A dietary supplement attenuates IL-6 and CRP after eccentric exercise in untrained males.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the effects of a dietary supplement on exercise-induced markers of cell damage and the inflammatory mediators C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).


METHODS
The supplement contained mixed tocopherols, flavonoids, and docosahexaenoate. Forty healthy, nonsmoking, untrained males (aged 18-35 yr) were randomly assigned to receive either the supplement (N = 20) or placebo (N = 20) during the 14-d experimental protocol. Blood samples were collected on day 0 (baseline), day 7 (eccentric exercise-induced injury), day 10, and day 14.


OBJECTIVE
Markers of cell damage (creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) and inflammation IL-6 and CRP were assessed at these time points in conjunction with subjective range of motion (ROM) and perceived pain measurements. Statistical analyses were conducted using nonparametric methods (P < 0.05).


RESULTS
Eccentric arm curl exercise was used to induce an acute phase injury response as evidenced by significant (P < 0.0001) increases in CK, LDH, and pain, as well as a decreased range of motion 3 d after the exercise. There were no significant differences between groups in CK and LDH responses. In contrast, there were significant group differences for IL-6 (P = 0.008) and CRP (P = 0.003). At day 10, by Mann-Whitney U test of changes, the placebo group had significantly greater increases in IL-6 and CRP than the treatment group (P = 0.05 and P < 0.01), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that exercise-induced inflammation, evaluated by changes in IL-6 and CRP, was significantly reduced by the dietary supplement.
Phillips
Tracey
T
University of Florida, Biochemistry of Aging Laboratory, College of Health and Human Performance, Center for Exercise Science, College of Medicine, Gainesville 32611, USA.
Childs
April C
AC
Dreon
Darlene M
DM
Phinney
Stephen
S
Leeuwenburgh
Christiaan
C
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010919:Placebos; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000494:pharmacology
D005419:Flavonoids; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010919:Placebos; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D024505:Tocopherols