From Anthocyanins to Resveratrol: Polyphenols for Enhanced Post-Exercise Recovery and Performance

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on exploring the benefits of naturally occurring phytochemicals for post-exercise recovery, health preservation, and performance enhancement. The trend towards personalized approaches for optimizing athletic performance, especially in endurance and strength sports, has led to an increased investigation of phytochemicals in the sports performance studies. Acknowledging the role of sports nutrition in influencing performance, the tailored dietary interventions before, during, and after training or competition to expedite recovery has been studied extensively in recent decades. The individualized nature of these interventions considers various factors such as the specific sport, gender, training periodization, athlete’s goals, and environmental influences. Polyphenols like anthocyanins (found in blackcurrant and blueberry), curcumin, quercetin, cocoa flavanols, and resveratrol are frequently linked with sports performance. Existing literature suggests that polyphenol supplements may alleviate muscle soreness and enhance recovery from exercise-induced muscular injuries. While it has been demonstrated that polyphenol supplements can reduce oxidative stress, minimize muscle damage, and the effects of anthocyanins on blood flow, metabolic pathways, and positive effects on peripheral muscle fatigue expedite recovery, the impact of acute or long-term consumption on strength and endurance performance remains uncertain. Consequently, further research is needed to assess the potential ergogenic benefits of polyphenol consumption on exercise performance.