Impact of two weeks pistachio supplementation on muscle recovery following downhill running

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Utjecaj dvotjednog unosa pistacija na oporavak mišića nakon trčanja nizbrdo
• Author: Ivana Ovčina
• Mentor: Zvonimir Šatalić (mentor)
• Mentor: Oliver Witard https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5875-8397 (mentor)
• Committee member: Ines Panjkota-Krbavčić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology; (Department of Food Quality Control); (Laboratory for Nutrition Science); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2020-07-22, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOTECHNICAL SCIENCES; Nutrition

Abstract

Pistachios are nutrient-dense tree nuts that elicit various health benefits. There is biological rationale that pistachios could enhance recovery from intense exercise. We hypothesised that 2 weeks of pistachio supplementation would reduce the magnitude of muscle damage in response to eccentric exercise and accelerate recovery. Twenty-four participants, (27±3.4 years), undertook this randomized parallel study and were assigned to a control group (A) following their usual diet without any interventions, or groups with 42.5 g of pistachios (B), or 85 g of pistachios (C) added daily to their diet for two weeks. Following the supplementation, period participants evaluated their feeling of muscle soreness (VAS), and muscle performance was assessed via vertical jump (VJ) and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Downhill running (DR) was performed as a muscle damage exercise bout. Muscle performance tests were repeated 24, 48, and 72 hours post DR to evaluate pistachios’ impact on muscle recovery. VJ showed a decrease at 24 h post DR, but 72 h values were 0.4%, 1.9% and -0.4% of the baseline maximal jump height for A, B, and C, respectively. VAS showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in all monitored muscles 24 and 48 h post DR but decreased at 72h. The higher dose of pistachios seemed to contribute to a prolonged muscle soreness perception. MVC data were quite disparate and inconclusive. This study does not advocate the use of pistachios as a recovery food; however, these preliminary results require further research for the final confirmation and better understanding.

Abstract (croatian)

Pistaciji su nutritivno bogati orašasti plodovi koji imaju razne zdravstvene koristi. Postoji biološka osnova da bi pistaciji mogli poboljšati oporavak od intenzivne tjelesne aktivnosti. Pretpostavili smo da će 2 tjedna suplementacije pistacijima smanjiti razinu oštećenja mišića do kojeg dolazi kao odgovor na ekscentričnu vježbu, te ubrzati oporavak. Dvadeset četiri ispitanika (27±3,4 godine) sudjelovali su u ovoj randomiziranoj paralelnoj studiji, a bili su dodijeljeni kontrolnoj grupi (A) koja je imala uobičajenu prehranu bez ikakvih intervencija, ili grupi s 42,5 g (B) odnosno 85 g pistacija (C) dodanih njihovoj prehrani svakog dana tijekom dva tjedna. Nakon razdoblja suplementacije, ispitanici su procijenili osjet boli u mišićima (VAS), a rad mišića je ispitan vertikalnim skokom (VJ) i maksimalnom dobrovoljnom kontrakcijom (MVC). Trčanje nizbrdo (DR) izvedeno je kao vježba kojom se izaziva oštećenje mišića. Testovi rada mišića ponovljeni su 24, 48 i 72 sata nakon DR kako bi se procijenio utjecaj pistacija na oporavak. 24 h nakon DR došlo je do pada u VJ, ali 72 h nakon vrijednosti su bile 0,4%, 1,9% i -0,4% početne maksimalne visine skoka za A, B i C grupu. VAS je pokazao značajno povećanje (p <0,05) u svim promatranim mišićima 24 i 48 sati nakon DR, ali se smanjio nakon 72 h. Pri tome se činilo da veća doza pistacija doprinosi produljenoj percepciji bolova u mišićima. Vrijednosti MVC-a bile su prilično raspršene, ne ostavljajući prostora za zaključke. Rezultati ove studije ne opravdavaju upotrebu pistacija kao hrane za oporavak. Ipak, ovi preliminarni rezultati zahtijevaju daljnja istraživanja radi konačne potvrde i boljeg razumijevanja.

• Keywords: pistachio; DOMS; muscle recovery; downhill running
• Keywords (croatian): pistacio; DOMS; oporavak mišića; trčanje nizbrdo
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:159:940373
• Study programme: Title: Nutrition; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra nutricionizma (magistar/magistra nutricionizma)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2020-07-23 09:36:05