Abstract

BACKGROUND

Garlic extract has been shown to enhance antioxidant and anti-inflammation activities in humans. The present study investigated the effects of garlic supplementation on 40-km cycling time trial performance, exercise-induced oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses in healthy adults.

METHODS

Eleven healthy males were recruited to perform this single-blind crossover study. Participants were randomly assigned to either garlic (garlic extracts 1000 mg/d for 4 weeks) or placebo trials. Following 4-wks of supplementation, participants performed a 40-km cycling challenge. Total cycling performance time and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were recorded. Blood samples were collected every 10 km to determine exercise-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and muscle damage.

RESULTS

The 40-km cycling time trial performance was not improved following 4 weeks of garlic supplementation. However, 4-wk garlic supplementation significantly increased whole-body antioxidant capacity (total antioxidant capacity, TAC), and subsequently attenuated MDA, TNF-α, and LDH during the 40-km cycling exercise period (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the blood biomarkers glucose, NEFA, IL-6, UA, and CK respectively. The respiratory exchange ratio was similar between garlic and placebo trials.

CONCLUSION

Four-week oral garlic supplementation attenuates exercise-induced oxidative inflammation and muscle damage during a 40-km bout of cycling. However, it appeared that 4-wk oral garlic had no ergogenic effect on cycling performance in healthy males.

Details

Title
Garlic supplementation attenuates cycling exercise-induced oxidative inflammation but fails to improve time trial performance in healthy adults
Author
Jung-Piao Tsao 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Bernard, Jeffrey R 2 ; Tse-Hsin Tu 3 ; Hsiu-Chen Hsu 4 ; Chia-Chen, Chang 5 ; Su-Fen Liao 6 ; I-Shiung, Cheng 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

1  China Medical University, Department of Sports Medicine, Taichung, Taiwan 
2  California State University, Department of Kinesiology and Public Health Promotion, Turlock, CA, USA 
3  National Taichung University of Education, Department of Physical Education, Taichung, Taiwan 
4  Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Physical Education Office, Taichung, Taiwan 
5  National Dong Hwa University, Center for Physical Education, College of Huilan, Hualien, Taiwan 
6  Changhua Christian Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hualien, Taiwan; National Chung Hsing University, Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, Taichung, Taiwan 
Publication year
2023
Publication date
Dec 2023
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd.
e-ISSN
1550-2783
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/15502783.2023.2206809
ProQuest document ID
3106347259
Copyright
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.