Effects of natural polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice supplementation on plasma ion and lipid profiles following resistance exercise: a placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Pomegranate juice (POMj) contains abundant soluble polyphenolic antioxidant compounds and is recommended for its cardioprotective/atheroprotective properties. However, very few studies have investigated the efficacy of POMj supplementation to alter physiological responses during intensive physical exercise. This placebocontrolled study aimed to examine whether supplementation with natural polyphenol-rich-POMj could influence the ionic or lipid responses to an intensive resistance training session in elite athletes. Methods: Nine elite weightlifters (21 ± 1 years) performed two Olympic-weightlifting sessions after ingesting placebo and POMj supplements. Venous blood samples were collected at rest and 3 min after each session for assessment of plasma sodium ([Na + ]), potassium ([K + ]), chloride ([Cl − ]), calcium ([Ca 2+ ]), triglyceride ([TG]) and highdensity lipoprotein ([HDL-C]), low-density lipoprotein ([HDL-C]) and total ([TC]) cholesterol concentrations. Results: Plasma [K + ] and [TG] were lowered post-exercise compared to resting values in the PLA condition (p = 0.03 for K + and p = 0.02 for TG) with no pre-to-post exercise differences in the other plasma ion and lipid markers (p > 0.05). Compared to rest, plasma [Na + ] and [Cl − ] were increased (p = 0.04, %change = 4.10% for Na + and p = 0.02, %change = 4.44% for Cl −), but there were no differences in the other plasma ion or lipid markers post-exercise after POMj supplementation (p > 0.05). Post-exercise plasma [Na + ], [Cl − ], and [HDL-C] were greater following POMj supplementation compared to PLA (p = 0.01 for Cl-and HDL-C, p = 0.02 for Na+, and p = 0.04 for TC), with no between-supplement post-exercise differences in the other ion and lipid markers (p > 0.05).

Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Interventions on Cognition and Brain Health in Healthy Young and Middle-Aged Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The etiology of age-associated cognitive decline is complex and multifactorial with cardiovascular alteration, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation considered major risk factors [10][11][12]. The administration of exogenous antioxidants (e.g., polyphenols) has shown promising findings for reducing the majority of aforementioned risk factors [13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Additionally, recent reports recognize (poly)phenols as a brain-friendly intervention that may prevent and delay age-associated decline in cognitive function [20,21].…”