Supplementation with embryo chicken egg extract improves exercise performance and exerts anti-fatigue effects via AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway in mice

J Sci Food Agric. 2021 Mar 15;101(4):1411-1418. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.10754. Epub 2020 Sep 21.

Abstract

Background: Embryo chicken egg is a nutritional supplement that has been used to enhance physical fitness and promote wound healing according to traditional Chinese medicine for many years. In this study, we evaluated the effects of embryo chicken egg extract (ECE) on the exercise performance and fatigue in mice and the underlying mechanisms.

Results: The results indicated that ECE can prolong the exhaustive swimming time, decrease lactic acid, blood urea nitrogen, creatine kinase, and malondialdehyde levels, and increase superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glycogen levels. Additionally, ECE can also regulate the balance of oxidative stress via the adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway.

Conclusion: Taken together, these results showed that ECE can improve exercise performance and reduce physical fatigue in mice, which indicates that ECE can be used as a potential supplement to reduce physical fatigue. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Keywords: embryo chicken egg extract; exercise performance; fatigue; oxidative stress; signalling pathway.

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chickens
  • Creatine Kinase / metabolism
  • Eggs / analysis*
  • Fatigue / diet therapy*
  • Fatigue / genetics
  • Fatigue / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Signal Transduction
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Lactic Acid
  • Malondialdehyde
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Creatine Kinase