Effect of a honey-sweetened beverage on muscle soreness and recovery of performance after exercise-induced muscle damage in strength-trained females.

Background: This study explores a novel approach to mitigating delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), a common issue among strength-trained females. By investigating the potential of a honey-sweetened beverage, which contains anti-inflammatory properties, we aim to enhance muscle recovery after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Method: A randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled, and double-blinded study was conducted with sixteen female strength athletes. Firstly, the baseline measurements were recorded, and participants were randomly divided into two conditions: honey-sweetened beverage (HSB; 70 g of honey in 250 mL water with a concentration of 28%) and placebo (PLA; 250 mL of water with 70 g of artificial sweetener). The HSB and PLA were consumed 90 min before the EIMD started (200 vertical jumps with 10% body-weighted vests). Recovery monitoring of performance indicators and DOMS was performed after EIMD. The results of wall-sit, V-Sit and reach flexibility test (VSFT), vertical jump height (VJH), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and one repetition maximum (IRM) tests were recorded 48 h after EIMD. Also, DOMS was recorded using the visual analog scale (VAS) before the start of the test and immediately, 12, 24, and 48 h after EIMD. A one-week interval was considered a washout period for each condition. The collected data were analyzed by repeated measures of ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test and dependent t-test at P ≤ 0.05 level. Results: Compared to PLA, HSB ingestion improves wall-sit performance (p = 0.003), 1RM (p = 0.019), and RPE (p = 0.003) after EIMD. However, no significant differences were observed between BL, PLA, and HSB in VJH (p = 0.384), VSFT (p = 0.840), and PPT (p = 0.151) after EIMD. Furthermore, HSB, compared to PLA, considerably decreased the values of DOMS immediately, 12, 24, and 48 h after EIMD (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings illustrated that ingesting HSB in strength-trained females can be a helpful strategy for improving recovery indicators such as muscle strength, endurance, and muscle soreness after EIMD.

Effect of Off-Season Iron Supplementation on Aerobic Capacity of Female Handball Player: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background: Iron supplementation, especially in female athletes, is 1 of the influential factors in aerobic capacity, and its deficiency can lead to significant problems related to reduced aerobic capacity. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of 3 wk of iron supplementation on the aerobic capacity of female handball players. Methods: In this randomized, double-blinded, and placebo control trial, 14 elite handball players (age: 21.6 ± 5.68 y; height: 169.5 ± 4.9 cm; weight: 62.2 ± 9.25 kg; body mass index (in kg/m2): 21.5 ± 2.9) randomly divided into 2 supplement groups (receiving a 100 mg/d of poly-maltose tri hydroxide iron complex in the form of tablets) and the placebo group (receiving a tablet containing 100 mg/d starch which is the same color and shape as iron tablets). The supplementation protocol was performed for 3 wk during the off-season. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), amounts of carbon dioxide at the first ventilatory threshold, amounts of carbon dioxide at the second ventilatory threshold, time to exhaustion (TTE), pulmonary ventilation (VE), ventilatory equivalents for oxygen, amounts of oxygen at the first ventilatory threshold, amounts of oxygen at the second ventilatory threshold, time to reach first ventilatory threshold, end-tidal partial pressure of oxygen at the first ventilatory threshold, end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide at the first ventilatory threshold and ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide were measured using the Bruce test and gas analyzer in 2 pretest and posttest stages. Results: There were significant improvements in oxygen at the first ventilatory threshold, time to reach first ventilatory threshold, and end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide at the first ventilatory threshold and a significant decrease in end-tidal partial pressure of oxygen at the first ventilatory threshold (P < 0.05). Also, no significant changes were found in VO2max, carbon dioxide at the first ventilatory threshold, carbon dioxide at the second ventilatory threshold, oxygen at the second ventilatory threshold, TTE, VE, ventilatory equivalents for oxygen, and ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide after 3 wk of iron supplementation (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The study found that 3 wk of off-season iron supplementation positively impacted female handball players' aerobic capacity; however, it did not significantly improve their VO2max.