Plant-based Bioactive Compounds Protecting Skeletal Muscle Health in Exercise and Diseases
Faculty Mentor Name
NA
Research or Creativity Area
Business
Abstract
Background: Skeletal muscle health is critically influenced by oxidative stress and inflammation, particularly under conditions of eccentric exercise or metabolic disorders such as obesity. Plant-based bioactive compounds, such as avenanthramides (AVA) from oats and oleocanthal (OCT) from extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), have demonstrated promising protective effects against these stressors by modulating oxidative and inflammatory pathways.
Purpose: This study hypothesizes that dietary AVA and OCT protect skeletal muscle functions by mitigating oxidative damage and inflammatory signaling in response to eccentric exercise and high-fat diet-induced metabolic dysfunction.
Results: Oat AVA supplementation significantly attenuated downhill running (DR)-induced skeletal muscle damage in young adults. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels, a marker of skeletal muscle injury, were reduced by 19.5% and 23.6% at 24 and 48 h post-exercise, respectively (P<0.05). Neutrophil respiratory burst (NRB), a key source of reactive oxygen species, was significantly lowered across 0–48 h post-exercise (P<0.05). AVA also decreased pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and G-CSF, increased anti-inflammatory biomarker IL-1Ra, and reduced adhesion molecules including sVCAM-1 and MCP-1 (P<0.05), suggesting modulation of immune cells recruitment and oxidative stress. Additionally, AVA alleviated muscle soreness at 48 and 72 h post-exercise measured by pain rating scale (P<0.05). Meanwhile, OCT, a phenolic compound in EVOO with ibuprofen-like properties, has previously demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory effects through cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition. In our high-fat diet-fed rat model, EVOO supplementation improved mitochondrial biogenesis through PGC-1α activation, and preserved skeletal muscle mass by reducing muscle atrophy-related genes MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 while increasing antioxidant enzymes SOD2 and catalase (P<0.05). In addition, high-fat diet-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions were restored by upregulating mitochondrial fusion protein MFN2 and suppressing mitochondrial fission protein DRP1 (P<0.05). When combined with exercise training, OCT further enhanced muscle protection from high-fat diet, supporting its synergistic role in exercise training to protect metabolic health in high-fat diet.
Conclusions: Plant-based bioactive compounds offer natural, food-derived strategies to reduce exercise- and diet-induced muscle inflammation and oxidative damage. These findings lay the groundwork for translational applications of these bioactive compounds in sports nutrition and chronic disease prevention.
Purpose
This study hypothesizes that dietary AVA and OCT protect skeletal muscle functions by mitigating oxidative damage and inflammatory signaling in response to eccentric exercise and high-fat diet-induced metabolic dysfunction.
Results
Oat AVA supplementation significantly attenuated downhill running (DR)-induced skeletal muscle damage in young adults. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels, a marker of skeletal muscle injury, were reduced by 19.5% and 23.6% at 24 and 48 h post-exercise, respectively (P<0.05). Neutrophil respiratory burst (NRB), a key source of reactive oxygen species, was significantly lowered across 0–48 h post-exercise (P<0.05). AVA also decreased pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and G-CSF, increased anti-inflammatory biomarker IL-1Ra, and reduced adhesion molecules including sVCAM-1 and MCP-1 (P<0.05), suggesting modulation of immune cells recruitment and oxidative stress. Additionally, AVA alleviated muscle soreness at 48 and 72 h post-exercise measured by pain rating scale (P<0.05). Meanwhile, OCT, a phenolic compound in EVOO with ibuprofen-like properties, has previously demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory effects through cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition. In our high-fat diet-fed rat model, EVOO supplementation improved mitochondrial biogenesis through PGC-1α activation, and preserved skeletal muscle mass by reducing muscle atrophy-related genes MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 while increasing antioxidant enzymes SOD2 and catalase (P<0.05). In addition, high-fat diet-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions were restored by upregulating mitochondrial fusion protein MFN2 and suppressing mitochondrial fission protein DRP1 (P<0.05). When combined with exercise training, OCT further enhanced muscle protection from high-fat diet, supporting its synergistic role in exercise training to protect metabolic health in high-fat diet.
Significance
Plant-based bioactive compounds offer natural, food-derived strategies to reduce exercise- and diet-induced muscle inflammation and oxidative damage. These findings lay the groundwork for translational applications of these bioactive compounds in sports nutrition and chronic disease prevention.
Location
Room 211A, University of the Pacific, DeRosa University Center
Start Date
26-4-2025 10:45 AM
End Date
26-4-2025 11:00 AM
Plant-based Bioactive Compounds Protecting Skeletal Muscle Health in Exercise and Diseases
Room 211A, University of the Pacific, DeRosa University Center
Background: Skeletal muscle health is critically influenced by oxidative stress and inflammation, particularly under conditions of eccentric exercise or metabolic disorders such as obesity. Plant-based bioactive compounds, such as avenanthramides (AVA) from oats and oleocanthal (OCT) from extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), have demonstrated promising protective effects against these stressors by modulating oxidative and inflammatory pathways.
Purpose: This study hypothesizes that dietary AVA and OCT protect skeletal muscle functions by mitigating oxidative damage and inflammatory signaling in response to eccentric exercise and high-fat diet-induced metabolic dysfunction.
Results: Oat AVA supplementation significantly attenuated downhill running (DR)-induced skeletal muscle damage in young adults. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels, a marker of skeletal muscle injury, were reduced by 19.5% and 23.6% at 24 and 48 h post-exercise, respectively (P<0.05). Neutrophil respiratory burst (NRB), a key source of reactive oxygen species, was significantly lowered across 0–48 h post-exercise (P<0.05). AVA also decreased pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and G-CSF, increased anti-inflammatory biomarker IL-1Ra, and reduced adhesion molecules including sVCAM-1 and MCP-1 (P<0.05), suggesting modulation of immune cells recruitment and oxidative stress. Additionally, AVA alleviated muscle soreness at 48 and 72 h post-exercise measured by pain rating scale (P<0.05). Meanwhile, OCT, a phenolic compound in EVOO with ibuprofen-like properties, has previously demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory effects through cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition. In our high-fat diet-fed rat model, EVOO supplementation improved mitochondrial biogenesis through PGC-1α activation, and preserved skeletal muscle mass by reducing muscle atrophy-related genes MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 while increasing antioxidant enzymes SOD2 and catalase (P<0.05). In addition, high-fat diet-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions were restored by upregulating mitochondrial fusion protein MFN2 and suppressing mitochondrial fission protein DRP1 (P<0.05). When combined with exercise training, OCT further enhanced muscle protection from high-fat diet, supporting its synergistic role in exercise training to protect metabolic health in high-fat diet.
Conclusions: Plant-based bioactive compounds offer natural, food-derived strategies to reduce exercise- and diet-induced muscle inflammation and oxidative damage. These findings lay the groundwork for translational applications of these bioactive compounds in sports nutrition and chronic disease prevention.
