Effects of Honey Supplementation on Sports Performance among Recreational Runners

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of honey supplementation on sports performance among recreational runner. Fifteen subjects (weight: 70.1 ± 10.5 kg, height: 169.7 ± 7.9 cm; body mass index (BMI): 24.3 ± 2.8 kg.m-2) participated in this randomized-crossover study. Subjects consumed honey supplementation or placebo 1 hour prior the sports performance test. During the sports performance trial, subject performed fitness tests such as 2.4 km run, planks core strength, push-ups, and sit-ups tests. Time to complete 2.4 km run and plank core strength test were measured and recorded. The number times doing push-ups and sit-ups in one minute were counted. Pair-t test was used to determine the differences of the measured parameter between the two trials. This present study discovered honey supplementation trial has a significantly shorter time to complete 2.4 km run in comparison with the placebo trial (p<0.05). However, there was no significant improvement in the plank core strength, push-ups and sit-ups in the honey trial compared to the placebo trial (p>0.05). In conclusion, this present study discovered that honey supplementation has an ergogenic effects on 2.4 km run performance but did not enhance plank core strength, sit-ups and push-ups among recreational runner.