Acute Effects of 2S-Hesperidin Supplementation on Performance and External Load in Female Basketball Players

The use of ergogenic aids, particularly polyphenols such as 2S-hesperidin, has gained attention due to their potential to enhance exercise performance, although evidence in team sports and female athletes remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of 2S-hesperidin (Cardiose®) supplementation on physical performance and external and internal load during basketball-specific activity in female basketball players. A randomized, cross-over, single-blind design was employed in twelve competitive female players (age: 21.4 ± 2.2 years; Tier 3–4) who ingested 500 mg of 2S-hesperidin or placebo five hours before standardized testing and on-court practice. Physical performance was assessed through handgrip strength, countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ), sprint, agility, and the 30–15 intermittent fitness test (30–15 IFT), while external and internal load variables were monitored during a standardized on-court practice designed to reflect the players’ typical training routine. In these exploratory analyses, differences favoring the 2S-hesperidin condition were observed for dominant handgrip strength, CMJ height, DJ height in the dominant leg, and end speed in 30–15 IFT , whereas no clear differences were observed in sprint, agility, or reactive strength index. External load variables showed no clear differences between conditions. Mean heart rate was lower in the supplementation condition, although this isolated finding should be interpreted cautiously in view of the small sample and the number of outcomes examined. Overall, the observed pattern suggests that acute 2S-hesperidin supplementation may be associated with selected neuromuscular and intermittent performance responses, without clear changes in external load. Given the small sample size and multiplicity of outcomes, these findings should be regarded as exploratory and hypothesis-generating rather than as confirmatory evidence of an ergogenic effect.