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Nutrition-Based Strategies to Reduce Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Soreness

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (18 November 2022) | Viewed by 53200

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, Massey University, Palmerston North 4472, New Zealand
Interests: exercise; sports performance; dietary; nutrition; muscle damage; resistance training
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

An extensively researched phenomenon, exercise-induced muscle damage typically results in localised soreness, inflammation and decrements in muscle function, which may impact subsequent exercise performance and adherence. Extensive research has been carried out to identify modalities that aid recovery from this muscle damage, including the use of a variety of foods and supplements. While various nutritional strategies have shown the potential to alleviate symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage, there is considerable scope to better understand the efficacy of novel and commonly consumed foods and supplements, including whole foods and extracts, as well as identifying optimal dosing and timing, cellular mechanisms, and functional outcomes.

Therefore, this Special Issue is seeking original articles and reviews that focus on how nutritional strategies influence the responses to and outcomes of exercise-induced muscle damage.

Dr. Matthew Barnes
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • delayed onset muscle soreness
  • inflammation
  • eccentric exercise
  • muscle damage
  • muscle injury
  • sports nutrition
  • recovery
  • dietary supplements
  • sports

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 174 KiB  
Editorial
Nutrition-Based Strategies to Reduce Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Soreness
by Matthew J. Barnes
Nutrients 2023, 15(11), 2523; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112523 - 29 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2548
Abstract
Exercise induced-muscle damage (EIMD) occurs after strenuous and/or novel exercise that involves repeated eccentric contractions [...] Full article

