Glucosinolate-rich broccoli sprouts protect against oxidative stress and improve adaptations to intense exercise training
M. Flockhart,
L.C. Nilsson,
E.N. Tillqvist,
F. Vinge,
F. Millbert,
J. Lännerström,
P.H. Nilsson,
D. Samyn,
W. Apró,
M.L. Sundqvist,
F.J. Larsen
Affiliations
M. Flockhart
Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Biomechanics, Åstrand Laboratory, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden; Corresponding author.
L.C. Nilsson
Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Biomechanics, Åstrand Laboratory, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
E.N. Tillqvist
Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Biomechanics, Åstrand Laboratory, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
F. Vinge
Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Biomechanics, Åstrand Laboratory, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
F. Millbert
Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Biomechanics, Åstrand Laboratory, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
J. Lännerström
Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Biomechanics, Åstrand Laboratory, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
P.H. Nilsson
Linnaeus Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden; Department of Chemistry and Biomedicine, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
D. Samyn
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden; School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
W. Apró
Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Biomechanics, Åstrand Laboratory, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
M.L. Sundqvist
Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Biomechanics, Åstrand Laboratory, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
F.J. Larsen
Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Biomechanics, Åstrand Laboratory, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden; Corresponding author.
Oxidative stress plays a vital role for the adaptive responses to physical training. However, excessive oxidative stress can precipitate cellular damage, necessitating protective mechanisms to mitigate this effect. Glucosinolates, found predominantly in cruciferous vegetables, can be converted into isothiocyanates, known for their antioxidative properties. These compounds activate crucial antioxidant defence pathways and support mitochondrial function and protein integrity under oxidative stress, in both Nrf2-dependent and independent manners. We here administered glucosinolate-rich broccoli sprouts (GRS), in a randomized double-blinded cross-over fashion to 9 healthy subjects in combination with daily intense exercise training for 7 days. We found that exercise in combination with GRS significantly decreased the levels of carbonylated proteins in skeletal muscle and the release of myeloperoxidase into blood. Moreover, it lowered lactate accumulation during submaximal exercise, and attenuated the severe nocturnal hypoglycaemic episodes seen during the placebo condition. Furthermore, GRS in combination with exercise improved physical performance, which was unchanged in the placebo condition.
