Purslane supplementation lowers oxidative stress, inflammatory and muscle damage biomarkers after high-intensity intermittent exercise in female runners

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of purslane supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation and muscle damage biomarkers after completing high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Methods: Nine healthy female runners completed a HIIE treadmill protocol comprising 1 min at 100% of the peak treadmill velocity attained in a preliminary exhaustive incremental treadmill test, interspersed by 1 min of passive recovery, until they had run for 2.5 km. Athletes repeated this test following 10 days of supplementation with 1000 mg per day of purslane. Results: At baseline (i.e., absence of purslane supplementation) the HIIE protocol increased 9-HODE (p < 0.001), 13-HODE (p < 0.001), IL-17 (p < 0.001), TNF-α (p < 0.001), and LDH (p < 0.001). After purslane consumption, resting 9-HODE, 13-HODE, IL-17, TNF-α, and LDH were lowered (p < 0.001) and IL-10 was increased (p < 0.001) compared to before purslane supplementation. After purslane consumption and following the HIIE protocol, the responses of these biomarkers were lower compared to baseline (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Ten days of purslane supplementation blunted the perturbation to biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation and muscle damage in female runners completing a HIIE protocol.