Effect of Phlebodium Decumanum on muscle damage, inflammation and cortisol during a precompetitive mesocycle in a National Volleyball Team

Abstract

The severe training load of a competitive mesocycle may not be assimilated correctly by athletes, and can provoke endocrine imbalance, muscle damage and inflammation. Supplementation with antioxidants such as Phlebodium Decumanum (PHL) helps protect against such imbalances. The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of PHL on the fatigue during a precompetitive mesocycle in volleyball players. Twenty-four male volleyball players were divided into two groups (experimental and control). The experimental group was supplemented with three PHL capsules in the morning and three in the afternoon for 20 days. Blood samples were taken before training, at the end of the third week and at the end of the fourth week to evaluate creatine kinase (CK), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10) and cortisol. The results show the control group, the third Cortisol were significantly increased (p < .05). In the experimental group, however, a significant increase (p < .05) was only observed in the third IL-10 value. In addition, significant differences (p < .05) were observed between the control and experimental groups in the second CK. Furthermore, there were moderate variations (effect size, ES > 0.5; 90% CI) in CK, IL-6 and TNF-α. In conclusion, PHL supplementation during a precompetitive mesocycle by volleyball players protects against the muscle damage, inflammatory modulation and cortisol response caused by fatigue.

Altas carga de entrenamiento de un mesociclo competitivo, pueden no ser asimiladas de forma correcta por atletas, pudiendo ocasionar desequilibrio endocrino, daño muscular e inflamación. La suplementación con antioxidantes como el Phlebodium Decumanum (PHL), puede proteger ante estos desequilibrios. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el efecto del PHL sobre la fatiga de un mesociclo precompetitivo en voleibolistas. Veinticuatro voleibolistas divididos en dos grupos (experimental y control) participaron en este estudio. El grupo experimental se suplementó con tres capsulas de PHL por la mañana y tres por la tarde por 20 días. Se efectuaron tomas de sangre antes del entrenamiento, al finalizar la tercera semana y al finalizar la cuarta semana para evaluar creatin kinasa (CK), interleucina 6 (IL-6), factor de necrosis tumoral-alfa (TNF-α), interleucina 10 (IL-10) y cortisol. Los resultados mostraron un aumento significativo (p < .05) en la tercera toma de Cortisol en el grupo control. El grupo experimental solo se observó un aumento significativo (p < .05) en la tercera toma para IL-10. Además, se observó una diferencia significativa (p < .05) entre los grupos para CK en la segunda toma, así como cambios moderados (ES > 0.5; 90%IC) para CK, IL-6 y TNF-α. En conclusión, la suplementación con PHL durante un mesociclo precompetitivo en jugadores de voleibol mostro efectos protectores beneficiosos sobre el daño muscular, modulación inflamatoria y respuesta del cortisol ocasionado por la fatiga.