Effect of Lyophilized Cornelian Cherry on Anaerobic Performance in Young Football Players

A balanced diet plays a role in preventing injuries, improving athletic performance, and accelerating post-exercise recovery in adolescents who engage in physical activity. The physiological response to exercise can vary depending on the duration, intensity, and frequency of exercise, as well as environmental conditions. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production triggered by high-intensity exercise or other stress factors in athletes can lead to oxidative stress and subsequent tissue damage by weakening the antioxidant defense system. Therefore, athletes may need to maintain increased ROS scavenging activity. Additionally, physical exercise can lead to injuries in skeletal muscle tissue, leading to decreased performance. Therefore, strategies to manage exercise-related injuries and post-exercise inflammatory processes may contribute to accelerating exercise adaptation and recovery. Recently, there has been increasing support for the possibility of improving exercise performance through supplementation with fruit-derived polyphenols. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites abundant in plant foods and are divided into four main groups: lignans, stilbenes, and flavonoids. Anthocyanins, a subclass of flavonoids, are found in red, purple, and blue vegetables and fruits. Anthocyanins are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and therefore, they are thought to prevent adverse physiological effects such as fatigue and post-exercise inflammation, which can potentially occur during exercise. The potential mechanism of action is thought to be related to antioxidant and vascular effects. Turkey is among the countries where cornelian cherries, another fruit with high biological value due to their anthocyanin and other phenolic compounds, are cultivated. Randomized controlled trials have examined the effectiveness of freeze-dried cornelian cherry supplements in various disease groups. Studies have observed positive effects on lipid profiles, as well as parameters related to body mass index (BMI), body weight, waist and hip circumference, and insulin resistance. Another randomized controlled trial has indicated that cornelian cherry supplementation may be effective in accelerating post-exercise recovery in athletes. While the literature has evaluated the effects of various forms of supplementation with fruits high in anthocyanins on sports performance, studies examining anaerobic power and capacity with cornelian cherry supplementation in adolescent athletes are limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of freeze-dried cornelian cherry fruit on anaerobic performance in adolescent soccer players.