The Effects of Taurine Supplementation on Inflammatory Cytokines and Physical Performance to Simulated Taekwondo-Specific Protocol in Elite Male Athletes: A Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study

Abstract

\n Background: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of taurine supplementation as a countermeasure against decrement in athletic performance to enhance metabolic inflammation status, circulating lactate levels, and functional capacity following a simulated taekwondo competition day with the same physiological pressure in elite male taekwondo athletes.Methods: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover design was utilized in the present trial. A total number of ten healthy, highly-trained, elite male taekwondo athletes (age=20.60±3.5 years) were accordingly recruited to receive taurine (a dose of 15 mg/ body weight, approximately three servings per day) or the same doses of a placebo for 10 days, separated by a 10-day washout period. The simulated taekwondo competition day included five exhaustive single competition sessions using a special time framework of taekwondo test with the same physiological pressure. Five competition taekwondo stations were also done with a time-course order. Results: The results showed significant time-placebo interaction effect for IL-15 levels (0.001). Using post-hoc comparisons, a significant increase was also found between supplemental and placebo occasions 24 h after the simulated taekwondo competition day (0.001). However, no significant changes were observed in IL-8 (0.19), IL-17 (0.808), hs-CRP (0.766), and TNF-α (p=0.970) levels. In addition, there were no significant changes in final heart rate (p=0.413), countermovement jump (p=0.884), and turning kick (p=0.790) following the simulated taekwondo competition day and taurine supplementation.Conclusions: The results of the present trial did not support the ergogenic effect of short-term (10-day) taurine supplementation on performance and inflammation status of elite male athletes.