6-Week Supplementation with Tribulus terrestris L. to Trained Male CrossFit ® Athletes on Muscle, Inflammation, and Antioxidant Biomarkers: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Diego Fernández-Lázaro (), Jesús Seco-Calvo (), Jorge Pascual-Fernández, Carlos Domínguez-Ortega, Miguel Del Valle Soto and Juan Mielgo-Ayuso
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Diego Fernández-Lázaro: Department of Cellular Biology, Genetics, Histology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, Campus of Soria, 42003 Soria, Spain
Jesús Seco-Calvo: Physiotherapy Department, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Campus of Vegazana, University of Leon, 24071 Leon, Spain
Jorge Pascual-Fernández: Medical Hospital Emergency Service of Hospital San Pedro, Rioja Health, 26006 Logroño, Spain
Carlos Domínguez-Ortega: Department of Cellular Biology, Genetics, Histology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, Campus of Soria, 42003 Soria, Spain
Miguel Del Valle Soto: Department of Cellular Morphology and Biology, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
Juan Mielgo-Ayuso: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Tribulus terrestris L. ( TT ) ingredients have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, but their effects on exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in trained athletes are uncertain. The purpose of this single-blind placebo-controlled trial, in accordance with CONSORT guidelines, was to examine the effect of 6 weeks of TT supplementation on muscle metabolism, inflammation biomarkers, and oxidant status. Thirty trained male CrossFit ® athletes were randomly assigned to be supplemented with 770 mg/day of TT (intervention group (IG)) or receive a placebo daily (control group (CG)) for 6 weeks. Muscle damage enzymes, inflammation biomarkers, and Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) were assessed at baseline (T1), 21 days after baseline (T2), and after 42 days (T3). Grace, a Workout of the Day, was measured in T1 and T3. Statistical significance ( p < 0.05) was found between IG and CG in Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), and TAS levels at the end of the follow-up. Furthermore, TAS levels were significantly ( p < 0.05) lower at T2 and T3 relative to baseline in the IG, also LDH and CRP increased significantly ( p < 0.05) at T2 and T3 relative to baseline in the CG. No significant ( p > 0.05) decreases in muscle damage or inflammation biomarkers were observed, although a slight downward trend was observed after 6 weeks for supplemented athletes. TT supplementation could attenuate the CrossFit ® training program-induced oxidative stress, muscle damage, and inflammation which could be due to the natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of TT .

Keywords: Tribulus terrestris L.; herbal supplementation; CrossFit ®; muscle damage; inflammation response; exercise-induced oxidative stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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