Effect of a single dose of Saffron (Crocus sativus) on anaerobic power in young active males

+Model ARTICLE IN PRESS SCISPO 3358 1—4 Science & Sports (2019) xxx, xxx—xxx 1 Disponible en ligne sur ScienceDirect www.sciencedirect.com BRIEF NOTE 2 3 4 5 6 7 Effect of a single dose of Saffron (Crocus sativus) on anaerobic power in young active males Effet d’une dose de Safran (itCrocus sativus) sur la puissance anaérobie chez des jeunes hommes actifs W. Abassi a, N. Ouerghi a,b,∗, N. Jebabli a, M. Feki b, A. Bouassida a 8 a 9 b 10 Received 1st January 2019; accepted 21 June 2019 University of Jendouba, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, UR13JS01, 7100 Kef, Tunisia University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Rabta Hospital, LR99ES11, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia KEYWORDS 11 Anaerobic power; Saffron; Wingate test 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Summary Aim. — This study aimed to investigate effects of acute dose of saffron (SAF) on anaerobic performance in young active males. Methods. — Twelve male sport students (mean ± SD: age = 21.0 ± 1.41 years) participated in this randomized controlled, double-blind study. Participants completed two experimental trials with one week washout period. In each session, the participant was randomly allocated to receive either a capsule of saffron (SAF session) or a capsule of lactose (PLB session) two hours before performing a 30 sec Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Peak power output, mean power output and fatigue index were measured during the WAnT trial. Results. — Peak power output (10.4 ± 1.43 vs. 9.99 ± 1.48 w/kg, P = 0.05, ES = 0.30), mean power output (4.60 ± 1.28 vs. 4.06 ± 1.11 w/kg, P = 0.002, ES = 0.47) were significantly higher during the SAF session compared to the PLB session, while fatigue index (51.9 ± 7.09 vs. 52.8 ± 7.43%, P = 0.039, ES = 0.13) was significantly lower in the SAF session. Conclusion. — Acute SAF ingestion resulted in significant improvements in WAnT indices. These data suggest that acute SAF intake could be effective to improve anaerobic power. Further research is needed to enlighten mechanisms of potential SAF ergogenic effect. © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. 28 ∗ Corresponding author at: High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, Kef 7100, Tunisia. E-mail address: najm ouerghi@hotmail.com (N. Ouerghi). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2019.06.008 0765-1597/© 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. Please cite this article in press as: Abassi W, et al. Effect of a single dose of Saffron (Crocus sativus) on anaerobic power SCISPO 3358 1—4 in young active males. Sci sports (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2019.06.008 +Model SCISPO 3358 1—4 ARTICLE IN PRESS 2 W. Abassi et al. 29 30 MOTS CLÉS 31 Puissance anaérobie ; Safran ; Test de Wingate 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Résumé Objectifs. — Cette étude visait à évaluer l’effet d’une dose unique en safran (SAF) sur la performance anaérobie chez des jeunes sujets actifs. Méthodes. — Douze étudiants en sciences du sport (moyenne ± écart type: âge = 21,0 ± 1,41 ans) ont consenti à participer à une étude contrôlée randomisée en double aveugle. Chaque participant a effectué deux sessions expérimentales avec un intervalle d’une semaine. Le sujet ingère une capsule de SAF (300 mg) (session SAF) ou de lactose comme placebo (PLB) (session PLB). Deux heures après l’ingestion, il effectue le test anaérobie de Wingate de 30 secondes (WAnT), avec mesure de la puissance maximale, la puissance moyenne et l’indice de fatigue. Résultats. — La puissance maximale (p= 0,050; ES = 0,30) et la puissance moyenne (p= 0,001; ES = 0,47) étaient significativement plus élevées pendant la session SAF comparativement à la session PLB, tandis que l’indice de fatigue (p= 0,039; ES = 0,13) était significativement plus faible au cours de la session SAF. Conclusion. — Une dose unique en SAF entraîne une amélioration significative des indices WAnT, suggérant que le SAF serait efficace pour améliorer la puissance anaérobie. Des recherches supplémentaires seront nécessaires pour éclairer les mécanismes d’un effet ergogénique potentiel du SAF. © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés. 