LAUSR

Background and purpose Unusual eccentric exercise (EE) may affect muscle ability to produce rapid force. Previous study suggested that short-term mate tea (MT) consumption may enhance muscle strength recovery from EE, but MT benefits on the rate of torque development (RTD) are unknown. This study investigated the effect of MT on RTD and muscle damage and antioxidant defence biomarkers following EE. Methods In a randomised, crossover design, 12 men drank either MT or water (control; CON) for 11 days. On the 8th day, 3 sets of 20 maximal isokinetic eccentric for elbow flexors with one arm were performed. RTD of the elbow flexor muscles at 0–50, 0–100, 50–100, 0–200, and 100–200 ms were assessed before and at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise. Blood samples were obtained before and at 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise and analysed for creatine kinase (CK), aldolase (ALD), total phenols, and reduced:oxidized glutathione (GSH:GSSG) ratio. Results RTD 0–50 deficit after EE was independent of treatment. Compared with CON, MT improved RTD 0–100 at 48 h (21%, P  = 0.015) and 72 h (24%, P  = 0.022); RTD 0–200 at 48 h (18%, P  = 0.034) and 72 h (21%, P  = 0.029); RTD 50–100 at 48 h (25%, P  = 0.001) and 72 h (19%, P  = 0.011); and RTD 100–200 at 72 h (28%, P  = 0.038). CK peaked ( P  = 0.012) in both trials at 72 h, and ALD was higher in MT than in CON before and at 24 h ( P  = 0.005 and P  < 0.001, respectively). Compared with CON, MT showed higher values ( P  < 0.05) before and until 48 h after EE, for total phenols, and over 72 h after EE, for GSH:GSSG ratio. Conclusion MT intake favoured the recovery of RTD >50 ms by 2–3 days after EE. Furthermore, MT ameliorated circulating levels of muscle damage and antioxidant biomarkers irrespectively of exercise.