title: The effects of honey supplementation on seminal plasma cytokines, oxidative stress biomarkers, and antioxidants during 8 weeks of intensive cycling training.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of natural honey  supplementation on seminal plasma cytokines, oxidative stress biomarkers, and  antioxidants during 8 weeks of intensive cycling training in male road  cyclists. Thirty-nine healthy nonprofessional male road cyclists aged  18-28 years participated in this study. The participants were randomly  assigned to exercise + supplement (E + S, n = 20) and exercise (E, n = 19)  groups. All subjects participated in 8 weeks of intensive cycling training.  Ninety minutes before each training session, subjects in the E + S group  supplemented with 70 g of honey, whereas subjects in the E group received 70 g  of an artificial sweetener. All subjects had an initial semen sampling at  baseline (T(1)). The next 6 semen collections were collected  immediately (T(2)) and 12 (T(3)) and 24 hours  (T(4)) after the last training session in week 4, as well as  immediately (T(5)) and 12 (T(6)) and 24 hours  (T(7)) after the last training session in week 8, respectively. In  the E group, 8 weeks of intensive cycling training significantly increased  seminal interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor  (TNF)-α, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels  (P < .008) and significantly decreased the levels of seminal  superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)  (P < .008). Significantly less elevation in seminal IL-1β,  IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, ROS, and MDA levels (P < .008) and  significant increases in seminal SOD, catalase, and TAC concentrations were  observed after the honey supplementation in the E + S group (P <  .008). It may be possible that honey supplementation following long-term  intensive cycling training would be effective in attenuating the probable  aggravating effects of intensive cycling training on spermatogenesis and  fertility capacity in road cyclists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. hajizadeh.sci.phys@gmail.com
authors.forename: Bakhtyar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tartibian
authors.forename: Behzad Hajizadeh
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Maleki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase