The Effects of Antioxidant Supplementation on Soccer Performance and Recovery: A Critical Review of the Available Evidence.

2024-11-06
Nutrients 16(22)
- Athanasios Poulios
- Konstantinos Papanikolaou
- Dimitrios Draganidis
- Panagiotis Tsimeas
- Athanasios Chatzinikolaou
- Athanasios Tsiokanos
- Athanasios Z Jamurtas
- Ioannis G Fatouros

PubMed: 39599590
DOI: 10.3390/nu16223803

Study Design

Type: Review
Methods: English-language publications from the main databases that examine how antioxidant-based nutrition and supplements affect the recovery process before, during, and after soccer practice or competition were used.

Rigorous Journal

Background Soccer is linked to an acute inflammatory response and the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidant supplements have shown promising effects in reducing muscle damage and oxidative stress and enhancing the recovery process after eccentric exercise. This critical review highlights the influence of antioxidant supplements on performance and recovery following soccer-related activity, training, or competition. Methods: English-language publications from the main databases that examine how antioxidant-based nutrition and supplements affect the recovery process before, during, and after soccer practice or competition were used. Results:Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), astaxanthin (Asx), red orange juice (ROJS), L-carnitine (LC), N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), beetroot (BET), turmeric root, and tangeretin reduce muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin, cortisol, lactate dehudrogenase, muscle soreness). Tangeretin, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), turmeric root, and aronia melanocarpa restrict inflammation (leukocytes, prostalagdin E2, C-reactive protein, IL-6 and 10). Q10, DHA, Asx, tangeretin, lippia citriodora, quercetin, allopurinol, turmeric root, ROJS, aronia melanocarpa, vitamins C-E, green tea (GTE), and sour tea (STE) reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehude, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1). BET and NAC reinforce performance (endurance, jump, speed, strength). Conclusions: Further research is needed to determine the main mechanism and the acute and long-term impacts of antioxidant supplements in soccer.

Research Insights

Aronia→Reduced Inflammation
restrict inflammation (leukocytes, prostaglandin E2, C-reactive protein, IL-6 and 10)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Aronia→Reduced Oxidative Stress
reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Astaxanthin→Reduced Muscle Damage
reduce muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin, cortisol, lactate dehydrogenase, muscle soreness)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Astaxanthin→Reduced Oxidative Stress
reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
L-Carnitine→Reduced Muscle Damage
reduce muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin, cortisol, lactate dehydrogenase, muscle soreness)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
N-Acetyl Cysteine→Improved Endurance
BET and NAC reinforce performance (endurance, jump, speed, strength)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
N-Acetyl Cysteine→Increased Jump Height
BET and NAC reinforce performance (endurance, jump, speed, strength)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
N-Acetyl Cysteine→Increased Speed
BET and NAC reinforce performance (endurance, jump, speed, strength)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
N-Acetyl Cysteine→Increased Strength
BET and NAC reinforce performance (endurance, jump, speed, strength)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
N-Acetyl Cysteine→Reduced Muscle Damage
reduce muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin, cortisol, lactate dehydrogenase, muscle soreness)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Quercetin→Reduced Oxidative Stress
reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Tangerine→Reduced Inflammation
restrict inflammation (leukocytes, prostaglandin E2, C-reactive protein, IL-6 and 10)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Tangerine→Reduced Muscle Damage
reduce muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin, cortisol, lactate dehydrogenase, muscle soreness)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Tangerine→Reduced Oxidative Stress
reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Verbena→Reduced Oxidative Stress
reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Vitamin C→Reduced Oxidative Stress
reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Vitamin E→Reduced Oxidative Stress
reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
beetroot→Improved Endurance
BET and NAC reinforce performance (endurance, jump, speed, strength)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
beetroot→Increased Jump Height
BET and NAC reinforce performance (endurance, jump, speed, strength)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
beetroot→Increased Speed
BET and NAC reinforce performance (endurance, jump, speed, strength)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
beetroot→Increased Strength
BET and NAC reinforce performance (endurance, jump, speed, strength)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
beetroot→Reduced Muscle Damage
reduce muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin, cortisol, lactate dehydrogenase, muscle soreness)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
green tea→Reduced Oxidative Stress
reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
turmeric root→Reduced Inflammation
restrict inflammation (leukocytes, prostaglandin E2, C-reactive protein, IL-6 and 10)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
turmeric root→Reduced Muscle Damage
reduce muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin, cortisol, lactate dehydrogenase, muscle soreness)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
turmeric root→Reduced Oxidative Stress
reduce oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutases, protein carbonyls, ascorbate, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase 1)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small