Background Maximal strength-speed exercise is a powerful stimulus to acutely increase concentrations of circulating steroid hormones and homocysteine [Hcy]. There is some evidence that antioxidant beverages rich in polyphenols can attenuate [Hcy] levels and modulate endocrine responses in favor of an anabolic environment. Polyphenols-rich pomegranate (POM) have been reported to possess one of the highest antioxidant capacities compared to other purported nutraceuticals and other food stuffs. Studies focused on proving the beneficial effect of POM consumption during maximal strength exercises have only measured physical performance, muscle damage, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, while POM effects on [Hcy] and hormonal adaptations are lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of consuming natural polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice (POMj) on the acute and delayed [Hcy] and steroidal hormonal responses to a weightlifting exercises session. Methods Nine elite weightlifters (21.0 ± 1 years) performed two Olympic-weightlifting sessions after ingesting either the placebo (PLA) or POMj supplements. Venous blood samples were collected at rest and 3 min and 48 h after each session. Results Compared to baseline values, circulating cortisol [C] decreased ( p < 0.01) and testosterone/cortisol [T/C] ratio increased immediately following the training session in both PLA and POMj conditions ( p = 0.003 for PLA and p = 0.02 for POM). During the 48 h recovery period, all tested parameters were shown to recover to baseline values in both conditions with significant increases in [C] and decreases in [T/C] ( p < 0.01 for PLA and p < 0.05 for POMj) from 3 min to 48 h post-exercises. Compared to PLA, a lower level of plasma testosterone [T] was registered 3 min post exercise using POMj supplementation ( p = 0.012) and a significant decrease ( p = 0.04, %change = − 14%) in plasma [Hcy] was registered during the 48 h recovery period only using POMj. A moderate correlation was observed between [Hcy] and [T] responses ( p = 0.002, r = − 0.50). Conclusion In conclusion, supplementation with POMj has the potential to attenuate the acute plasma [T] response, but did not effect 48 h recovery kinetics of [Hcy] following weightlifting exercise. Further studies investigating androgen levels in both plasma and muscular tissue are needed to resolve the functional consequences of the observed acute POMj effect on plasma [T]. Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov, ID: NCT02697903 . Registered 03 March 2016 .

中文翻译：

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富含天然多酚的石榴汁对举重运动后同型半胱氨酸和类固醇激素的急性和延迟反应的影响：双盲、安慰剂对照试验


背景 最大强度-速度运动是一种强有力的刺激，可急剧增加循环类固醇激素和同型半胱氨酸 [Hcy] 的浓度。有一些证据表明，富含多酚的抗氧化饮料可以降低 [Hcy] 水平并调节内分泌反应，以有利于合成代谢环境。据报道，与其他所谓的营养保健品和其他食品相比，富含多酚的石榴 (POM) 是具有最高抗氧化能力的之一。旨在证明最大力量训练期间 POM 摄入有益效果的研究仅测量了身体表现、肌肉损伤、氧化应激和炎症反应，而缺乏 POM 对 [Hcy] 和激素适应的影响。本研究的目的是调查食用富含多酚的天然石榴汁 (POMj) 对举重运动中急性和延迟的 [Hcy] 和类固醇激素反应的影响。方法 9 名精英举重运动员（21.0 ± 1 岁）在服用安慰剂 (PLA) 或 POMj 补充剂后进行了两次奥运会举重训练。每次训练后，在休息时以及 3 分钟和 48 小时采集静脉血样。结果 与基线值相比，在 PLA 和 POMj 条件下，循环皮质醇 [C] 下降（p < 0.01），并且睾酮/皮质醇 [T/C] 比率在训练后立即增加（PLA 的 p = 0.003，PLA 的 p = 0.02）聚甲醛）。在 48 小时恢复期内，所有测试参数在两种条件下均恢复至基线值，[C] 显着增加，而 [T/C] 从 3 显着降低（PLA 的 p < 0.01，POMj 的 p < 0.05）。锻炼后分钟至 48 小时。 与 PLA 相比，使用 POMj 补充剂进行运动后 3 分钟，血浆睾酮 [T] 水平较低 (p = 0.012)，且血浆 [Hcy] 显着降低 (p = 0.04，%change = − 14%)在 48 小时恢复期内仅使用 POMj。 [Hcy] 和 [T] 响应之间观察到中等相关性（p = 0.002，r = − 0.50）。结论 总之，补充 POMj 有可能减弱急性血浆 [T] 反应，但不会影响举重运动后 48 小时 [Hcy] 的恢复动力学。需要进一步研究血浆和肌肉组织中的雄激素水平，以解决观察到的 POMj 对血浆的急性效应的功能后果 [T]。试验注册 Clinical Trials.gov，ID：NCT02697903。 2016 年 3 月 3 日注册。