1Faculty of Human Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, 2Central Research Institute, Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-4295, 3Health and Sport Sciences Course, School of Regional Development Studies, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
The effects of a salmon extract containing anserine (SEAns) on the exercise performance and anti-lassitude of student athletes was investigated. A placebo or SEAns capsule was administered to the subjects for 7 days. Each subject was subjected on the 8th day to exercise (1500 m time trial×3 times), blood collection, a vision test and lassitude study. The times for the 1500 m trial tended to be better in the SEAns group. After this exercise, the white blood cell count and creatine phosphokinase level in the blood of the SEAns group were both significantly lower (p<0.05) than those of the placebo group, while the free fatty acid level in the blood of the SEAns group was lower than that of the placebo group. The kinetic visual acuity of the SEAns group after exercise was improved by more than that of the placebo group. The languid feeling and blurred feeling of the SEAns group after exercise were both significantly lower (p<0.05) than these feelings of the placebo group. These results suggest that the intake of SEAns may be effective for inhibiting the damage to muscles arising from exercise, for improving the exercise performance, and for reducing the lassitude after exercise.