Article Summary:
- Intense physical workouts result in the body’s increased production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).
- The antioxidant properties of berberine and its ability to support the body’s natural inflammatory response can limit the oxidative stress caused by intense physical activity.*
- Tesseract’s BerberActiv® masks the bitterness of berberine while optimizing its bioavailability in the body, thereby supporting healthy weight management.*
Moderate physical exercise is an indispensable part of a healthy lifestyle. Moderate and programmed physical exercise promotes fitness and offers various health benefits. However, intensive physical performance is also known to induce muscle fatigue, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Several studies have established the interrelation between intense physical workouts and an increase in the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and free radicals that can have both positive and negative physiological effects. The therapeutic effects of antioxidants, such as berberine, have been found to address such exercise-induced oxidative stress.
Below, we discuss how berberine and exercise together support your overall health and why you should include a berberine supplement in your daily supplement regimen.
How Berberine and Exercise Support Your Body
Strenuous exercise—a minimum of 30 minutes of intense and close-to-the-limit muscle contractile activity, increases oxidant production in the muscles, thereby limiting performance.1
When you exercise, the oxygen demand in your body increases, particularly in skeletal muscles, resulting in a significant change in the blood flow to various organs. The exercise-induced muscle damage promotes the infiltration of phagocytes—the immune cells responsible for both the early and late stages of immune responses–at the site of injury. Although moderate exercise enhances the body’s antioxidant defense mechanism, intensive and exhaustive exercise generates an increased production of free radicals that can result in oxidative damage to biomolecules.
Excessive Versus Progressive Physical Activity
Excessive physical activity can lead to high levels of ROS that exhaust the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems of the body. Some indicators signaling the rise of free radicals in the body resulting from excessive physical activity are:
- Increase in lipid peroxidation
- Elevated glutathione oxidation
- Oxidative protein damage
- Increased activity of cytosolic enzymes in blood plasma
Increased levels of free radicals can impair cellular function, damage macromolecules, and even result in cell death. As a result, excessive physical activity can be detrimental with effects such as alterations in arterial pressure and heart rate, changes in the sleep cycle, appetite, and altered hormonal activity. Individuals undergoing excessive physical training or exercise often experience increased heartbeats even at rest, struggle to fall asleep, and have poor immune function.
In contrast, regular physical activity of moderate intensity is an adaptive response that results in higher levels of mitochondrial content and accumulates relatively lower levels of ROS. It is worth noting that the degree of oxidative stress and of muscle damage is not dependent on the absolute intensity of the exercise but on the degree of exhaustion of the individual performing the exercise. A constant physical activity with intensity progressing over time favors a more rapid recovery of the oxidation generated by strenuous exercise bouts or maximal aerobic tests.
Role of Berberine in Limiting Oxidative Stress*
The antioxidant property of berberine, along with its ability to support the body’s natural inflammatory response, is associated with limiting oxidative stress post-exercise, lowering muscle soreness and physical stress, and enhancing physical performance.* The following table summarizes how berberine’s potential therapeutic effects help counter exercise-induced exhaustion in the body.*
| How Berberine Addresses Exercise-Induced Exhaustion | |
| Building skeletal muscle mass | Berberine is associated3 with enhancing skeletal muscle mass*—a key to adjusting to the demanded physical performance capacities. |
| Cardiovascular protection | Berberine4 exerted cardioprotective benefits to exercise-induced heart muscle injury in rats.* |
| Limiting exercise-induced oxidative stress | Berberine inhibits exercise-induced oxidative stress through a complex mechanism of several kinases and signaling pathways.* |
With these benefits, berberine supplementation can provide an added advantage to enhance physical endurance,* in addition to rigorous training and diet. Incorporating an advanced berberine supplementation formula into your diet can support your goal to stay fit and limit muscle damage incurred during exercise.*
Incorporating The Right Berberine Supplement Into Your Diet
Tesseract’s BerberActiv® is a unique berberine supplement formulated for optimal absorption. The proprietary Cyloc® – DexKey® technology masks the bitter taste of berberine while enhancing its bioavailability and absorption in the body. The unprecedented absorption capabilities mean a lower dose of the active ingredient is needed to achieve a rapid and powerful physiological response. With BerberActiv® and exercise, you can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of berberine to support healthy weight management and optimal functioning of your body.*
Visit Tesseract Medical Research to learn more about berberine and exercise and how a berberine supplement can support your endocrine and immune health.
Citations:
1Reid MB. vol. 594,18 (2016): 5125-33. doi:10.1113/JP270653
2Wang H, et al. vol. 59,8 (2010): 1879-89. doi:10.2337/db10-0207
3Chen L, et al. vol. 13 4561-4569. 23 Nov. 2020, doi:10.2147/DMSO.S275301
4Wang YW, et al. Zhonghua xin xue guan bing za zhi vol. 47,8 (2019): 647-652. doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-3758.2019.08.010
