Background: Inflammation and muscle soreness sometimes occur after high-intensity exercise in some athletes. Aim:
This study aimed to determine the effect of 8-weeks of ginger supplementation on serum COX2, PGE2, and IL6 in response to exhaustive exercise in female taekwondo athletes.
Methodology: In this semi-experimental study, 24 semi-professionals female taekwondo athletes (mean age 19.75±2.03 years, height 160±6 cm, weight 53.99±7.49 kg) were selected voluntarily. Subjects were randomly assigned to the ginger supplement + exhaustive (GE+EE) and exhaustive exercise (EE) groups. Twenty-four doses of 2000 mg of pure ginger supplement (3 days/week for 8 weeks) were taken in the morning and evening (4 capsules of 500 mg: 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening). Then Bruce's test was performed as an exhaustive exercise. Blood samples were collected in two stages before and after the intervention, and serum levels of COX2, PGE2, and IL6 were measured using the Elisa method. T-tests and analysis of variance with repeated measures were used to examine intra-group changes and compare between groups from pre-test to post-test using SPSS version 25 software.
Results
The results showed a significant increase in the level of serum COX2 P=(0.01), and no significant increase in the level of serum PGE2 (P = 0.64) and IL6 (P = 0.39) in the EE group compared to baseline levels. Also, there was a significant decrease in the level of serum PGE2 (P < 0.001), COX2 (P = 0.003), and IL6 (P = 0.006) in the group of GE+EE compared to baseline levels. In addition, there was a significant difference between the group of GE+EE and the EE (P<0.001). GE+EE group, in comparison with the EE group, partially reduced inflammation.
Conclusion
Taking 8-weeks of ginger supplementation can effectively reduce muscle inflammation following exhaustive exercise in female taekwondo athletes.