Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate muscle damage and inflammatory response following eccentric exercise as well as the effect of carbohydrate supplement on these responses in untrained men.
Methods: Eighteen healthy untrained men were randomly allocated into two carbohydrate (age 21/33+/-0/7 years) and placebo (age 20/66+/-1/22 years) groups. Forty-five repetitions of eccentric elbow flexion were performed with 90% of one maximum repetition by each subject. The exercises were done as three sets of 15 repetitions with 3 minutes rest between sets. Venous blood samples were obtained at pre-exercise, immediately, 8h, and 24h after exercise. Subjects consumed a 6% carbohydrate or placebo drink immediately following the exercise session, every hour, for 10 hours.
Results: CK activities and IL-6 levels were significantly greater than per-exercise in immediately, 8 h and 24 h after exercise in both groups (P<0.05). No significant increases was observed in CRP levels immediately, 8 h and 24 h after exercise versus baseline, in both groups (P>0.05), but in 8 h versus immediately after exercise, the augmentation in the carbohydrate group was significant(P<0.05). Blood glucose increased significantly 8 h after exercise versus baseline in both groups (P<0.05). There was significant difference in serum IL-6 between two groups in 8 h and 24 h after exercise (P<0.05) and it was greater in carbohydrate group. There was no significant difference in serum CK, CRP, and glucose between two groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion: According to results, carbohydrate increased the inflammatory (IL-6) response following resistance exercise, but had no effects on CRP and CK.