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 1. Introduction 2. Methods 72 Crocus sativus L, commonly known as saffron (SAF) is a small perennial plant derived from the Iridaceae family. This herb is cultivated in many countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Morocco and Spain [1]. SAF has proved health benefits including antidepressant, analgesic, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic effects. SAF or its main component (i.e. quercetin) has been used as physical enhancer, leading to inconsistent results [2,3]. Previous studies examined effect of prolonged SAF/quercetin supplementation on aerobic performance, but no previous studies had examined effect of SAF on short term maximal exercise performance. Most sports are based on this type of exercise, and it is important to improve, even transitory during competitions, anaerobic power in athletes by administrating natural products that are not considered as doping substances. The Wingate test (WAnT) is a simple, objective and sensitive test that is recommended for assessing anaerobic performance [4]. In the present study, we applied the WAnT to investigate potential effect of acute dose of SAF on anaerobic power in active youths. We hypothesized that acute SAF ingestion resulted in an improvement in WAnT indices. 2.1. Study subjects 73 Twelve active young males (mean ± SD: age, 21.0 ± 1.41 years; height, 1.75 ± 0.09 m; body mass, 71.0 ± 8.69 kg; BMI, 23.2 ± 2.13 kg/m2 ) volunteered for this study. Participants were students at the High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef (Tunisia). None was a highly trained athlete and no one was smoker, alcoholic, or having chronic illness. The study was approved by the local ethics committee, and all participants gave informed consent. The procedures were performed in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinki. 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 2.2. Study design In this double-blind randomized trial, each participant performed two experimental sessions with one week washout period. In each session, the participant was randomly allocated to receive either a capsule filled with 300 mg saffron powder (SAF session) or a capsule identical in their appearance filled with 300 mg lactose powder (PLB session). Two hours after ingesting the capsule, each participant performed a 30 sec WAnT with the measure of peak power Figure 1 Study experimental protocol. BP: blood pressure; FI: fatigue index; HR: heart rate; MPO: mean power output; PLB: placebo; PPO: peak power output; SAF: saffron; WAnT: Wingate anaerobic test. Please cite this article in press as: Abassi W, et al. Effect of a single dose of Saffron (Crocus sativus) on anaerobic power SCISPO 3358 1—4 in young active males. Sci sports (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2019.06.008 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 +Model SCISPO 3358 1—4 ARTICLE IN PRESS Saffron and anaerobic power 96 output (PPO), mean power output (MPO) and fatigue index (FI). Participants took their breakfast at home and arrived to carry out the experimentation around 8 a.m. They were asked to maintain their normal dietary behaviour throughout the study. Participants and researchers were kept blinded to the allocation until the completion of the study. 97 2.3. Wingate Anaerobic Test 91 92 93 94 95 112 The WAnT test was conducted on a cycle ergometer (Monark 894E, Vansbro, Sweden). The test consisted of 30 sec maximal sprint against a constant resistance related to body mass (7.5% of body weight). Before test, a warm-up period of 10 min consisted of pedaling at 60 rpm. The seat height was adjusted so that no more than 5 degree of knee flexion was present when the leg was extended. Verbal encouragements were given during the exercise. WAnT indices (i.e. PPO, MPO and FI) were recorded; FI = [(PPO—minimum power output)/PPO)] × 100 and expressed as percent of power decrement. For each participant, heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured as part of monitoring of cardiovascular response to the maximal exercise developed during the WAnt. The study experimental protocol is depicted in Fig. 1. 113 2.4. Statistical analysis 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 120 Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 16.0 software (SPSS Inc., IL). Continuous variables were tested for normality using the Shapiro—Wilk test and compared using Student’s t-test for dependent samples, with statistical significance set at 0.05. Effect size (ES) was calculated using Cohen’s d classification of a small (0.2 ≤ ES < 0.5), moderate (0.5 < ES < 0.8) and large (ES ≥ 0.8) effect size. 121 3. Results 114 115 116 117 118 119 127 In SAF session, PPO (10.4 ± 1.43 vs. 9.99 ± 1.48 w/kg, P = 0.05, ES = 0.30) and MPO (4.60 ± 1.28 vs. 4.06 ± 1.11 w/kg, P = 0.002, ES = 0.47) were significantly higher compared to PLB session. However, FI was significantly lower in SAF session (51.9 ± 7.09 vs. 52.8 ± 7.43%, P = 0.039, ES = 0.13) (Fig. 2). 