title: Supplementation with a flavanol-rich lychee fruit extract influences the inflammatory status of young athletes.
abstract: Flavanol-rich lychee fruit extract (FRLFE) is a processed lychee fruit extract that is higher in flavanols (monomers, dimers and trimers) than its unprocessed counterpart. FRLFE exerts antioxidant activities in vitro and is expected to protect against inflammation and tissue damage. However, the physiological effects of FRLFE intake have not been explored in vivo. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of FRLFE supplementation on inflammation and tissue damage in young athletes during intense physical training. Twenty healthy male long-distance runners at a university were randomly assigned to receive FRLFE or placebo in a double-blind manner. Blood and serum parameters associated with inflammation, tissue damage and oxidative stress were evaluated before (pre-training), during (mid-training) and after (post-training) a 2-month training period. Some parameters, including the white blood cell count, were significantly modified by FRLFE supplementation. Compared with the placebo group, the change in the serum interleukin-6 level between pre- and mid-training were significantly lower in the FRLFE group, while the change in the transforming growth factor-β level between pre- and post-training was significantly greater in the FRLFE group. These findings suggest that FRLFE supplementation may suppress inflammation or tissue damage caused by high-intensity exercise training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan. nishizaw@sk.ritsumei.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Takehito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yoshigai
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ue
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: A-Hon
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Tadayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D032125:Litchi; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta