In addition, post-match values for mean circuit time and perceived exertion were significantly lower when compared to the pre- and post-condition of the control group.
"To our knowledge, the combination of mangiferin and quercetin supplements is one such uncharted territory,” the team of Greek researchers wrote in the journal Nutrients. "These findings highlight the potential of pre-game mangiferin–quercetin supplementation to enhance intermittent high-intensity efforts in sports such as basketball."
The supplement used in the independent study contained a combination of 84 mg of mangiferin (presented as 140 mg of Zynamite, Nektium Pharma S.L., Las Palmas, Spain) and 140 mg of quercetin (provided as 280 mg of Sophora Japonica flower extract, Aki Organic, Repentigny, QC, Canada).
Nutritional strategies for athletes
Previous research shows that medium- to high-intensity exercise requires the primary contribution of phosphocreatine and the fast glycolytic system. For sports involving explosive, high-intensity muscle efforts over longer durations like basketball, aerobic metabolism is also critical.
Mangifera indica L. leaf extract (MLE) has emerged as a potential aid to support exercise performance thanks to its rich mangiferin-quercetin content, a combination that has shown significant potential to enhance muscle power, peak oxygen uptake and improve brain oxygenation.
However, much of research to date supports the benefits of mangiferin and quercetin supplementation on exercise performance in non-athlete populations, the Greek researchers noted, highlighting that more studies are needed to understand the effects among athletes, particularly among basketball players.
Study details
The study recruited 38 highly-trained male basketball players, with participants split into an experimental group and a control group. During the study period, both groups received a placebo one hour before a basketball exercise stimulation test (BEST) as the pre-condition. The next week, the experimental group received a mangiferin-quercetin supplement (84 mg/140 mg), and the control group consumed a second placebo.
During the BEST, the researchers recorded heart rate, circuit time and sprint time and measured capillary blood lactate levels (La-), the subjective rating of muscle soreness (RPMS) and the perceived exertion (RPE) at rest prior to and following the exercise simulation.
Findings indicated significant associations between mean circuit time and RPE with supplement intake, as well as marginal associations with La- levels. In addition, the experiment group had significantly lower post condition values for mean circuit time and RPE when compared to the pre- and post-condition of the control group.
“The significance of our study lies in uncovering initial evidence suggesting that pre-game mangiferin–quercetin supplementation may positively influence sports characterized by intermittent high-intensity efforts, such as basketball,” the researchers concluded.
They added that the findings suggest that co-administration of quercetin and mangiferin may be more effective in mitigating the reactive oxygen nitrogen species (RONS) generated during exercise within muscle compared to single compounds.
The study called for further investigation into the specific mechanisms of action behind the observed effect and expanding the study to a more representative sample that includes both male and female participants.
Source: Nutrients
doi: doi.org/10.3390/nu16010170
“Effects of a Singular Dose of Mangiferin–Quercetin Supplementation on Basketball Performance: A Double-Blind Crossover Study of High-Level Male Players”
Authors: Dimitrios I. Bourdas et al.