Inflammasomes are multiprotein signaling platforms of the innate immune system that detect markers of physiological stress and promote the maturation of caspase-1 and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-18, and gasdermin D. This randomized, cross-over trial investigated the influence of 2-week mixed flavonoid (FLAV) versus placebo (PL) supplementation on inflammasome activation and IL-1β and IL-18 production after 75-km cycling in 22 cyclists (42 ± 1.7 years). Blood samples were collected before and after the 2-week supplementation, and then 0 hr, 1.5 hr, and 21 hr postexercise (176 ± 5.4 min, 73.4 ± 2.0 %VO₂max). The supplement (678 mg FLAVs) included quercetin, green tea catechins, and bilberry anthocyanins. The pattern of change in the plasma levels of the inflammasome adaptor oligomer ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing caspase recruitment domain) was different between the FLAV and PL trials, with the FLAV ASC levels 52% lower (Cohen’s d = 1.06) than PL immediately following 75-km cycling (interaction effect, p = .012). The plasma IL-1β levels in FLAV were significantly lower than PL (23–42%; Cohen’s d = 0.293–0.644) throughout 21 hr of recovery (interaction effect, p = .004). The change in plasma gasdermin D levels were lower immediately postexercise in FLAV versus PL (15% contrast, p = .023; Cohen’s d = 0.450). The patterns of change in plasma IL-18 and IL-37 did not differ between the FLAV and PL trials (interaction effects, p = .388, .716, respectively). These data indicate that 2-week FLAV ingestion mitigated inflammasome activation, with a corresponding decrease in IL-1β release in cyclists after a 75-km cycling time trial. The data from this study support the strategy of ingesting high amounts of FLAV to mitigate postexercise inflammation.

炎症小体是先天免疫系统的多蛋白信号传导平台，可检测生理应激标志物并促进 caspase-1 和白细胞介素 1 β (IL-1β)、IL-18 和 Gasdermin D 的成熟。这项随机交叉试验研究了比较 22 名骑车者（42 ± 1.7 岁）在 75 公里骑行后补充 2 周混合类黄酮 (FLAV) 与安慰剂 (PL) 对炎症小体激活以及 IL-1β 和 IL-18 产生的影响。在补充两周之前和之后以及运动后 0 小时、1.5 小时和 21 小时（176 ± 5.4 分钟，73.4 ± 2.0 %VO 2 _max）收集血样。该补充剂（678 毫克 FLAV）包括槲皮素、绿茶儿茶素和越橘花青素。FLAV 和 PL 试验中炎症小体接头寡聚体 ASC（含有 caspase 募集结构域的凋亡相关斑点样蛋白）血浆水平的变化模式不同，FLAV ASC 水平低 52%（Cohen's d = 1.06  ）高于 75 公里骑行后的 PL（交互作用，p  = .012）。在整个 21 小时的恢复过程中，FLAV 中的血浆 IL-1β 水平显着低于 PL（23-42%；Cohen's d  = 0.293-0.644）（交互作用，p  = .004）。与 PL 相比，运动后 FLAV 中血浆 Gasdermin D 水平的变化较低（15% 对比，p  = .023；Cohen's d  = 0.450）。FLAV 和 PL 试验之间血浆 IL-18 和 IL-37 的变化模式没有差异（相互作用效应，分别为p  = .388、0.716）。这些数据表明，摄入 2 周的 FLAV 可以减轻炎症小体的激活，在 75 公里自行车计时赛后，骑自行车者的 IL-1β 释放也相应减少。这项研究的数据支持摄入大量 FLAV 来减轻运动后炎症的策略。