• Abbas Meamarbashi and Ali Rajabi.
• Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
• Clin J Sport Med. 2015 Mar 1; 25 (2): 105-12.

ObjectiveDelayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) often occurs after unaccustomed eccentric exercise and reduces exercise performance. We aimed to study the preventive effects of saffron and indomethacin on the biochemical and functional indicators of DOMS after 1-session eccentric exercise.DesignA 10-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pretest-posttest design.SettingControlled research laboratory.ParticipantsThirty-nine nonactive male university students randomly divided into saffron (n = 12), indomethacin (n = 12), and control (n = 15) groups.InterventionsSaffron group received 1 capsule containing dried saffron powder (n = 12, 300 mg/d), indomethacin group received 75 mg indomethacin (n = 12, 25 mg thrice a day), and control group (n = 15) received placebo capsules, 1 week before and 3 days after eccentric exercise. Ten days before and 24, 48, and 72 hours after muscle soreness protocol, the maximum isometric and isotonic forces, plasma creatine kinase (CK), plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), perceived pain, knee range of movement, and thigh circumference were measured. Muscle soreness protocol was performed with a weight load equal to 80% of the maximum isotonic force in 4 sessions with 20 repetitions and 3-minute rest in between.Main Outcome MeasuresThis study shows that 10-day supplementation with 300 mg saffron significantly decreased the CK and LDH concentrations (P < 0.0001). In the saffron group, there was no decline in maximum isometric and isotonic forces after eccentric exercise, but a significant decline in the isometric force was observed in the control group (P < 0.0001). No pain was reported in the saffron group, whereas the indomethacin group experienced pain before 72 hours (P < 0.001).ConclusionsResults obtained from the current novel research indicate a strong preventive effect of 10-day supplementation with saffron on the DOMS.Clinical RelevanceThe saffron can be used to prevent DOMS and alleviate the DOMS symptoms.

29 keywords...

hide…