Acute Effects of Salvia Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Athletes During a Fatiguing Cycling Exercise: A Randomized Cross-Over, Placebo-Controlled, and Double-Blind Study

Abstract

Background:Salvia (sage) supplementation has been shown to improve the cognition function in healthy individuals or patients (e.g., attention, memory). To date, no study has explored its relevancy in the context of sporting performance. The aim of this study was to explore the acute effects of a combination of Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulaefolia on cognitive function in athletes performing a fatiguing cycling task.Methods: Twenty-six volunteers were included in this cross-over, randomized, double-bind vs. placebo trial. Two hours before the two experimental sessions (here called SAGE and PLACEBO), volunteers randomly received a supplementation of sage or placebo. During each experimental session, participants were tested at four occasions while cycling during a warm-up, in the middle and at the end of a fatiguing task and after a short 5-min recovery. Tests included a Stroop task, a simple reaction time task, and a backward digit span memory task. Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were also measured at the beginning of the four test sessions.Results: Heart rate was significantly greater during the fatiguing exercise than during warm-up and recovery (P < 0.001) without any supplementation effect. RPE was greater during the fatiguing exercise than during warm-up and recovery (P < 0.001). Moreover, RPE was significantly lower during the SAGE session as compared to PLACEBO (P = 0.002). Reaction time was not altered during the exercise but was significantly shorter with SAGE as compared to PLACEBO (P = 0.023). The Stroop task only revealed significantly longer reaction time during warm-up as compared to recovery (P = 0.02) independently of the supplementation. The digit span memory test revealed a significant greater span score with SAGE as compared to PLACEBO (P = 0.044).Conclusion: The combination of Salvia improved the cognitive functions (perceived exertion, working memory, and reaction time). The positive effects were obtained in fresh condition and were maintained with fatigue.

GC-MS Chemical Profiling, Biological Investigation of Three Salvia Species Growing in Uzbekistan

“…Therefore, its inhibition leads to better symptoms and prognosis in Alzheimer’s [ 38 ]. Previous clinical studies showed that administration of sage oil and herbal teas improved mental and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s individuals [ 39 ]. Alcoholic extracts of S. officinalis exhibited in vitro inhibition of AChE and BChE, with higher inhibition observed against BChE [ 40 ], which is in accordance with the present results, but regarding the essential oil.…”

Natural Compounds of Salvia L. Genus and Molecular Mechanism of Their Biological Activity

“…This is due, specifically, to the inhibition of AChE, which is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of acetylcholine. Using a combination of S. officinalis leaf extract mostly characterized for polyphenol content and S. lavandulaefolia EO with predominant terpenoids, a study observed improvements in memory and effects to Y-maze and Morris water maze markers on rodents in vivo [139][140][141]. This specific combination was also shown to be effective for the working memory accuracy of performance cognitive domains in healthy humans [142].…”

Volatile Composition and Enantiomeric Distribution of Spanish Sage (Salvia officinalis Subsp. lavandulifolia [Vahl] Gams) From Spain

“…6 In a recent randomized cross-over, placebo-controlled, and double-blind study, acute administration of Salvia mixture (400 mg of S. officinalis aqueous extract and 200 mg S. lavandulaefolia EO) encapsulated with acacia gum improved cognitive functions (perceived exertion, working memory, and reaction time) in athletes performing a fatiguing cycling task. 13…”

“…6 In a recent randomized cross-over, placebo-controlled, and double-blind study, acute administration of Salvia mixture (400 mg of S. officinalis aqueous extract and 200 mg S. lavandulaefolia EO) encapsulated with acacia gum improved cognitive functions (perceived exertion, working memory, and reaction time) in athletes performing a fatiguing cycling task. 13 There are great variations in the reported major components of S. lavandulifolia EO and their percentages in the literature, which can account for the variations in the biological activities of the EO. 1 These variations also suggest the presence of multiple chemotypes.…”