Supplementation with Açaí Pulp (Euterpe Precatoria) Alters Recovery Parameters After High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise (HIIT)

The objective was to evaluate the effects of açaí pulp on recovery and antioxidant activity after High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Twenty-four men (22.3 ± 1.8 years, 75.1 ± 8.9 kg and 173.8 ± 6.7 cm) participated, with 13 men allocated to the Açai Group (GA) and 11 men to the Control Group (CG). Assessments were carried out to determine a) Peak aerobic speed on a treadmill (PAS), b) TBARS (Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Species) and TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity), c) Echo-intensity (EI) in the Vastus Lateralis (VL), Rectus Femoris (RF), Gastrocnemius Medialis (GM), and Tibialis Anterior (TA), d) Countermovement Jump Height (CMJ), and e) 30 m Sprint Time. The HIIT consisted of 10 sets of 60s in treadmill at 100% to PAS, followed by 75s of passive recovery. The GA was supplemented with 1250 ml of açaí pulp (5 days before HIIT-250 ml/day). Time-treatment interactions were observed for the echo-intensity of the RF [F = 2.681; <i>p</i> = .037; η2p = .109; ES = 0.35 (S)], TA [F = 2.951; <i>p</i> = .024; η2p = .118; ES = 0.37 (S)] and TBARS [F = 4.11; <i>p</i> = .0231, η2p = .157; ES = 0.43(S)], indicating that the GA showed faster recovery with less oxidative stress. We can conclude that açaí supplementation (250 ml/day for 5 days) was effective in accelerating muscle recovery after 48 h and reducing oxidative stress resulting from the HIIT session.