Effects of Yerba Maté ingestion on fat utilisation during prolonged moderate intensity exercise

Abstract

Yerba Maté (YM), the plant of (Illex Paraguariensis) is widely ingested for its potential health benefits including anti-atherogenic and weight loss properties (1) . We have previously shown an exercise intensity-dependent effect of acute YM ingestion on fatty acid oxidation (FAO), particularly at low and moderate exercise intensity domains, determined using an incremental exercise protocol (2) . While, the augmented fat metabolism during those intensities implies improved exercise-metabolic weight-loss outcomes, the effects during prolonged exercise at this intensity range are unknown. This study aims to investigate the YM ingestion affects fat oxidation at prolonged moderate aerobic exercise intensities. We hypothesize that YM increase FAO during aerobic moderate intensity steady-state exercise.Following the institutional approval, eleven healthy females (Mean ± SD, age = 30·8 ± 7·3 years, stature: 167·2 ± 3·9, body mass: 61·5 ± 2·8) followed an initial incremental cardiopulmonary assessment (25 W increased every 3 min until exhaustion) to determine their peak oxygen uptake (V˙O 2 peak ) and the range of exercise intensities corresponding to the cross-over point (COP), defined as the intensity or power output at which energy expenditure from carbohydrate predominates over that from fat sources (3) . This intensity range is known to be effective for exercise-dependent weight-loss (3,4) . Participants were randomised to ingest either 2 g of YM or placebo capsules (PLC), in a double-blinded, placebo controlled, repeated measures design. Following the ingestion participants rested for 120 min rest before ergometry cycling constantly for 30 min at an intensity corresponding to their COP. FAO and energy expenditure from FAO (EE FAO ) were calculated as previously shown in similar studies (2) , and analysed using a Repeated measures ANOVA design.The average COP intensity corresponded to (Mean ± SD, 37·3 ± 8·3 %, relative to V˙O 2 peak at a power output of (50·6 ± 23·4 W). At this power or intensity, it was found that YM significantly increased FAO across all time points compared with PLC (Table 1).Acute ingestion of yerba mate can increase fat oxidation during moderate steady state intensity exercise, especially when the exercise is prescribed according to the individual's "fat-burning" intensities. Heck CI, de Mejia EG (2007) J Food Sci 72(9): R138-51.

Metabolic and Performance Effects of Yerba Mate on Well-trained Cyclists

“…Biomedical research on YM is scarce when compared to coffee and tea (1), but several reports support the role of YM as a modulator of metabolism. For instance, YM has been reported to be antiobesogenic (2), a regulator of Akt and AMPK signaling pathways in different tissues (3,4), cardio-protective (4), hypocholesterolemic (5), able to increase thermogenesis (6) and to shift substrate utilization during exercise towards higher fat oxidation (7,8). Some of these effects position YM as a potential exercise enhancer (9) and ergogenic aid.…”

“…Specifically, recent reports of YM increasing fat utilization during exercise of different intensities and durations (7,8), and its potential neurological effects (10,11), Effects of Yerba Mate on endurance athletes suggest YM as a suitable supplement to improve endurance performance. Enhancing metabolic flexibility could be an important effect of YM to optimize the use of endogenous fuel: i.e.…”