Sore muscles are a common side effect of exercise. Researchers have found New Zealand Greenshell mussel powder can help men recover faster from injuries caused by exercise.
The clinical trial, conducted by Plant & Food Research, found that after four weeks of taking Sanford’s Greenshell mussel powder product, PERNAULTRA, study participants reported accelerated muscle recovery following exercise-induced damage and decreased soreness of target muscle groups. The study has been published in the global journal Nutrients.
Twenty untrained healthy adult men aged between 21 and 45 participated in the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over intervention study. The study investigated the effects of consuming three grams of GreenshellTM mussel PERNAULTRA powder daily on muscle recovery after exercise-induced muscle damage compared with when they took a placebo for the same duration.
Participants completed a bench-stepping exercise that induced muscle damage to the eccentrically exercised leg. Muscle function, soreness and biomarkers of muscle damage, oxidative stress and inflammation were measured before, immediately after, and 24, 48 and 72 hours post-exercise. The scientists concluded that taking the PERNAULTRA powder expedited the recovery of muscle function and reduced the severity of delayed onset of muscle soreness in untrained men.
“Our findings show that Greenshell mussel powder supplementation accelerated muscle recovery following exercise-induced damage as determined by faster recovery of muscle function, reduction in plasma CK concentrations and decreased soreness of target muscle groups,” said Plant & Food Research scientist Dr Dominic Lomiwes, who led the study.
“Reduced muscle function following prolonged unaccustomed eccentric exercise is a classic indicator of muscle damage, limiting physical performance for several days. This study proves that Greenshell mussel powder effectively supports muscle recovery from EIMD.”
Sanford’s GM of Innovation, Andrew Stanley, said this latest result broadened Sanford’s understanding of the power of Greenshell mussels.
“This study is breaking new ground in extending our understanding of what mussel powder can be used for. Mussel powder for injury recovery is a big, new, proven benefit. And while the study was done specifically on Sanford’s PERNAULTRA mussel powder, we think this new evidence offers an opportunity for the whole industry to think about where we go next as we explore everything GreenshellTM mussel powder can do,” said Stanley.
Stanley continued that he knew there were multiple benefits to GreenshellTM mussel powder, and Sanford was confident that more would be uncovered as research continued.
The study was part of a collaborative research programme between Massey University, New Zealand’s leading seafood company Sanford, the Cawthron Institute in Nelson, and the Crown Research Institute Plant & Food Research, funded by the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge.
Cawthron scientist Matt Miller said this work is part of a group of studies on the benefits of the New Zealand product.
“This first result is fascinating but, frankly, not surprising. It confirmed what w have known for some time about New Zealand Greenshell™ mussels,” said Miller.
He continued that it was now proven that consumers could shave a day off their recovery from a strenuous event, which should excite all elite athletes and weekend warriors. This aligns with other clinical trials Cawthron has run with this mussel powder in different genders and ages.
