Watermelon Juice: Potential Functional Drink for Sore Muscle Relief in Athletes

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 61; no. 31; pp. 7522 - 7528
• Main Authors: Tarazona-Díaz, Martha P, Alacid, Fernando, Carrasco, María, Martínez, Ignacio, Aguayo, Encarna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 07-08-2013
• Subjects: Athletes; Beverages - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Availability; Caco-2 Cells; citrulline; Citrulline - analysis; Citrulline - metabolism; Citrullus - chemistry; Citrullus - metabolism; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food industries; Fruit - chemistry; Fruit - metabolism; Functional Food - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Handling, storage, packaging, transport; heart rate; heat treatment; human cell lines; Humans; in vitro studies; in vivo studies; intestinal absorption; juices; Male; Muscles - physiology; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; watermelons; Young Adult; anaerobic performance; bioavailability; cellular transport; l-citrulline; Caco-2 cell; pasteurization; cellular absorption; Fruit; Digestive system; Watermelon; Gut; Pasteurization; Bioavailability; Citrulline; Absorption; L-citrulline; Anaerobe; Muscle; Performance; Transport; Cell
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf400964r

l-Citrulline is an excellent candidate to reduce muscle soreness, and watermelon is a fruit rich in this amino acid. This study investigated the potential of watermelon juice as a functional drink for athletes. An in vitro study of intestinal absorption of l-citrulline in Caco-2 cells was performed using unpasteurized (NW), pasteurized (80 °C for 40 s) watermelon juice (PW) and, as control, a standard of l-citrulline. l-citrulline bioavailability was greater when it was contained in a matrix of watermelon and when no heat treatment was applied. In the in vivo experiment (maximum effort test in a cycloergometer), seven athletes were supplied with 500 mL of natural watermelon juice (1.17 g of l-citrulline), enriched watermelon juice (4.83 g of l-citrulline plus 1.17 g from watermelon), and placebo. Both watermelon juices helped to reduce the recovery heart rate and muscle soreness after 24 h.