Arent, S. M., Pellegrino, J., Senso, M., McKeever, K. H., Lupinacci, A., & Epstein, M. (2008). Black tea extract reduces DOMS, oxidative stress, and cortisol responses to high-intensity interval training. ACSM 55th Annual Meeting Indianapolis, Presentation Number 1562.

This investigation examined whether a high-potency, black tea extract altered delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), oxidative stress, and cortisol responses to high-intensity anaerobic exercise. College-age males (N = 18) with at one year of weight training experience completed two testing sessions, which consisted of a 30-second Wingate Test plus eight 10-second interval exercise bouts. Blood samples were obtained before, and at 0, 30, and 60 minutes following the sessions. Muscle soreness was recorded at 24 and 48 hours post-test. Ss consumed the black tea extract (1,760 mg per day) or placebo for nine days. The first testing session occurred on day 7 and administration continued for two more days during the assessment of DOMS. Each S underwent a 5-day washout before administering the product they did not receive in the initial supplementation phase.

Across the 48-hour post-exercise period, black tea extract produced significantly lower DOMS compared to the placebo group. Black tea extract showed less oxidative stress at 30 and 60 minutes post-exercise compared to the placebo condition. An interaction also emerged for creatine kinase, with black tea extract having significantly lower creatine kinase by 30 minutes post-exercise despite similar values immediately post-exercise between the groups.

Implication. Black tea extract appeared to enhance recovery or blunt some of the physiological responses to acute anaerobic intervals and is associated with a reduction in DOMS.

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