Tribulus Terrestris may decrease muscle damage markers following a high-intensity resistance exercise: A pilot study

Abstract

Abstract. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two weeks of Tribulus Terrestris ( TT) on the responses of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and enzymes creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) following a single session of resistance exercise (RE). Eighteen healthy non-athlete males (age: 22.44 ± 2.54 years, BMI: 26.15 ± 1.62 kg/m2) participated in this study and were divided randomly into two 9-person groups of supplementation or placebo. The participants consumed two 250-mg capsules of TT or placebo (maltodextrin) per day and performed six REs with the intensity 80, 85, and 90% of 1RM in three circles at the day after the end of supplementation period. Blood samples were collected before the initiation of supplementation, and before and after the RE session. Total changes of IL-6 ( p<0.001) and LDH ( p=0.005) were significant in both groups. Bonferroni post hoc test showed that increased values of IL-6 and CPK in both groups were significant after exercise compared with pre-exercise and baseline ( p<0.001). There were no significant differences in relation to within- and between-group changes in hs-CRP ( p>0.05). Moreover, differences between the groups regarding post-exercise IL-6 and CPK were not significant ( p>0.05). However, post-exercise LDH in supplementation group were lower than placebo group ( p=0.015). In conclusion, short-term supplementation with TT has no effect on IL-6 and hs-CRP, but may be effective on the reduction of muscle damage enzymes CPK and LDH following high-intensity circuit RE.