A botanical extract blend of Mangifera indica and Sphaeranthus indicus combined with resistance exercise training improves muscle strength and endurance over exercise alone in young men: a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

2024-05-03
Frontiers in nutrition 11
- Dawna Salter
- Shubhatara Swamy
- Kevin Manohar Salis
- Dheeraj Kumar Deep
- Pratibha Nadig

PubMed: 38765822
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1393917

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population: Ninety-nine men (age 22 ± 3)
Methods: Randomized, four groups, 8 weeks of RET with SMI supplementation at 425 mg or 850 mg daily vs placebo, with one or two sets of RET
Duration: 8 weeks
Funding: Unclear

Resistance exercise training (RET) is used to improve muscular strength and function. This study tested the hypothesis that RET alongside daily supplementation of a Sphaeranthus indicus and Mangifera indica extract blend (SMI) would augment bench press (BP) and leg extension (LE) strength and repetitions to failure (RTF) compared to RET alone. Ninety-nine men (age 22 ± 3) completed the trial after randomization into one of four groups: (A1) 425 mg SMI plus one RET set; (A2) 850 mg SMI plus one RET set; (P1) placebo plus one RET set; and (P2) placebo plus two RET sets. RET sets were 6-8 BP and LE repetitions at 80% of a progressive one repetition maximum (1-RM), performed 3x/week for 8 weeks. Strength and RTF were evaluated at baseline and days 14, 28, and 56 while serum values of total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), and cortisol (C) values were evaluated at baseline and day 56. RET significantly (p < 0.05) increased 1-RM, RTF, and T measures above baselines regardless of group assignment, but the increases were greater in the supplemented groups. At week 8, A1 bench pressed more than P1 (71.5.5 ± 17.5 kg vs. 62.0 ± 15.3 kg, p = 0.003), while A2 pressed 13.8 ± 3.0 kg more (95% CI 5.7-21.8, p < 0.001) than P1 and 9.9 ± 13.0 kg more (95% CI 1.7-18.2, p = 0.01) than P2. Also at week 8, the mean LE 1-RM of A1 (159.4 ± 22.6 kg) and A2 (162.2 ± 22.9 kg) was greater (p < 0.05) than that of P1 (142.2 ± 25.6 kg) and P2 (146.5 ± 19.7 kg). Supplementation improved RTF, TT, and FT values over those measured in exercise alone (p < 0.05), while C levels in A2 (9.3 ± 3.8 μg/dL) were lower than P2 (11.7 ± 3.8 μg/dL, p < 0.05). Daily supplementation with SMI was well tolerated and may help optimize muscle adaptive responses to RET in men.

Research Insights

Indian Sphaeranthus→Improved Bench Press 1-RM Strength
At week 8, A1 bench pressed more than P1 (71.5.5 ± 17.5 kg vs. 62.0 ± 15.3 kg, p = 0.003), while A2 pressed 13.8 ± 3.0 kg more (95% CI 5.7-21.8, p < 0.001) than P1 and 9.9 ± 13.0 kg more (95% CI 1.7-18.2, p = 0.01) than P2.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Indian Sphaeranthus→Improved Leg Extension Strength
Also at week 8, the mean LE 1-RM of A1 (159.4 ± 22.6 kg) and A2 (162.2 ± 22.9 kg) was greater (p < 0.05) than that of P1 (142.2 ± 25.6 kg) and P2 (146.5 ± 19.7 kg).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Indian Sphaeranthus→Improved Muscle Strength
At week 8, A1 bench pressed more than P1 (71.5.5 ± 17.5 kg vs. 62.0 ± 15.3 kg, p = 0.003), while A2 pressed 13.8 ± 3.0 kg more (95% CI 5.7-21.8, p < 0.001) than P1 and 9.9 ± 13.0 kg more (95% CI 1.7-18.2, p = 0.01) than P2. Also at week 8, the mean LE 1-RM of A1 (159.4 ± 22.6 kg) and A2 (162.2 ± 22.9 kg) was greater (p < 0.05) than that of P1 (142.2 ± 25.6 kg) and P2 (146.5 ± 19.7 kg).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Indian Sphaeranthus→Improved Repetitions to Failure
Supplementation improved RTF, TT, and FT values over those measured in exercise alone (p < 0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Indian Sphaeranthus→Increased Testosterone Level
Supplementation improved RTF, TT, and FT values over those measured in exercise alone (p < 0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Indian Sphaeranthus→Increased Total Testosterone
Supplementation improved RTF, TT, and FT values over those measured in exercise alone (p < 0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Indian Sphaeranthus→Reduced Cortisol Levels
C levels in A2 (9.3 ± 3.8 μg/dL) were lower than P2 (11.7 ± 3.8 μg/dL, p < 0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Mango→Improved Bench Press 1-RM Strength
At week 8, A1 bench pressed more than P1 (71.5.5 ± 17.5 kg vs. 62.0 ± 15.3 kg, p = 0.003), while A2 pressed 13.8 ± 3.0 kg more (95% CI 5.7-21.8, p < 0.001) than P1 and 9.9 ± 13.0 kg more (95% CI 1.7-18.2, p = 0.01) than P2.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Mango→Improved Leg Extension Strength
Also at week 8, the mean LE 1-RM of A1 (159.4 ± 22.6 kg) and A2 (162.2 ± 22.9 kg) was greater (p < 0.05) than that of P1 (142.2 ± 25.6 kg) and P2 (146.5 ± 19.7 kg).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Mango→Improved Repetitions to Failure
Supplementation improved RTF, TT, and FT values over those measured in exercise alone (p < 0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Mango→Increased Testosterone Level
Supplementation improved RTF, TT, and FT values over those measured in exercise alone (p < 0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Mango→Increased Total Testosterone
Supplementation improved RTF, TT, and FT values over those measured in exercise alone (p < 0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily
Mango→Reduced Cortisol Levels
C levels in A2 (9.3 ± 3.8 μg/dL) were lower than P2 (11.7 ± 3.8 μg/dL, p < 0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
425–850 mg SMI blend daily

Adverse Events Reported

Mango→Overall tolerability
Daily supplementation with SMI was well tolerated
Finding
Reported
Indian Sphaeranthus→Overall tolerability
Daily supplementation with SMI was well tolerated
Finding
Reported