
Supplementation with PerfLoad was correlated with a significant increase in total power output (5 percent), maximal peak power (3.7 percent) and average power developed (5 percent), without inducing higher fatigue or raising the heart rate.
Such results demonstrated that PerfLoad can be a natural and efficient solution to help athletes improve their physical performance while balancing their metabolism and reducing exercise-induced oxidative stress.
BurntoRun®
A clinical investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of an eight-week aerobic training program associated with a supplementation. BurntoRun is an ingredient composed of orange, grapefruit and guarana extracts combined with L-carnitine. The placebo-controlled study run on 21 recreationally-active men consisted of a pre-testing session followed by eight weeks of aerobic training with supplementation. A post-testing session was assessed to measure maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) and resting energy expenditure (REE).
The results reveal that VO2max significantly increased in the supplemented population (6 percent) whereas no changes occurred in placebo group. Also, the use of carbohydrate and fat substrates evolved in opposite ways for REE production between both groups: lipid energy production increased by 7.8 percent in the supplemented group while carbohydrate energy production decreased respectively by 8.3%.
BurntoRun improved maximal aerobic capacity. It also increased mobilisation and utilisation of stored fats with possibly beneficial effects on glycogen depletion-caused fatigue.
TensLess®
High-intensity exercise is known to cause delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), a multifactorial process associated with clinical features that limit range of motion: athletes seek effective recovery strategies to optimise future training sessions.
TensLess is formulated with extracts of mangosteen, elderberry and pomegranate, as a natural solution to help manage post-exercise recovery. A crossover study on 18 recreationally-active subjects was run to determinate the effects of TensLess on the management of DOMS and on the reduction of muscle-damage biomarkers following exercise.
Supplementation with TensLess induced a significant decrease in DOMS as early as the first day following physical exercise (-33 percent); this was correlated with the lower release of muscle damage-associated biomarkers, namely creatine kinase, creatinine and myoglobin, for the whole length of the recovery period. TensLess preserved myocytes and reduced soreness, and, accordingly, significantly shortened muscle recovery.
Polyphenols may provide significant benefits for both fitness enthusiasts and athletes at every stage of their sports training session.
Julian Cases is director of Innovation and Scientific Affairs at Fytexia.