Research

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13 pages, 1573 KiB  
Article
Mechanistic Understanding of D-Glucaric Acid to Support Liver Detoxification Essential to Muscle Health Using a Computational Systems Biology Approach
by V. A. Shiva Ayyadurai, Prabhakar Deonikar and Christine Fields
Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030733 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3401
Abstract
Liver and muscle health are intimately connected. Nutritional strategies that support liver detoxification are beneficial to muscle recovery. Computational–in silico–molecular systems’ biology analysis of supplementation of calcium and potassium glucarate salts and their metabolite D-glucaric acid (GA) reveals their positive effect on mitigation [...] Read more.
Liver and muscle health are intimately connected. Nutritional strategies that support liver detoxification are beneficial to muscle recovery. Computational–in silico–molecular systems’ biology analysis of supplementation of calcium and potassium glucarate salts and their metabolite D-glucaric acid (GA) reveals their positive effect on mitigation of liver detoxification via four specific molecular pathways: (1) ROS production, (2) deconjugation, (3) apoptosis of hepatocytes, and (4) β-glucuronidase synthesis. GA improves liver detoxification by downregulating hepatocyte apoptosis, reducing glucuronide deconjugates levels, reducing ROS production, and inhibiting β-Glucuronidase enzyme that reduces re-absorption of toxins in hepatocytes. Results from this in silico study provide an integrative molecular mechanistic systems explanation for the mitigation of liver toxicity by GA. Full article
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12 pages, 1332 KiB  
Article
Supplementation with Whey Protein, but Not Pea Protein, Reduces Muscle Damage Following Long-Distance Walking in Older Adults
by Marcia Spoelder, Lotte Koopmans, Yvonne A. W. Hartman, Coen C. W. G. Bongers, Merle C. A. Schoofs, Thijs M. H. Eijsvogels and Maria T. E. Hopman
Nutrients 2023, 15(2), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020342 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5673
Abstract
Background: Adequate animal-based protein intake can attenuate exercise induced-muscle damage (EIMD) in young adults. We examined the effects of 13 days plant-based (pea) protein supplementation compared to whey protein and placebo on EIMD in active older adults. Methods: 47 Physically active [...] Read more.
Background: Adequate animal-based protein intake can attenuate exercise induced-muscle damage (EIMD) in young adults. We examined the effects of 13 days plant-based (pea) protein supplementation compared to whey protein and placebo on EIMD in active older adults. Methods: 47 Physically active older adults (60+ years) were randomly allocated to the following groups: (I) whey protein (25 g/day), (II) pea protein (25 g/day) or (III) iso-caloric placebo. Blood concentrations of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength and muscle soreness were measured prior to and 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after a long-distance walking bout (20–30 km). Results: Participants walked 20–30 km and 2 dropped out, leaving n = 15 per subgroup. The whey group showed a significant attenuation of the increase in EIMD at 24 h post-exercise compared to the pea and placebo group (CK concentration: 175 ± 90 versus 300 ± 309 versus 330 ± 165, p = p < 0.001). No differences in LDH levels, muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass and muscle soreness were observed across groups (all p-values > 0.05). Conclusions: Thirteen days of pea protein supplementation (25 g/day) does not attenuate EIMD in older adults following a single bout of prolonged walking exercise, whereas the whey protein supplementation group showed significantly lower post-exercise CK concentrations. Full article
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17 pages, 1981 KiB  
Article
Live and Heat-Killed Probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 Accelerated the Improvement and Recovery of Strength and Damage Biomarkers after Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage
by Mon-Chien Lee, Chin-Shan Ho, Yi-Ju Hsu and Chi-Chang Huang
Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4563; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214563 - 30 Oct 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6212
Abstract
Excessive, high-intensity or inappropriate exercise may cause muscle damage. How to speed up recovery and reduce exercise discomfort are currently very important issues for athletes and sports people. Past research has shown that probiotics can improve inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as [...] Read more.
Excessive, high-intensity or inappropriate exercise may cause muscle damage. How to speed up recovery and reduce exercise discomfort are currently very important issues for athletes and sports people. Past research has shown that probiotics can improve inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as improve exercise performance and antifatigue. However, further research is needed to confirm the recovery benefits for muscle damage. In this double-blind design study, all subjects were randomly assigned to placebo, a live Lactobacillus paracasei group (L-PS23, 2 × 1010 colony forming unit (CFU)/day), or a heat-killed L. paracasei group (HK-PS23, 2 × 1010 cells/day), and supplemented for six consecutive weeks. Afterwards, subjects completed 100 maximal vertical jumps to bring about exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT), as well as blood tests for markers of muscle damage and inflammation were made pre-exercise and 3, 24, 48 h post exercise. The results show that both L-PS23 and HK-PS23 supplementation significantly slowed the loss of muscle strength after muscle injury, and they significantly reduced the production of markers of muscle damage and inflammation (p < 0.05). In addition, L-PS23 and HK-PS23 had the benefits of accelerating the recovery and improvement of muscle strength, the blood markers of muscle injury and inflammation, and slowing the decline in testosterone concentrations (p < 0.05). Especially in the HK-PS23 supplemented group, there was a better trend. In conclusion, we found that L-PS23 or HK-PS23 supplementation for six weeks prevented strength loss after muscle damage and improved blood muscle damage and inflammatory markers, with protective, accelerated recovery and anti-fatigue benefits. Full article
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9 pages, 475 KiB  
Article
The Acute Effects of Milk Consumption on Systemic Inflammation after Combined Resistance and Plyometric Exercise in Young Adult Females
by Emily C. Fraschetti, Lauren E. Skelly, Joel L. Prowting, Ali A. Abdul-Sater and Andrea R. Josse
Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4532; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214532 - 28 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3267
Abstract
High-intensity/impact exercise elicits a transient increase in inflammatory biomarkers. Consuming nutrient-dense wholefoods, like milk, following exercise may modulate post-exercise inflammation and aid recovery. We examined the effect of post-exercise skim milk consumption (versus an isoenergetic, isovolumetric carbohydrate [CHO] drink) on acute exercise-induced inflammation [...] Read more.
