HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Quercetin's influence on exercise performance and muscle mitochondrial biogenesis.

Study Abstract

PURPOSE:
To determine the influence of 2 wk of quercetin (Q; 1000 mg x d(-1)) compared with placebo (P) supplementation on exercise performance and skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis in untrained, young adult males (N = 26, age = 20.2 +/- 0.4 yr, VO2max = 46.3 +/- 1.2 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)).

METHODS:
Using a randomized, crossover design with a 2-wk washout period, subjects provided blood and muscle biopsy samples presupplementation and postsupplementation periods and were given 12-min time trials on 15% graded treadmills after 60 min of moderate exercise preloads at 60% VO2max.

RESULTS:
Plasma Q levels rose significantly in Q versus P during the 2-wk supplementation period (interaction P value <0.001). During the 12-min trial, the net change in distance achieved was significantly greater during Q (2.9%) compared with P (-1.2%; 29.5 +/- 11.5 vs -11.9 +/- 16.0 m, respectively, P = 0.038). Skeletal muscle messenger RNA expression tended to increase (range = 16-25%) during Q versus P for sirtuin 1 (interaction effect, P = 0.152), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (P = 0.192), cytochrome c oxidase (P = 0.081), and citrate synthase (P = 0.166). Muscle mitochondrial DNA (relative copy number per diploid nuclear genome) increased 140 +/- 154 (4.1%) with Q compared with -225 +/- 157 (6.0% decrease) with P (P = 0.098).

CONCLUSIONS:
In summary, 1000 mg x d(-1) Q versus P for 2 wk by untrained males was associated with a small but significant improvement in 12-min treadmill time trial performance and modest but insignificant increases in the relative copy number of mitochondrial DNA and messenger RNA levels of four genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis.

Study Information

Nieman DC, Williams AS, Shanely RA, Jin F, McAnulty SR, Triplett NT, Austin MD, Henson DA.
Quercetin's influence on exercise performance and muscle mitochondrial biogenesis.
Med Sci Sports Exerc
2010 February
Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA.