title: Effects of short-term quercetin supplementation on soldier performance.
abstract: The purpose was to assess the short-term effects of quercetin supplementation on aerobically demanding soldier performance. In a double-blind crossover study, 16 male soldiers performed 3 days of aerobically demanding exercise under 3 conditions: Baseline (B), Placebo (P), and Quercetin (Q). Day 1 was a treadmill V[Combining Dot Above]O₂peak test. Days 2 and 3 were identical, consisting of 75 minutes of loaded treadmill marching (LM) and a subsequent cycling time trial (TT) to complete 200 kJ of work. After B condition, the soldiers consumed 2 energy bars, each containing 0 mg (placebo) or 500 mg of quercetin (1,000 mg·d⁻¹) for 8.5 days. Beginning day 6 of supplementation, the soldiers performed the 3 exercise days. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in plasma Q after Q supplementation. Repeated measures analyses of variance revealed no differences after P or Q supplementation as compared with B in V[Combining Dot Above]O₂peak (B = 48.9 ± 1.1, P = 49.3 ± 1.1, Q = 48.8 ± 1.2 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) or TT time (B = 18.4 ± 1.0, P = 18.5 ± 1.1, Q = 18.3 ± 1.0 minutes [mean day 1 and day 2]). The respiratory exchange ratio during LM did not differ across treatments (B = 0.87 ± 0.03, P = 0.87 ± 0.03, Q = 0.86 ± 0.04 [mean day 1 and day 2]). Ratings of perceived exertion were not affected by Q supplementation during the V[Combining Dot Above]O₂peak test, LM or TT. Supplementation of 1,000 mg·d⁻¹ of quercetin for 8.5 days had no positive effect on aerobically demanding soldier performance. It is possible that a different dosing regimen, a combination of antioxidants or a different form of quercetin supplementation, may be needed to produce an increase in soldier performance.
authors.affiliation: Military Performance Division, USARIEM, Natick, Massachusetts, USA. marilyn.sharp@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Marilyn A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Nathan R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Hendrickson
authors.forename: Jeffery S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Staab
authors.forename: Holly L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: McClung
authors.forename: Bradley C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Nindl
authors.forename: Bozena B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Michniak-Kohn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D011794:Quercetin