The Effects of choline and Hydro-Alcoholic Extracts of Sage Supplementation on Peripheral Fatigue and Muscular Performance in Adult Male Soccer Players During a Soccer - Specific Intermittent High - Intensity Running Protocol

Fatigue as a complex phenomenon is caused by peripheral muscle weakness or by a failure to initiate or sustain a voluntary drive to the muscle by the CNS. During a soccer match, players exercise with a relatively high intensity. It is therefore not surprising that fatigue occurs causing the performance to fall off in the later stages of the match in the second half. Since decision-making as well as technical and tactical aspects are important elements in soccer, fatigue towards the end of the match could cause deteriorations in mental and physical performance. The availability of choline, the precursor of the neurotransmitter of acetylcholine, in the diet is sufficient to meet the body’s requirements under normal conditions. Preliminary evidence indicates that the depletion of choline may limit the performance while oral supplementation may delay fatigue during prolonged efforts. A double-blind design was used to determine the relationship between plasma choline andacetylcholine to fatigue during a soccer-specific intermittent running protocol. Thirty adult male soccer players were divided into three groups randomly: placebo group and two experimental groups that ingested flavored water, lecithin and hydro-alcoholic extract of sage 2.5 hours before and during a soccer-specific intermittent running protocol. The peripheral choline and acetylcholine levels were determined from venous blood samples collected 2.5 hours before, half-time and immediately after the soccer-specific intermittent running protocol. Subjects also completed the POMS and RPE. Based on our observations that during the soccer-specific intermittent protocol or towards the end of the soccer match fatigue in adult male soccer players is associated with reduced plasma choline and acetylcholine, our working hypothesis was that a high ratio of choline and acetylcholine in the plasma prevents peripheral fatigue and subsequently enhances performance in soccer matches.