Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC) license

Author

MSc in Exercise Physiology

Abstract

Aim: silymarin has anti -inflammatory, antioxidant, stabilizes cell membranes and regulate cell permeability properties and could be prevent the undesirable some of muscle damage indices in patients and even athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential cytoprotective effects of administration of silymarin in youth male soccer athletes after one-bout resistance exercise.
Method: Eighteen young male soccer players (mean age 16.09±1.31 years, body fat 14.21±2.87% and BMI 21.96±0.70 kg.m2) in a quasi-experimental and randomized design. All subjects were divided in two homogeneous supplement and placebo groups of 9 subjects: (include: 140 mg capsules silymarin or dextrose 3 times daily for two week). After the supplementation, all subjects were participated a one- bout circle resistance exercise protocol (with 80 %  1-RM in 3 sets with 6 repetition) include six station participated. Changes in cellular damage indices (total serum CK and LDH) were determined in three stages (baseline, after supplementation period and 24 hours after the exercise). Data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA, bonferroni and independent t test at α≤0.05.
Results: The results showed that the silymarin supplementation had no significant effect on the basal cell enzymes activity (P≥0.05). Moreover, resistance exercise significantly increased  level of cellular injury serum enzymes 24-hour after exercise in both group (P≤0.05). However, the change range in all of cell enzymes activity of placebo group was significantly more than in the silymarin group after 24 hours of exercise (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the present findings, it maybe concluded that silymarin supplementation did significantly prevent further undesirable changes resistance exercise-induced cell damage in young male soccer players.

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