Protease supplementation improves muscle function after eccentric exercise

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Oct;41(10):1908-14. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181a518f0.

Abstract

Protease supplementation has been purported to reduce the damaging effects of eccentric exercise and accelerate recovery of muscle function, possibly by regulating inflammation.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of protease supplementation in attenuating eccentric exercise-induced skeletal muscle damage and inflammation.

Methods: After standard physical and hemodynamic assessment and fasting venous blood samples, subjects performed isokinetic extension/flexion of the quadriceps group on a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer at 60°·s(-1), followed by VO2max testing. Subjects were randomly assigned to consume 5.83 g daily of either a cellulose placebo (N = 15; 22.27 ± 3.33 yr, 71.17 ± 2.91 inches, 179.4 ± 24.05 lb, 50.55 ± 5.66 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)) or a proteolytic supplement containing fungal proteases, bromelain, and papain (N = 14; 22.85 ± 5.9 yr, 70.0 ± 2.67 inches, 173.11 ± 29.94 lb, 49.69 ± 6.15 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)) for a period of 21 d. After the supplementation period, subjects donated blood samples before performing a 45-min downhill (-17.5%) treadmill protocol at 60% of VO2max. An additional four blood draws and three muscle function tests were performed during the next 48 h. Blood was analyzed using standard hematology and clinical chemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and bead array. Blood data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with repeated measures, whereas Biodex data were analyzed using a MANOVA on %Δ values.

Results: Significant group differences (T1-T3, P = 0.033; T1-T4, P = 0.043) and another strong trend (T1-3 h, P = 0.055) were observed for flexion (peak torque %Δ at 60°·s(-1)) indicating higher force production in the protease group. Significant group × time interactions (P < 0.05) were observed, including elevations in circulating eosinophils and basophils in the protease group coinciding with lower levels of serum cyclooxygenase 2, interleukin 6, and interleukin 12 in this group.

Conclusions: Protease supplementation seems to attenuate muscle strength losses after eccentric exercise by regulating leukocyte activity and inflammation.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Basophils / metabolism
  • Creatine Kinase / blood
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / blood
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Dinoprost / analogs & derivatives
  • Dinoprost / blood
  • Dinoprostone / blood
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Eosinophils / metabolism
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / blood
  • Inflammation
  • Interleukins / blood
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Muscle Strength / physiology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / immunology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Peptide Hydrolases / administration & dosage*
  • Quadriceps Muscle / immunology
  • Quadriceps Muscle / physiology
  • Recovery of Function
  • Superoxide Dismutase / blood
  • Torque
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins
  • Interleukins
  • 8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha
  • Dinoprost
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Creatine Kinase
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Dinoprostone