1.Combined effects of bee pollen supplementation and resistance training on aerobic capacity, muscular performance, antioxidant status, and bone metabolism markers in young men: A randomised controlled trial
Nurathirah Na&rsquo ; aim ; Chee Keong Chen ; Foong Kiew Ooi ; Mahaneem Mohamed
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2022;28(No.2):239-251
Introduction: This study investigated the combined effects of bee pollen and
resistance training on aerobic capacity, muscular performance, antioxidant status,
and bone metabolism markers among young men. Methods: Forty young men were
randomly assigned into four groups: sedentary control (C), bee pollen supplementation
(BP), resistance training (RT), and combined bee pollen supplementation and
resistance training (BPRT) groups. Bee pollen was consumed by participants in
BP and BPRT groups (1500 mg daily for eight weeks). Resistance training was
performed thrice per week for eight weeks in RT and BPRT groups. Participants’
anthropometry, aerobic capacity, isokinetic muscular peak torque (strength), and
average power were measured. Concentrations of serum total antioxidant status
(TAS), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and
serum C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (1CTP) were determined. Results:
After eight weeks of intervention, there was a significant decrease in 1CTP in BP
group. In RT group, significant increases were observed in both muscular strength
and power. In BPRT group, significant increases in both muscular strength and
power, and a significant decrease in 1CTP were observed after 8 weeks. There were
no significant changes in aerobic capacity, serum TAS, SOD, and ALP in all the
study groups. Conclusion: Resistance training using dumbbells and elastic bands
seemed to elicit beneficial effects on muscular strength and power, while bee pollen
supplementation alone reduced the level of bone resorption marker. In addition,
combining bee pollen with resistance training seemed to offer additive benefit in
muscular strength and power.