128 4. Discussion 122 123 124 125 126 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 Acute SAF ingestion resulted in an increase in anaerobic power and a decrease in muscle fatigue. Almost previous studies investigating effect of SAF or its components on physical performance focused on aerobic power and capacity, yielding to conflicting findings. Discrepancies could be due to differences in dose and duration of supplement ingested, and in subjects’ characteristics including health status, tobacco use, dietary intake, body composition and level of physical activity. Mechanisms by which SAF may affect physical performance are not fully elucidated. SAF and its components could act through their anti nociceptive effects, facilitation of tissue oxygenation and increase in muscle mitochondrial biogenesis [2]. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the 3 Figure 2 Effect of a single dose of Saffron (SAF) versus placebo (PLB) on Wingate anaerobic test in active young males; *: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01 (difference between the SAF and PLB sessions). first that showed beneficial effect of acute dose of SAF on WAnT outcomes, which suggest a beneficial effect of SAF on anaerobic power. The WAnT has been largely used to analyse responses to short term maximal exercise. The test is simple to administer, without the need for skilled personnel; inexpensive and non-invasive. In addition, it is sensitive to improvement or deterioration in anaerobic performance, Please cite this article in press as: Abassi W, et al. Effect of a single dose of Saffron (Crocus sativus) on anaerobic power SCISPO 3358 1—4 in young active males. Sci sports (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2019.06.008 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 +Model SCISPO 3358 1—4 ARTICLE IN PRESS 4 W. Abassi et al. 165 and specific in reflecting anaerobic performance rather than fitness in general. The present study has some limitations. Reduced number of participants may have weakened the power of the study. Indeed, the size of the difference between SAF and PLB sessions is often small (ES < 0.5). The study didn’t look for a dose effect by using incrementing dosages of SAF supplements. The participants’ meal before the test was not standardized, which could had influenced the results. The study tested acute effect of SAF, and thus we cannot conclude on a medium- and long-term effect of supplementation. However, an acute beneficial effect is much sought during competitions. Participants enrolled in this study were healthy physically active youth, but no one is highly trained athlete. Future trials should address the topic in confirmed athletes. 166 5. Conclusion 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 A single dose of SAF has beneficial effects on WAnT indices in healthy active youths. Data suggest that acute SAF intake could be effective in increasing anaerobic power. Further research is needed to evaluate effect of SAF intake on physical fitness and enlighten mechanisms of its potential ergogenic effect. 6. Practical applications An acute dose of saffron before a physical exercise may have beneficial effects on anaerobic power and could be a strategy to enhance athlete’s performance during completions. Funding No external funding was received to support the current investigation. 176 177 178 Disclosure of interest 179 The authors declare that they have no competing interest. 180 Acknowledgement 181 The authors thank the participants who volunteered to participate in the study and for their kindness and courage. References [1] Abdullaev FI. Biological effects of saffron. Biofactors 1993;4:83—6. [2] Meamarbashi A, Rajabi A. Potential ergogenic effects of saffron. J Diet Suppl 2016;13:522—9, http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/ 19390211.2015.1120259. [3] Cureton KJ, Tomporowski PD, Singhal A, Paseley JD, Bigelman KA, Lambourne K, et al. Dietary quercetin supplementation is not ergogenic in untrained men. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2009;107:1095—104, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol. 00234.2009. [4] Bar-Or O. The Wingate anaerobic test: an update on methodology, reliability and validity. Sports Medicine 1987;4:381—94, http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00007256-198704060-0000. Please cite this article in press as: Abassi W, et al. Effect of a single dose of Saffron (Crocus sativus) on anaerobic power SCISPO 3358 1—4 in young active males. Sci sports (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2019.06.008 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198