Taxifolin in SPORT

An individual, undergoing intense physical training, utilizes oxygen at levels exceeding 75% of maximum values. The challenge here is that sustained physical exercise may result in an inadequate supply of oxygen to working muscles (known as tissue hypoxia), a result of insufficient blood supply to the tissues due to poor microcirculation.

Moreover, during maximal exercise, the metabolism of the tissue is violated. Muscles accumulate lactic acid, which causes fatigue and complicates recovery after training.

Studies show that the application of taxifolin is able to solve these problems very efficiently. Specifically, taxifolin is able to:

• Improve intracardial hemodynaimcs and intensify blood flow to the myocardium
• Help to return pathologic microcirculation to normal, thus, optimizing tissue blood flow
• Contribute to the redistribution of blood flow within small arteries, thus, enhancing blood supply to ischemia-affected tissues
• Enhance blood flow to muscles
• Enhance pulmonary mechanics and improve lung ventilation and blood gas composition
• Help to increase РО2 (oxygen partial pressure) and blood oxygenation

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Studies of taxifolin (dihydroquercetin) were conducted during the training period of the Russian Olympic Team prior to the 2008 Olympic Games. The studies were supervised by S. A. Parastaev, M. D., a member of the medical commission of the Russian Olympic Committee, Professor of Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, and Physical Education of the Russian State Medical University.

The studies showed that taxifolin can be utilized by professional athletes in daily doses of up to 100-200 mg during the training period, which requires aerobic and anaerobic endurance, as well as during the competition period when the workload is at its maximum.

When dissolved, taxifolin is rapidly and completely absorbed by the human body (bioavailability), thus promoting antioxidative activity.

We provide our own methods of qualitative and quantitative testing of taxifolin in premixes and in any type of end products. End product control is performed utilizing ultraviolet spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) subject to the state reference standard (GSO No. 9054-20080).

Federal State Educational Institution of Higher Professional Training

RUSSIAN STATE UNIVERSITY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SPORT AND TOURISM (RGUFKSMIT)

Sport Research Institute

RESEARCH REPORT

Effect of Taxifolin (Dihydroquercetin) on physical work capacity in top athletes practicing cyclic sports

Project Director S.K. Sarsania, M.D., Prof.

INTRODUCTION

Topicality of the research. Professional sport training and participation in competitions involve strenuous efforts and constantly growing training loads to be executed by athletes. For this reason we feel the need to detect and investigate specific factors, which may help improve physical work capacity in top athletes and speed up the recovery after training exertion. On the one hand, these factors are related to optimal planning of both competition and training loads according to biological adaptation laws with the use of pharmacological support. On the other hand, these factors comprise efficient recovery of the organism after physical training. The recovery process is based on well-balanced nutrition and intake of food supplements of high biological value and high metabolic capacity, which intensify the synthesis of morphological structures and activate favourable physiological reactions. In a long list of biologically active additives, we found it interesting to study a product with the trade name Taxifolin, chemical name (Dihydroquercetin)-98%, produced by the company "Taxifolia" Ltd., Belgorod (Registration #77.99.11.3.У.7914.8.09; date of registration 24.08.2009). A preliminary information study showed that this product might be called a model antioxidant free of admixtures (pitches, essential oils), its purity being not less than 98%. The base substance is found in the bottom part of Siberian larch and Dahurian larch [18].

Principal properties of Taxifolin:

• improvement of microcirculation;
• preventing thrombus formation;
• enhancement of work capacity and intensification of recovery processes after high physical and psycho-emotional loads;
• strengthening of capillary walls;
• bringing triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations in blood to normal level;

Hypothesis. Taking into account the ability of Taxifolin to protect capillaries and improve microcirculation, we suggest that the use of Taxifolin increases oxygen supply and utilization in skeletal muscles, thus resulting in development of aerobic capacities and growth of results in endurance sports.

Purpose. The purpose of our research was to estimate short-term and long-term effects of Taxifolin intake on aerobic capacity of working muscles, functional capacity of the cardiovascular system, and short-term recovery after maximal physical exertion.

Subjects. 5 top-class male athletes (Masters of Sport; Masters of sport, International Class) participated in the research. The age of the subjects varied from 23 to 28 years; all the subjects have been practicing skiing, cycling, and mountain running for many years.

Object of investigation: aerobic capacity of skeletal muscles and functional capacity of the cardiovascular system.

Principal tasks:

1. estimate short-term adaptive effects of Taxifolin intake on

1) functional capacity of the cardiovascular system at rest and

2) immediate recovery of physiological parameters after physical exertion;

2. estimate long-term adaptive effects of Taxifolin intake on

1) functional capacity of the cardiovascular system at rest and

2) immediate recovery of physiological parameters after physical exertion;

3. estimate short-term adaptive effects of Taxifolin intake on aerobic capacity of skeletal muscles;

4. estimate long-term adaptive effects of Taxifolin intake on aerobic capacity of skeletal muscles.

Taxifolin (Dihydroquercetin) is not a medicine and a doping.