Discussion
muscle soreness, Inflammation
INFLAMMATION
This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial showed that blueberry ingestion during an 18-d period decreased plasma concentrations of pro-inflammatory diHOMEs and increased anti-inflammatory DHA- and EPA-generated HDoHE and SPM-intermediate oxylipins during the 4-day recovery period after an acute 90-min bout of unaccustomed exercise in untrained adults. Blueberry intake did not alter the post-exercise increase in muscle soreness and damage, or the downturn in exercise test performance.Relatively few acute and chronic exercise-based studies have been conducted using oxylipins as a primary outcome measureNutrition supplements including arachidonic fatty acids, sports beverages, bananas, blueberries, almonds, aronia citrus juice, and astaxanthin been investigated for their potential influence on the oxylipin response to varying exercise modes and workloadsUnderlying mechanisms are still being explored but limited data suggest that increases in gut-derived phenolics and changes in the gut microbiome from added polyphenol intake may influence oxylipin production through effects on related enzyme systems including cPLA2, CYP, sEH, LOX, and COXIn this study, blueberry intake was related to higher post-exercise plasma levels of SPM intermediate oxylipins but not the actual SPMs. This finding is comparable to results from a study of EPA and DHA supplementation (10 weeks) with systemically inflamed adultsThis investigation and others have shown that diet-based interventions can influence the oxylipin response to exercise stress without effects on muscle soreness and damage or exercise performanceIn conclusion, this study demonstrated that a proper balance between pro-inflammatory and pre-resolution pathways can be supported by a nutritional intervention within an exercise stress context. Inflammation resolution is a complex process that involves tissue rebuilding, regulation of excessive neutrophil migration and oxidative burst activity, stimulation of local macrophages, clearance of cell debris, and the proper balance of both oxylipin and cytokine production