The Preventive Efficacy of Selenium Supplements on Muscle Soreness Post Heavy Eccentric Exercise

Abstract

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is the muscle pain and stiffness following unaccustomed or strenuous physical activity that initially appears 8 – 20 h after exercise, peaks at 24 – 48 h after exercise and persists for several days and affect performance. The aim of the present study was to examine the physiological effects of selenium supplementation on delayed-onset muscle soreness and muscle damage. Thirty-two recreational male students of Sports Science Department, Universitas Negeri Surabaya were randomly and double-blindly assigned to either a selenium supplementation group (n=16) or a Placebo group (n=16) and were directed to take either a selenium capsule or a placebo for a period of 3-weeks. Following the 3-weeks supplementation period, both groups underwent a 10-set x 10-rep countermovement jump (1-min recovery between sets) as an eccentric exercise protocol. Pain of DOMS and CK level were measured prior to the eccentric exercise 1-hr before, 24-hr and 48-hr after eccentric exercise. the result of this study showed that both groups experienced Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) and increased total CK serum within 24 to 48 hours post heavy eccentric exercise. The results indicated that the selenium-supplemented group had a significantly greater reduction in plasma DOMS and total CK serum compared to the Placebo group (p<0.05). In summary, selenium supplementation might lower the risk of muscle injury after heavy eccentric exercise, as it effectively reduces plasma DOMS and CK levels in the bloodstream