The effect of lemon balm extract on oxidative stress biomarkers in adolescent football players

Poster Presentation
Paper ID : 1244-SSRC
Authors
1Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
2Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
3Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction and Objectives: Football is a sport that include anaerobic high-intensity activities. The increasing oxidation of macromolecules and increase in ROS caused by a football match could also lead to cell dysfunction. Furthermore, excessive ROS production is closely related to ageing and some chronic disease. Oxidative stress caused by cellular redox imbalance may lead to DNA damage, which has been observed in various cancer cells compared to normal cells. This makes monitoring the antioxidant status and antioxidant supplementation advisable for football players to limit oxidative stress and cellular damage. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a plant rich in rosmarinic acid, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of dried extract of lemon balm on stress oxidative biomarkers in adolescent football players.
Equipment and Methods: Twenty-two healthy amateur football players (age: 12.7 ±1.4 years (mean±SD); Body mass index 17.0±1.6 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to receive either 1.5 g/day of dried extract of lemon balm or a placebo for one week. Following this, the players consumed a standard breakfast and participated in a football game, (two 45 min half times within 15 min of rest), and blood samples were collected before supplement consumption, before the match, and 30- and 90-minutes post-match to measure Malondialdehyde, Total antioxidant capacity, Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase, and Catalase.
Results: Mean Total Antioxidant Capacity (0.17±0.08 vs. 0.17±0.07), Superoxide Dismutase (15.04±7.29 vs. 17.03±5.46), and Glutathione Peroxidase (160.33±70.28 vs. 159.50±78.44) significantly increased after the football match (Total Antioxidant Capacity: (0.25±0.61 vs. 0.24±0.04), Superoxide Dismutase: (20.56±6.06 vs. 21.43±6.76), Glutathione Peroxidase: (337.11±122.76 vs. 309.73±96.66); p<0.05), but there were no significant changes in Malondialdehyde and Catalase compared to pre-match. Additionally, no significant differences were observed between the intervention and placebo group.
Conclusion: Football match caused antioxidant responses, one week of lemon balm supplementation, however, had no significant impact on oxidative stress and antioxidant response in amateur adolescent football players.
Keywords