PHYSIOLOGICAL AREA   

Medicina dello Sport 2017 June;70(2):150-62

DOI: 10.23736/S0025-7826.17.03055-1

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Effect of Myrtus Communis supplementation on anaerobic performance and selected serum biochemical parameters

Olfa SLIMENI ¹, Maha SELLAMI ² ✉, Mossadok BEN ATTIA ¹, Wissem DHAHBI ², Fatma RHIBI ¹, Abderraouf BEN ABDERRAHMAN ²

¹ Laboratoire de Bio Surveillance de l’Environnement, Département de Physiologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Zarzouna, Tunisia; ² Research Laboratory “Sport Performance and Optimisation”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sport (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present research was to study the effect of myrtle fruit (Myrtus Communis L.) supplementation on upper-body, lower-body strength and blood content in young men and women as well.
METHODS: Thirty-two healthy, moderately trained athletes (20.2±0.8 years) participated in this study. They were randomly divided in four groups according to their gender and experimental design: experimental group of men (EM, N.=8), control group of men (CM, N.=8), experimental group of women (EW, N.=8), control group of women (CW, N.=8). Experimental groups received daily myrtle fruit supplementation during 4 weeks. Maximal anaerobic power was assessed using the underhand medicine ball throw and the standing long jump test. Before (P1), and after (P2) experimental period, blood samples were collected at rest to determine lipids, proteins, minerals levels. At P2, we observed significant (P<0.05) increase in anaerobic performances in EM and EW. Proteins and Iron increased significantly (P<0.05) in both EM and EW, while total bilirubin derecreased significantly (P<0.05) in theses groups at P2.
RESULTS: Triglycerides derecreased significantly (P<0.001) in EM only at P2. GGT and AST were significantly (P<0.005) lower in EW after the 4 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, the highest antioxidant capacity and the phenolic properties of myrtle fruit seem to help increase anaerobic performances in experimental groups. Myrtle fruit supplementation can reduce triglycerides and increase serum proteins and iron levels. Extracts of myrtle fruit would be used as food additive to prevent muscle damage in active men and women.

KEY WORDS: Central nervous system stimulants - Fatty acids - Antioxidants