Shahid Beheshti University Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology 2676-3710 18 3 2025 09 23 The effect of short-term astaxanthin supplementation and cold-water immersion on serum levels of immunoglobulin A and interleukin-6 in trained water polo players following high intensity interval exercise The effect of short-term astaxanthin supplementation and cold-water immersion on serum levels of immunoglobulin A and interleukin-6 in trained water polo players following high intensity interval exercise 85 105 105727 10.48308/joeppa.2025.239008.1343 FA Mohammadhadi Asghari Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran 0009-0001-0126-1603 Roghayeh Fakhrpour Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran 0000-0003-4550-4934 Bahloul Ghorbanian Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran 0000-0002-7308-3519 Journal Article 2025 03 03 <strong>Background and Purpose</strong>: While physical exercise offers numerous health benefits, it is also a significant contributor to oxidative stress and increased inflammation in the body. Astaxanthin, a natural red ketocarotenoid with potent antioxidant properties, may mitigate exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation while enhancing immune responses. Cold water immersion (CWI), a cost-effective recovery method, has also gained attention for post-exercise recovery. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of astaxanthin supplementation and cold-water immersion on serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in trained water polo players following high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE).<br /><strong>Materials and Methods</strong>: In this double-blind, semi-experimental trial, 24 professional male water polo athletes (mean±SD; age, 18.41±0.98 yrs; height, 178.8±5.26 cm; weight, 76.58±6.35 kg) with regular training routines and at least two years of professional experience were randomly assigned to four groups: supplement, supplement-recovery, placebo, and placebo-recovery. Participants underwent two HIIE sessions (5 × 50-meter maximal-effort sprints) separated by a three-week interval, with the first week designated as a washout period. During the subsequent two weeks, subjects consumed either 25 mg astaxanthin or a starch-based placebo daily with their final meal. Blood samples were collected at four time points per session (pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, an hour and 24-hours post-exercise), totaling eight measurements. Serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were quantified via ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with one-way repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc tests, and t-tests, at a significance level of p≤0.05.<br /><strong>Results</strong>: Following HIIE, significant changes were observed in IgA and IL-6 levels (p<0.001). Two weeks of astaxanthin supplementation significantly enhanced post-exercise IgA recovery (p=0.023) and reduced IL-6 levels compared to the placebo group (p=0.03). In groups undergoing CWI, IgA levels returned to baseline within 24 hours, while the combined astaxanthin-CWI group demonstrated similar baseline restoration for IL-6.<br /><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Short-term astaxanthin supplementation reduces IL-6 and accelerates plasma IgA recovery. CWI may further expedite the return of measured markers to baseline levels. These findings suggest that astaxanthin supplementation and post-acute exercise cold water immersion could effectively reduce exercise-induced inflammation and modulate immune responses in elite athletes. <strong>Background and Purpose</strong>: While physical exercise offers numerous health benefits, it is also a significant contributor to oxidative stress and increased inflammation in the body. Astaxanthin, a natural red ketocarotenoid with potent antioxidant properties, may mitigate exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation while enhancing immune responses. Cold water immersion (CWI), a cost-effective recovery method, has also gained attention for post-exercise recovery. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of astaxanthin supplementation and cold-water immersion on serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in trained water polo players following high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE).<br /><strong>Materials and Methods</strong>: In this double-blind, semi-experimental trial, 24 professional male water polo athletes (mean±SD; age, 18.41±0.98 yrs; height, 178.8±5.26 cm; weight, 76.58±6.35 kg) with regular training routines and at least two years of professional experience were randomly assigned to four groups: supplement, supplement-recovery, placebo, and placebo-recovery. Participants underwent two HIIE sessions (5 × 50-meter maximal-effort sprints) separated by a three-week interval, with the first week designated as a washout period. During the subsequent two weeks, subjects consumed either 25 mg astaxanthin or a starch-based placebo daily with their final meal. Blood samples were collected at four time points per session (pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, an hour and 24-hours post-exercise), totaling eight measurements. Serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were quantified via ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with one-way repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc tests, and t-tests, at a significance level of p≤0.05.<br /><strong>Results</strong>: Following HIIE, significant changes were observed in IgA and IL-6 levels (p<0.001). Two weeks of astaxanthin supplementation significantly enhanced post-exercise IgA recovery (p=0.023) and reduced IL-6 levels compared to the placebo group (p=0.03). In groups undergoing CWI, IgA levels returned to baseline within 24 hours, while the combined astaxanthin-CWI group demonstrated similar baseline restoration for IL-6.<br /><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Short-term astaxanthin supplementation reduces IL-6 and accelerates plasma IgA recovery. CWI may further expedite the return of measured markers to baseline levels. These findings suggest that astaxanthin supplementation and post-acute exercise cold water immersion could effectively reduce exercise-induced inflammation and modulate immune responses in elite athletes. https://joeppa.sbu.ac.ir/article_105727_72893feea13a2723712e318d5fbd2635.pdf