Brussels Chicory Juice Improves Time to Exhaustion During Exercise

by | Mar 19, 2025 | 2025, Fitness and Exercise, Flavonoids, Fruits and Vegetables, Polyphenols, Recent Articles

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Science Writer. Participants in the chicory group had a significantly longer time to exhaustion compared to the placebo (men= 8.3% increase, women= 12.2% increase; P<0.001).

man on stationary bikeThe conversion of lactate to pyruvate and vice versa play a pivotal role in optimal exercise performance. Lactate dehydrogenase A and B are integral to the physiological conversion of lactate to pyruvate and pyruvate to lactate, respectively1,2. Cluster differentiation 147 [CD147], a transmembrane protein in the mitochondria is required for lactate dehydrogenase B to convert lactate to pyruvate3. Polyphenols, which are known best for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, has also been shown to modulate lactate metabolism, improve glucose and fatty acid oxidation, and improve blood flow4,5. All these attributes are reasoned to contribute some ergogenic effects. Brussels chicory, which is rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids, has demonstrated positive effects6,7. However, little is known about its effect on exercise recovery. In the current trial, researchers investigate the effect of Brussels chicory on exercise performance and recovery8.

The study was designed as a randomized placebo-controlled, crossover study. College students between 18-45 years old with no significant health issues, exhibiting moderate physical activity, and a BMI of 18.5-23.9 kg/m2 were recruited for this trial. Participants were randomly assigned to receive the treatment with Brussels chicory juice mixed with milk or milk alone (placebo) every day for 7 days. On the 7th day, all participants underwent an exhaustive aerobic exercise known as the Bruce protocol in which speed and inclination of a treadmill exercise was gradually increased until the participant could no longer endure. Time to exhaustion was recorded. Volunteers were required to abstain from tea, alcohol, and energy drinks 48hrs before the exhaustive aerobic exercise test. They were also told to maintain their usual diet and physical activity during the trial. After the 7th day, a 2-week washout period followed and then participants switched to the opposite treatment and the protocol was repeated. Cell cultures were also created and examined to determine the cellular effects of chicory. Multiple blood samples were collected after the exhaustive aerobic exercise.

Thirty-two participants completed this study. No significant differences were observed at baseline between both groups. Participants in the chicory group had a significantly longer time to exhaustion compared to the placebo (men= 8.3% increase, women= 12.2% increase; P<0.001). Also, blood bicarbonate level was significantly higher in the Brussels chicory group for both men (13.2% increase, P=0.001) and women (16.6% increase, P<0.001). No significant differences were observed for VO2 max and blood pH between placebo and Brussels chicory group. Serum lactate concentration was significantly lower in the chicory group compared to placebo 15minutes post exercise test (P<0.001). Heart rate was also significantly lower in the chicory group compared to placebo at 5- and 15-minutes post exercise test (P<0.05). It should be noted that a significant time effect was observed heart rate and blood lactate concentration. No significant differences were observed for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress and glucose concentration. Cell culture analysis showed that phenolic acids from Brussels chicory reduced lactate levels (both in the medium and within the cell) compared to control.

Results from this clinical trial showed Brussels chicory could increase the time to exhaustion in untrained individuals and increase lactate oxidation based the cell study thus supporting the postulated ergogenic effects of Brussels chicory. Additional studies will be needed to verify these results.

Source: Mao, Yihui, Junhao Huang, Shuangshuang Li, Guanyu Chen, Yushi Du, Mengxi Kang, Shasha Zhu et al. “Brussels Chicory Enhances Exhaustive Aerobic Exercise Performance and Post-Exercise Recovery, Possibly Through Promotion of Lactate Oxidation: A Pilot Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-Way Crossover Study.” Nutrients 17, no. 2 (2025): 365.

© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/4.0/).

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Posted March 19, 2025.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

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