title: The effect of pomegranate juice supplementation on strength and soreness after eccentric exercise.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if pomegranate juice supplementation improved the recovery of skeletal muscle strength after eccentric exercise in subjects who routinely performed resistance training. Resistance trained men (n = 17) were randomized into a crossover design with either pomegranate juice or placebo. To produce delayed onset muscle soreness, the subjects performed 3 sets of 20 unilateral eccentric elbow flexion and 6 sets of 10 unilateral eccentric knee extension exercises. Maximal isometric elbow flexion and knee extension strength and muscle soreness measurements were made at baseline and 2, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 hours postexercise. Elbow flexion strength was significantly higher during the 2- to 168-hour period postexercise with pomegranate juice compared with that of placebo (main treatment effect; p = 0.031). Elbow flexor muscle soreness was also significantly reduced with pomegranate juice compared with that of placebo (main treatment effect; p = 0.006) and at 48 and 72 hours postexercise (p = 0.003 and p = 0.038, respectively). Isometric strength and muscle soreness in the knee extensors were not significantly different with pomegranate juice compared with those using placebo. Supplementation with pomegranate juice attenuates weakness and reduces soreness of the elbow flexor but not of knee extensor muscles. These results indicate a mild, acute ergogenic effect of pomegranate juice in the elbow flexor muscles of resistance trained individuals after eccentric exercise.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA. jrtrombold@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Justin R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Trombold
authors.forename: Ari S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Reinfeld
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Casler
authors.forename: Edward F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Coyle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001628:Beverages; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004550:Elbow; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee; D029561:Lythraceae; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D059808:Polyphenols