The study, published in Germany's International Journal of Sports Medicine and reported on by Reuters Health, involved eight physically active young men. The study was funded by the maker of the protein powder Actibiomax, Paris-based Merck-MF Richeletch makes Actibiomax. The researchers attributed the improvement in fatigue to the higher antioxidant levels in the supplement group. Actibiomax contains 18 amino acids, ten vitamins and ten minerals. The product is advertised in Europe as protecting the body from free radicals that are generated during intense physical exercise. Undertaken at France's Evry Val d'Essonne University, the study surveyed a group of men including middle- or long-distance runners, as well as recreational athletes. The men underwent an exercise test on a stationary bicycle at both the outset and conclusion of the study. The researchers observed that over the period of 28 days, the men who took the supplement showed no change in their exercise performance as compared with that of the placebo group. However, the difference was that these same participants were said to have tired less quickly, as observed during short and intense workouts where they pedaled as fast as they could at a high resistance. The group given the supplements also showed heightened antioxidant activity and fewer signs of oxidative damage following workouts, based on results from blood tests. Oxidative damage can affect cells after intense physical activity, thereby opening-up the potential for the alleviating and repairing effect of antioxidant ingredients in sports performance products.
