Juçara (Euterpe Edulis Martius) Supplementation Effect in Muscle Protection, Performance and Soreness in Lower Limbs After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Juçara (Euterpe Edulis Martius) Supplementation Effect in Muscle Protection, Performance and Soreness in Lower Limbs After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Six-Week Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

The purpose of this study is to find out if taking a natural supplement made from the Juçara fruit (a Brazilian berry rich in antioxidants called anthocyanins) can help the body recover faster after damage caused by exercise. Researchers want to see if Juçara can reduce muscle soreness and help muscles regain their strength and quality more quickly compared to a placebo (a "dummy" pill with no active ingredients).

What happens during the study? The study included 24 healthy, active men. It was a "crossover" study, meaning every participant tried both the Juçara supplement and the placebo at different times.

Supplement Phase: Participants took 12 capsules a day for 7 days.

Muscle Damage Test: To cause temporary muscle damage, participants performed a specific jumping protocol (100 maximal jumps).

Recovery Monitoring: Researchers tracked the participants for 72 hours after the jumps to measure:

How high they could jump (strength/performance).

Muscle soreness (using a pain scale).

Muscle "quality" and stiffness (using ultrasound imaging).

Wait Period: After the first phase, participants waited 14 days (washout) before switching to the other supplement to repeat the process.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males
• Aged 18-40 years
• Physically active, defined as performing at least three exercise sessions per week according to IPAQ questionnaire
• No history at lower-limb within the previous six months
• No medical restrictions for maximal exercise testing
• No allergy to red fruits
• No physical, cognitive and/or psychological limitations affecting the execution or understanding of the protocol
• No history of lower-limb surgery
• No use nutritional supplements within 30 days prior to study initiation
• Abstention from caffeine, cacao, yerba mate tea, and soft drinks during the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals younger than 18 or older than 40 years
• Not physically active, defined as performing fewer than three exercise sessions per week according to IPAQ questionnaire
• Presence of history at lower-limb injury within the previous six months
• Presence of medical restrictions for maximal exercise testing
• Known allergy to red fruits
• Presence of physical, cognitive and/or psychological limitations affecting the execution or understanding of the protocol
• History of lower-limb surgery
• Use of nutritional supplements within 30 days prior to study initiation
• Inability to abstain from caffeine, cacao, yerba mate tea, and soft drinks during the study protocol