Effect of eurycoma longifolia jack extract on lipolysis in collegiate athletes: Pilot study

Abstract

Studies have shown that usage of EL could promote lipid lowering and improvement in muscle strength. In view of that, lipid mobilization and utilizations would be the main mechanisms involved. The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether acute consumption of Eurycoma longifolia Jack extract would influence lipolysis among athletes. Ten male athletes were randomly assigned either to Eurycoma longifolia Jack group (EL, n = 5) or placebo group (PG, n = 5). Athletes from both groups ingested 1.7 mg/kg of body weight of either EL or PG for three days prior to the treadmill exercise test (65% of VO2max) for an hour. Plasma free fatty acid (FFA), glycerol and triglycerides (TG) levels were measured at pre-exercise and post-exercise on days 0 and 3. Plasma FFA in EL group was significantly lower than that in PG after 3 days (p < 0.05), and plasma glycerol level was significantly increased in EL compared to PG (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that EL supplementation could promote fat lipolysis, resulting towards better energy yield. Therefore, EL can be considered as an ergogenic aid to improve performances and to boost energy production.