High-intensity/impact exercise elicits a transient increase in inflammatory biomarkers. Consuming nutrient-dense wholefoods, like milk, following exercise may modulate post-exercise inflammation and aid recovery. We examined the effect of post-exercise skim milk consumption (versus an isoenergetic, isovolumetric carbohydrate [CHO] drink) on acute exercise-induced inflammation in untrained females. Using a randomized crossover design, 13 healthy females (age = 20 ± 2.3 y; BMI = 21.0 ± 1.1 kg/m2) completed two bouts of combined resistance/plyometric exercise followed by either skim milk (MILK) or CHO at 5-min and 1 h post-exercise. Serum interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations were measured at pre-exercise, 15-min, 75-min, 24 h, and 48 h post-exercise. IL-6 increased 15-min post-exercise vs. all other timepoints (time effect, p = 0.017). Between 24 and 48 h, IL-10 decreased and increased in the MILK and CHO conditions, respectively (interaction, p = 0.018). There were no significant effects for IL-1β or TNF-α. Relative concentrations of IL-1β (p = 0.049) and IL-10 (p = 0.028) at 48 h post-exercise were lower in MILK vs. CHO. Milk post-exercise did not influence the absolute concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, there were divergent responses for the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, and milk reduced the relative inflammatory response at 48 h (vs. CHO) for IL-1β and IL-10. This demonstrates the potential for milk to modulate inflammation post-exercise in this sample. Full article
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14 pages, 2356 KiB  
Article
Astragalosides Supplementation Enhances Intrinsic Muscle Repair Capacity Following Eccentric Exercise-Induced Injury
by Tzu-Shao Yeh, Tze-Huan Lei, Matthew J. Barnes and Lei Zhang
Nutrients 2022, 14(20), 4339; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204339 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2679
Abstract
Astragalosides have been shown to enhance endurance exercise capacity in vivo and promote muscular hypertrophy in vitro. However, it remains unknown whether astragalosides supplementation can alter inflammatory response and enhance muscle recovery after damage in humans. We therefore aimed to evaluate the effect [...] Read more.
Astragalosides have been shown to enhance endurance exercise capacity in vivo and promote muscular hypertrophy in vitro. However, it remains unknown whether astragalosides supplementation can alter inflammatory response and enhance muscle recovery after damage in humans. We therefore aimed to evaluate the effect of astragalosides supplementation on muscle’s intrinsic capacity to regenerate and repair itself after exercise-induced damage. Using a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, eleven male participants underwent 7 days of astragalosides supplementation (in total containing 4 mg of astragalosides per day) or a placebo control, following an eccentric exercise protocol. Serum blood samples and variables related to muscle function were collected prior to and immediately following the muscle damage protocol and also at 2 h, and 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days of the recovery period, to assess the pro-inflammatory cytokine response, the secretion of muscle regenerative factors, and muscular strength. Astragalosides supplementation reduced biomarkers of skeletal muscle damage (serum CK, LDH, and Mb), when compared to the placebo, at 1, 2, and 3 days following the muscle damage protocol. Astragalosides supplementation suppressed the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α, whilst increasing the release of IGF-1 during the initial stages of muscle recovery. Furthermore, following astragaloside supplementation, muscular strength returned to baseline 2 days earlier than the placebo. Astragalosides supplementation shortens the duration of inflammation, enhances the regeneration process and restores muscle strength following eccentric exercise-induced injury. Full article
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17 pages, 2635 KiB  
Article
Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation Does Not Accelerate Recovery after a Change of Direction Sprinting Exercise Protocol
by Chutimon Khemtong, Antonio Tessitore, Salvador J. Jaime, Giuliana Gobbi, Jørgen Jensen, Ai-Lun Yang, Chia-Hua Kuo and Giancarlo Condello
Nutrients 2022, 14(20), 4331; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204331 - 16 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3494
Abstract
BCAAs supplementation has been widely used for post-exercise recovery. However, no evidence is currently available to answer the question of whether BCAAs supplementation can attenuate muscle damage and ameliorate recovery after a bout of change of direction (COD) sprinting, which is an exercise [...] Read more.
BCAAs supplementation has been widely used for post-exercise recovery. However, no evidence is currently available to answer the question of whether BCAAs supplementation can attenuate muscle damage and ameliorate recovery after a bout of change of direction (COD) sprinting, which is an exercise motion frequently used during team sport actions. This study aimed to assess the effect of BCAAs supplementation on muscle damage markers, subjective muscle soreness, neuromuscular performance, and the vascular health of collegiate basketball players during a 72 h recovery period after a standardized COD protocol. Participants orally received either BCAAs (0.17 g/kg BCAAs + 0.17 g/kg glucose) or placebo (0.34 g/kg glucose) supplementation before and immediately after a COD exercise protocol in a randomized, crossover, double-blind, and placebo-controlled manner. Creatine kinase increased immediately after exercise and peaked at 24 h, muscle soreness remained elevated until 72 h, whilst arterial stiffness decreased after exercise for both supplemented conditions. A negligibly lower level of interleukin-6 was found in the BCAAs supplemented condition. In conclusion, the results of this study do not support the benefits of BCAAs supplementation on mitigating muscle damage and soreness, neuromuscular performance, and arterial stiffness after COD for basketball players. Full article
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Review

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32 pages, 533 KiB  
Review
Nutritional Compounds to Improve Post-Exercise Recovery
by Emma O’Connor, Toby Mündel and Matthew J. Barnes
Nutrients 2022, 14(23), 5069; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14235069 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 24728
Abstract
The metabolic and mechanical stresses associated with muscle-fatiguing exercise result in perturbations to bodily tissues that lead to exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), a state of fatigue involving oxidative stress and inflammation that is accompanied by muscle weakness, pain and a reduced ability to [...] Read more.
The metabolic and mechanical stresses associated with muscle-fatiguing exercise result in perturbations to bodily tissues that lead to exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), a state of fatigue involving oxidative stress and inflammation that is accompanied by muscle weakness, pain and a reduced ability to perform subsequent training sessions or competitions. This review collates evidence from previous research on a wide range of nutritional compounds that have the potential to speed up post-exercise recovery. We show that of the numerous compounds investigated thus far, only two—tart cherry and omega-3 fatty acids—are supported by substantial research evidence. Further studies are required to clarify the potential effects of other compounds presented here, many of which have been used since ancient times to treat conditions associated with inflammation and disease. Full article
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