Abstract (eng)
This master’s thesis aimed to assess the impact of pomegranate juice on the total antioxidant capacity of plasma (FRAP) after physical activity in female participants. Pomegranate juice is a source of polyphenols, and it is known for its high antioxidant capacity. This might have positive effects on the scavenging of oxidants in the organism. 20 healthy women, aged 20 to 37, participated in a randomised intervention study conducted by the faculty of nutritional sciences of the University of Vienna. Further intervention beverages were orange juice, coffee, matcha, a sugar-sweetened soft drink, milk, and water. In addition, other oxidative stress markers, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein carbonyls (PC), malondialdehyde (MDA), high-sensitive Interleukin 6 (HS-IL 6), and high-sensitive C reactive protein (HS-CRP) were determined. Since it was a clinical study conducted with female participants, estradiol-17β was measured. The participants received 250 mL of pomegranate juice two hours before a high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Blood samples (venous and capillary) were taken two hours before, immediately before and after the HIIT, and 15 minutes after the exercise. Between the first and the second blood draw, the participants received the intervention beverage. The consumption of 250 mL pomegranate juice before a HIIT did significantly affect the FRAP levels in healthy women. Increased FRAP values could be shown after drinking pomegranate juice, water, orange juice, matcha, coffee, and milk. Therefore, it can be assumed that a wide range of polyphenolic and other antioxidant compounds in beverages have a positive influence on the overall antioxidant capacity in plasma.