نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
گروه علوم ورزشی، دانشکده علوم تربیتی و روانشناسی، دانشگاه شهید مدنی آذربایجان، تبریز، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Background and Purpose: 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).
Materials and Methods: 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.
Results: 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.
Conclusion: 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.
کلیدواژهها [English]