Abstract
(-)-Epicatechin is a polyphenol previously shown to enhance vascular health. The purposes of the current studies were to determine the effect of acute (-)-epicatechin supplementation on local vasodilation in conjunction with resistance exercise (study 1) and on high-intensity exercise performance (study 2). For study 1, 11 men participated in two resistance exercise sessions, where they performed three sets of barbell curls while consuming 200 mg of 98% pure (-)-epicatechin or placebo. Measurements of total serum nitrate/nitrite and brachial artery diameter were acquired at baseline (pre-supplement), 90 min after supplement consumption (post-supplement), immediately post-exercise (post-exercise), and 30 min post-exercise (30 min post-exercise). For serum nitric oxide metabolites, no significant interaction between supplement and time nor significant main effect of time was observed (p = 0.38 and p = 0.20; respectively). For brachial artery diameter, no significant interaction between supplement and time was observed (p = 0.24). A significant main effect of time was observed for brachial artery diameter (p < 0.01) with post-exercise brachial artery diameter significantly greater diameter than all other time points (all p < 0.01). For study 2, six women and five men completed the 15.5 CrossFit® Open Workout three times. A familiarization session was performed first where the workout was performed without the consumption of a supplement. In a randomized, balanced fashion, 100 mg of 98% pure (-)-epicatechin or cellulose (placebo) was consumed two times per day for two days before testing sessions two and three. On the day of testing sessions two and three, 60 to 90 min before completing the workout, 200 mg of the assigned supplement was ingested with water. No significant difference was observed for time to complete the workout between testing sessions (p = 0.49). In conclusion, under the conditions of the current studies, acute (-)-epicatechin supplementation did not augment vasodilation in combination with resistance exercise, nor did it increase exercise performance in humans.
Highlights
Cocoa polyphenols are implicated in the health benefits attributed to dark chocolate and/or cocoa consumption [1]. (-)-Epicatechin has received particular attention because it has been demonstrated to increase oxidative resistance, vasodilation, and skeletal muscle function [2,3,4]. (-)-Epicatechin is present in many foods, including grapes, green tea, and apples, but it is the most abundant polyphenolSports 2020, 8, 22; doi:10.3390/sports8020022 www.mdpi.com/journal/sportsSports 2020, 8, 22 present in cocoa and cocoa-derived products [4,5,6]
The results indicated that (-)-epicatechin is involved in mediating the vascular effects caused by ingestion of flavanol-rich cocoa [2]
A significant main effect of time was observed for brachial artery diameter (p < 0.01; partial η2 = 0.86)
Summary
Cocoa polyphenols are implicated in the health benefits attributed to dark chocolate and/or cocoa consumption [1]. (-)-Epicatechin has received particular attention because it has been demonstrated to increase oxidative resistance, vasodilation, and skeletal muscle function [2,3,4]. (-)-Epicatechin is present in many foods, including grapes, green tea, and apples, but it is the most abundant polyphenolSports 2020, 8, 22; doi:10.3390/sports8020022 www.mdpi.com/journal/sportsSports 2020, 8, 22 present in cocoa and cocoa-derived products [4,5,6]. Schroeter et al [2] assessed the bioactivity of nitric oxide and flow-mediated dilation in healthy adult males as a result of high-flavanol cocoa drinks and pure (-)-epicatechin extract. Both groups displayed increased flow-mediated dilation and peripheral arterial tonometry responses only two hours after ingestion. The results indicated that (-)-epicatechin is involved in mediating the vascular effects caused by ingestion of flavanol-rich cocoa [2]. Observed that acute administration of 200 mg of (-)-epicatechin resulted in augmentation of nitric oxide production in healthy men. The ability of acute (-)-epicatechin consumption to increase vascular function [3,4] as well as increase fat oxidation rates and free fatty acid mobilization [8,9] after acute ingestion suggest it may potentially function as an ergogenic aid if consumed prior to exercise
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