Short-Term Effects of Low-Fat Chocolate Milk on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and Performance in Players on a Women’s University Badminton Team

Abstract

This study investigated the short-term effects of low-fat chocolate milk (LFCM) consumption on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and performance in female badminton players. Seven female badminton players (23 ± 1 years; height: 163.8 ± 4.1 cm; body mass: 58.7 ± 0.9 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 week of LFCM (500 mL) or placebo (water, 500 mL) consumption in a crossover design. Participants consumed LFCM or water immediately after each training session during the 1-week intervention. Performance variables (aerobic power, anaerobic power, agility, explosive power, and maximum handgrip strength) were assessed at two separate time points: pre and post-intervention (after 1 week). In addition, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess DOMS before, immediately after, and at 24 and 48 h after each training session. There were significant time effects for aerobic power, upper body explosive power, minimum anaerobic power, and time to exhaustion (TTE), which significantly increased after LFCM consumption (p < 0.05). Moreover, relative and maximum lower body power significantly (p < 0.05) increased, while rating of perceived exertion (RPE) as well as DOMS in lower extremity muscles immediately after exercise significantly decreased after LFCM consumption compared to placebo (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in maximum anaerobic power, agility, and maximum handgrip strength (p > 0.05). LFCM, as a post-exercise beverage, may help speed recovery in female badminton players leading to increased aerobic, anaerobic, and strength performance indices, increased TTE, and decreased muscle soreness and RPE.

Effects of chocolate milk consumption on muscle recovery following rowing exercise: A randomised crossover study

“…Our findings were consistent with previous studies that found a higher MGR after a CM trial compared with a CHOPRO trial (Karp et al, 2006) and a placebo trial (Molaeikhaletabadi et al, 2022). In contrast to our study that measured the increase in BUN level as an indicator, Karp et al (2006) measured performances as an indirect indicator of MGR rate among men cyclists.…”

“…In our study, both drinks had the same amount of CHO and protein; however, the number of calories in CM was higher because it contained fat (12.5 g/500 mL), similar to Molaeikhaletabadi et al (2022) who used fat, but in a lower content (7.5 g/500mL). It has been demonstrated that the fat in CM raises free fatty acid circulation in the bloodstream and thereby inhibits muscle glycogen depletion, acting as a fuel that spares glycogen during exercise, as it has a glycogen-sparing effect (Muscella et al, 2020).…”

“…Karp et al (2006) proved that total work was 57% greater and time to exhaustion was 49% longer after CM trial than CHOPRO drink trial. Meanwhile, Molaeikhaletabadi et al, (2022) measured the delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) along with aerobic and anaerobic performances as an indirect indicator of MGR among female badminton players. They found that aerobic and anaerobic capacities were significantly higher, whereas DOMS was significantly lower after a low-fat CM trial (p<0.05).…”

“…Since muscle biopsy is invasive and may impair athlete's performance, the need for novel noninvasive techniques to measure MGR rate is inevitable (Greene et al, 2017). Karp et al (2006) and Molaeikhaletabadi et al (2022) suggested that performances and DOMS are closely related to MGR.…”

“…As an alternative to CHOPRO, there is a growing interest to use chocolate milk (CM) to promote the improvement of MGR during a short-term recovery period, as it contains CHO and protein with an ideal ratio (4:1) (Pritchett & Pritchett, 2013;Molaeikhaletabadi et al, 2022). Previous studies have compared CM and CHO only (Born et al, 2019), as well as CM vs CHO only vs CHO + electrolytes (Ferguson-Stegall et al, 2011).…”