5-Hydroxymethylfurfural and Alpha-Ketoglutaric Acid as an Ergogenic Aid During Intensified Soccer Training: A Placebo Controlled Randomized Study

Abstract

Intensified training may lead to fatigue or even a state of overreaching with temporary reductions in performance. Any aid helping to prevent these consequences and to better tolerate such a training regime would be of great importance. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and α-ketoglutaric acid (α-KG) supplementation has been suggested to support favorable training outcomes but its effectiveness to facilitate adaptations during an intensified training period has never been investigated. During an in-season competition break (2 weeks), seventeen young outfield soccer players (age:14.7 ± 0.4 yr) performed a 9-day lasting shock microcyle including 5–7 repeated sprint exercise sessions in addition to the regular training (∼6 sessions/wk) and match (1–2 matches/wk) schedule. Before the training period a treadmill test to exhaustion, a YOYO intermittent recovery level 2 (YYIR2) and a repeated sprint ability (RSA) test were performed. The treadmill test was repeated 3 days after the shock microcycle whereas the YYIR2 and the RSA test on day 10 after the training. Magnitude based inference analysis showed likely positive effects of the 5-HMF/α-KG compared to the control group for changes in the maximal running velocity (+0.3 ± 0.7 vs. −0.3 ± 0.8 km/h) and running velocity at lactate turn-point 1 (+0.2 ± 0.4 vs. −0.2 ± 0.6) and lactate turn-point 2 (+0.4 ± 0.4 vs. −0.2 ± 0.6 km/h, for the 5-HMF/α-KG and placebo group, respectively). Training improved YYIR2 performance (+180 ± 67 vs. +200 ± 168m) and RSA (mean time: −0.1 ± 0.1 vs. −0.1 ± 0.1s, for the 5-HMF/α-KG and placebo group, respectively) in both groups and to the same extent. In conclusion, an in-season shock microcyle including repeated sprint training improves YYIR2 performance and RSA in youth soccer players. Supplementation with 5-HMF/α-KG did not modify training adaptations but led to likely positive exercise performance responses shortly after the intensified training regime.

Keywords:

• block periodization
• football
• performance
• recovery
• sprint interval training

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the participating players for their enthusiasm and cooperation.

Declaration of interest

The supplement and the placebo were obtained from C.Y.L. Pharmazeutika GmbH. The company had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

About the authors

Hannes Gatterer, PhD, Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy; Department of Sport Science, University Innsbruck, Austria. Research interests are Exercise physiology, high altitude physiology, exercise testing, body composition, dietary supplements.

Thomas Böcksteiner, MMag, Soccer Academy Sturm Graz, Graz, Austria. Research interests are Soccer training, testing, coaching.

Alexander Müller, Mag, Exercise Physiology, Training and Training Therapy Research Group, Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Sports Science Laboratory, Institute of Health and Tourism Management, University of Applied Sciences-FH JOANNEUM, Bad Gleichenberg, Austria. Reasearch interest are Exercise physiology, exercise testing, supplementation, training therapy.

Helmut Simi, PhD, Sports Science Laboratory, Institute of Health and Tourism Management, University of Applied Sciences-FH JOANNEUM, Bad Gleichenberg, Austria. Research interest are Exercise physiology, exercise testing, supplementation, training therapy, COPD.

Christoph Krasser, MSc, Soccer Academy Sturm Graz, Graz, Austria. Research interest are Exercise physiology, exercise testing, soccer training.

Radosav Djukic, PhD, Spartamedic, Graz, Austria. Research interest are Endurance training, strength training, dietary supplements, prevention, oxidative stress.

Rainer Schroth, MD, Schroth Klinik, Obervellach, Austria. Research interest are Exercise training, nutrition, health, therapy, cure.

Dietmar Wallner, Mag, Dr, MAS, MSc, Sports Science Laboratory, Institute of Health and Tourism Management, University of Applied Sciences-FH JOANNEUM, Bad Gleichenberg, Austria. Research interest are Exercise training, exercise testing, exercise physiology, nutrition.