Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
2 1. Faculty of Motor Sciences, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, Email: reyhanevahabi@yahoo.com, Orcid: 0000-0001-9203-8281
Abstract
Background and aim: Honey, a natural source of carbohydrates and bioactive compounds, possesses potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but its efficacy in team-sport athletes remains underexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the acute effects of honey supplementation on plasma CK and IL-6 concentrations following high-intensity incremental exercise in young male handball players. Methods: In a double-blind, semi-experimental design, 30 amateur young male handball players were randomly assigned to three groups (n=10 each): Honey Supplementation + High-Intensity Incremental Exercise (SUP+HIT), Placebo + High-Intensity Incremental Exercise (PL+HIT), and Honey Supplementation (SUP). Blood samples were collected at baseline, immediately after the exercise (HIT 1), and one hour post-exercise (HIT 2) to analyze CK and IL-6 levels. Results: At baseline, no significant differences existed between groups. The high-intensity incremental exercise provoked significant increases in both CK and IL-6 in the exercise groups. However, this response was significantly attenuated in the SUP+HIT group compared to the PL+HIT group. One hour post-exercise, the PL+HIT group showed increases of 62% in CK and 47% in IL-6, whereas the SUP+HIT group showed significantly lower increases of 32% and 27%, respectively (p < 0.001 between groups). The SUP group exhibited no significant increase in either biomarker. Conclusion: Honey supplementation effectively attenuates the acute rise in plasma CK and IL-6 following high-intensity exercise in handball players. These findings suggest that honey is a valuable nutritional intervention for reducing biochemical markers of muscle damage and inflammation, thereby potentially enhancing recovery in team-sport athletes.
Main Subjects
)