Ursolic acid supplementation decreases markers of skeletal muscle damage during resistance training in resistance-trained men: a pilot study

• Published in: The Korean journal of physiology & pharmacology 2017, 21(6), , pp.651-656
• Main Authors: Bang, Hyun Seok, Seo, Dae Yun, Chung, Young Min, Kim, Do Hyung, Lee, Sam-Jun, Lee, Sung Ryul, Kwak, Hyo-Bum, Kim, Tae Nyun, Kim, Min, Oh, Kyoung-Mo, Son, Young Jin, Kim, Sanghyun, Han, Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original; 약리학
• ISSN: 1226-4512; 2093-3827
• DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2017.21.6.651

Ursolic acid (UA) supplementation was previously shown to improve skeletal muscle function in resistance-trained men. This study aimed to determine, using the same experimental paradigm, whether UA also has beneficial effects on exercise-induced skeletal muscle damage markers including the levels of cortisol, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in resistance-trained men. Sixteen healthy participants were randomly assigned to resistance training (RT) or RT+UA groups (n=8 per group). Participants were trained according to the RT program (60~80% of 1 repetition, 6 times/week), and the UA group was additionally given UA supplementation (450 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained before and after intervention, and cortisol, BNP, myoglobin, CK, CK-MB, and LDH levels were analyzed. Subjects who underwent RT alone showed no significant change in body composition and markers of skeletal muscle damage, whereas RT+UA group showed slightly decreased body weight and body fat percentage and slightly increased lean body mass, but without statistical significance. In addition, UA supplementation significantly decreased the BNP, CK, CK-MB, and LDH levels (p