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Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(10): 859-864
DOI: 10.1055/a-1808-6319
Physiology & Biochemistry

Can a Short-term Daily Oral Administration of Propolis Improve Muscle Fatigue and Recovery?

Yuma Tsuchiya
1   Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Saitama-shi, Japan
,
Naoya Hirata
1   Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Saitama-shi, Japan
,
Takashi Asama
2   Institute for Bee Products and Health Science, R&D department, Yamada Bee Company Inc, Kagamino-cho, Japan
,
Naomi Osakabe
3   College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Saitama-shi, Japan
,
Kosuke Hirata
4   Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa-shi, Japan
,
Ryota Akagi
3   College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Saitama-shi, Japan
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was supported by Yamada Bee Company, Inc.
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Abstract

This study investigated the effect of 1-week oral administration of propolis on muscle fatigue and recovery after performing a fatigue task (total 100 maximal voluntary concentric knee extension repetitions). In this placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 18 young men consumed a formulation with high Brazilian green propolis dose (H-BGP), a formulation with low Brazilian green propolis dose, or a placebo, for 1 week before performing the fatigue task (an interval between each intervention: 1–2 weeks). Maximal voluntary contraction torque, central fatigue (voluntary activation and root mean square values of the surface electromyography amplitude), and peripheral fatigue (potentiated triplet torque) were assessed before, immediately after, and 2 minutes after the fatigue task. Maximal voluntary contraction torque decreased immediately after the fatigue task in all conditions (P<0.001); however, it recovered from immediately after to 2 minutes after the fatigue task only in the H-BGP condition (P<0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in voluntary activation (P<0.001) and root mean square values of the surface electromyography amplitude (P≤0.035) only in the placebo condition. No significant difference was observed in the time-course change in potentiated triplet torque between the conditions. These results suggest that oral administration of propolis promotes muscle fatigue recovery by reducing central fatigue.

Key words

brazilian green propolis - knee extensors - concentric contraction - potentiated triplet torque - voluntary activation


Publication History

Received: 19 August 2021

Accepted: 11 March 2022

Article published online:
31 May 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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