Acute effect of rosemary supplementation on aerobic capacity, blood lactate, and fatigue index in female athletes

Subject Areas : Biochemistry and Sport Nutrition

Adnan Fatahi ^{1 *} , Naser Heidari ² , Mahbobeh Sadat Nabavinejad ³

1 - Department of Physical Education, Mari.C., Islamic Azad University, Marivan, Iran.
2 - Department of Physical Education, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Department of Education and Development, Javad Abad District, Varamin, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2024-12-30 Accepted : 2025-03-05 Published : 2025-03-12

Keywords: Rosemary Extract, Exercise Performance, Lactate, Aerobic Capacity, Fatigue Index.,

Abstract :

Fatigue is one of the variables that has a negative impact on athletes' performance, so overcoming fatigue is one of the important goals of athletes' training. To achieve this goal, various interventions including herbal and synthetic supplements, have been used by athletes. Rosemary is an herbal supplement whose antioxidant effects have been confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the acute effect of rosemary supplementation on aerobic capacity, blood lactate, and fatigue index in female athletes.

This semi-experimental study involved 12 female athletes selected as volunteers from 30 people, aged 20 to 30 years and with a BMI between 18 and 24 in sports clubs in Marivan, Iran, who had at least a 5-year history of regular training (excluding menstruation). Based on maximal oxygen consumption, they were divided into two groups: experimental (6 people) and control (6 people). During the preparation period (for two weeks), the subjects consumed 960 mg of rosemary extract and placebo in two doses, morning and afternoon. In the pre-test and post-test stages, blood samples were taken before and after the exhausting activity to determine serum blood lactate levels. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software. The normal distribution of the data was examined using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and repeated measures analysis of variance and dependent t-test were used to analyze the data at a significance level of p<0.05.

Data analysis showed that taking rosemary supplement along with preparation exercises did not have a significant double effect on aerobic capacity (p>0.05). It was also observed that the blood lactate response to stimulant activity was weakened by rosemary supplementation and the fatigue index was significantly reduced (p<0.05).

According to the research results, it can be concluded that although rosemary supplementation had no significant effect on aerobic capacity, it was able to reduce lactate levels, which can be effective in delaying fatigue.

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