The acute effect of Quercetin on muscle performance following a single resistance training session

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology Vol. 118; no. 5; pp. 1021 - 1031
• Main Authors: Patrizio, Federica, Ditroilo, Massimiliano, Felici, Francesco, Duranti, Guglielmo, De Vito, Giuseppe, Sabatini, Stefania, Sacchetti, Massimo, Bazzucchi, Ilenia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.05.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Biomarkers; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Blindness; Electromyography; Human Physiology; Humans; Knee; Male; Muscle contraction; Muscle Fatigue; Muscle Strength; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Myalgia - prevention & control; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Physical training; Quercetin; Quercetin - administration & dosage; Quercetin - pharmacology; Quercetin - therapeutic use; Resistance Training; Sports Medicine; Strength training; Young Adult; Flavonoids; Electromyography; Muscle damage; Strength
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-018-3834-y

Purpose To examine the effect of acute quercetin (Q) ingestion on neuromuscular function, biomarkers of muscle damage, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) in response to an acute bout of resistance training. Methods 10 young men (22.1 ± 1.8 years, 24.1 ± 3.1 BMI) participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Subjects consumed Q (1 g/day) or placebo (PLA) 3 h prior to a resistance training session which consisted of 3 sets of 8 repetitions at 80% of the one repetition maximum (1RM) completed bilaterally for eight different resistance exercises. Electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from the knee extensor muscles during maximal isometric (MVIC) and isokinetic voluntary contractions, and during an isometric fatiguing test. Mechanical and EMG signals, biomarkers of cell damage, and RPE score were measured PRE, immediately POST, and 24 h (blood indices only) following the resistance exercise. Results After a single dose of Q, the torque–velocity curve of knee extensors was enhanced and after the resistance exercise, subjects showed a lower MVIC reduction (Q: 0.91 ± 6.10%, PLA: 8.66 ± 5.08%) with a greater rate of torque development (+ 10.6%, p  < 0.005) and neuromuscular efficiency ratio (+ 28.2%, p  < 0.005). Total volume of the resistance exercises was significantly greater in Q (1691.10 ± 376.71 kg rep) compared to PLA (1663.65 ± 378.85 kg rep) ( p  < 0.05) with a comparable RPE score. No significant differences were found in blood marker between treatments. Conclusions The acute ingestion of Q may enhance the neuromuscular performance during and after a resistance training session.