Tribulus terrestris extracts alleviate muscle damage and promote anaerobic performance of trained male boxers and its mechanisms： Roles of androgen, IGF-1, and IGF binding protein-3

Purpose: To investigate the effects of Tribulus terrestris(TT) extracts on muscle mass, muscle damage, and anaerobic performances of trained male boxers and its mechanisms: roles of plasma androgen, insulin growth factor 1(IGF-1), and IGF-1 binding protein-3(IGFBP-3).Methods: Fifteen male boxers were divided into exercise group(E, n = 7) and exercise plus TT group(E + TT, n = 8). The 2 groups both undertook3-week high-intensity and 3-week high-volume trainings separated by a 4-week rest. TT extracts(1250 mg/day) were orally administered by boxers in E + TT group. TT extract compositions were detected by UHPLC–Q-TOF/MS. Before and at the end of the 2 trainings, muscle mass, anaerobic performance, and blood indicators were explored.Results: Compared with E group, decreases of plasma CK(1591.5 ± 909.6 U/L vs. 2719.9 ± 832.5 U/L) and IGFBP-3(3075.5 ± 1072.5 ng/m L vs. 3950.8 ± 479.3 ng/m L) as well as increases of mean power(MP, 459.4 ± 122.3 W vs. 434.6 ± 69.5 W) and MP/body weight(MP/BW, 7.5 ± 0.9 W/kg vs. 7.1 ± 1.1 W/kg) were detected in E + TT group after a high-intensity training. For high-volume training, reduction of IGFBP-3(2946.4 ± 974.1 ng/m L vs. 3632.7 ± 470.1 ng/m L) and increases of MP(508.7 ± 103.2 W vs. 477.8 ± 49.9 W) and MP/BW(8.2 ± 0.3 W/kg vs.7.5 ± 0.9 W/kg) were detected in E + TT group, compared with E group. Muscle mass, blood levels of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone(DHT),and IGF-1 were not signifiantly changed between the 2 groups.Conclusion: Taking 1250 mg capsules containing TT extracts did not change muscle mass and plasma levels of testosterone, DHT, and IGF-1 but significantly alleviated muscle damage and promoted anaerobic performance of trained male boxers, which may be related to the decrease of plasma IGFBP-3 rather than androgen in plasma.

Purpose： To investigate the effects of Tribulus terrestris （TT） extracts on muscle mass, muscle damage, and anaerobic performances of trained male boxers and its mechanisms： roles of plasma androgen, insulin growth factor 1 （IGF-1）, and IGF-1 binding protein-3 （IGFBP-3）. Methods： Fifteen male boxers were divided into exercise group （E, n = 7） and exercise plus TT group （E ＋ TT, n = 8）. The 2 groups both undertook 3-week high-intensity and 3-week high-volume trainings separated by a 4-week rest. TT extracts （1250 mg/day） were orally administered by boxers in E ＋ TT group. TT extract compositions were detected by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Before and at the end of the 2 trainings, muscle mass, anaerobic performance, and blood indicators were explored. Results： Compared with E group, decreases of plasma CK （1591.5 ± 909.6 U/L vs. 2719.9 ± 832.5 U/L） and IGFBP-3 （3075.5 ± 1072.5 ng/mL vs. 3950.8 ± 479.3 ng/mL） as well as increases of mean power （ME 459.4 ± 122.3 W vs. 434.6 ± 69.5 W） and MP/body weight （MP/BW, 7.5 ± 0.9 W/kg vs. 7.1 ± 1.1 W/kg） were detected in E ＋ TT group after a high-intensity training. For high-volume training, reduction of IGFBP-3 （2946.4 ± 974.1 ng/mL vs. 3632.7 ± 470.1 ng/mL） and increases of MP （508.7 ± 103.2 W vs. 477.8 ± 49.9 W） and MP/BW （8.2 ± 0.3 W/kg vs. 7.5 ± 0.9 W/kg） were detected in E ＋ TT group, compared with E group. Muscle mass, blood levels of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone （DHT）, and IGF-1 were not signifiantly changed between the 2 groups. Conclusion： Taking 1250 mg capsules containing TT extracts did not change muscle mass and plasma levels of testosterone, DHT, and IGF-1 but significantly alleviated muscle damage and promoted anaerobic performance of trained male boxers, which may be related to the decrease of plasma IGFBP-3 rather than androgen in plasma.