Effect of carbohydrate intake during recovery from eccentric exercise on interleukin-6 and muscle-damage markers
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether carbohydrate supplementation during the first 2 d postexercise recovery influenced the inflammation (IL-6, C-reactive protein [CRP], and cortisol) and muscle-damage responses. Eight participants performed a high-force eccentric elbow-flexion exercise to induce muscle soreness and inflammation and then consumed carbohydrate (0.25 g.kg(-1).h(-1)) or an equal volume of placebo during hours 0-12 and 24-36 postexercise in a double-blind, crossover protocol. Muscle soreness; midbrachial arm circumference; blood glucose, IL-6, CRP, cortisol, and creatine-kinase (CK) activity; and maximal force production were measured preexercise and 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 120 h postexercise. Plasma IL-6 increased, F(5) = 5.27, P < 0.05, 8 h postexercise, with no difference between carbohydrate and placebo conditions. Changes in muscle soreness, arm circumference, strength, and serum CK activity were consistent with small amounts of muscle damage and did not differ between conditions. The authors conclude that carbohydrate supplementation during recovery from soreness-inducing exercise does not influence the delayed IL-6 response temporally linked to inflammation or indications of muscle damage. Thus, increased carbohydrate consumption at levels consistent with recommendations for replenishing glycogen stores does not impair or promote the immune and muscle responses.
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Exercise-induced IL-6 release exhibits characteristic kinetics: circulating levels increase exponentially during exercise, rising up to 100-fold above resting concentrations, with peak levels occurring immediately after concentric exercise or approximately 8 h after eccentric exercise, followed by rapid decline to baseline.
“Exercise-induced IL-6 release exhibits characteristic kinetics: circulating levels increase exponentially during exercise, rising up to 100-fold above resting concentrations, with peak levels occurring immediately after concentric exercise or approximately 8 h after eccentric exercise, followed by rapid decline to baseline [15,31].”
From Exercise-Induced Myokines in Obesity-Related Metabolic Disorders and Cardiovascular Protection: A Narrative Review (2026) · cites this paper as [15]
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Branched-Chain Amino Acid Ingestion Can Ameliorate Soreness from Eccentric Exercise
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“Aerobic Exercise: May lead to a more sustained and cumulative secretion pattern [14,15].”
- Authors
- Miles, M. P., Pearson, S. D., Andring, J. M., Kidd, J. R., & Volpe, S. L.
- Affiliations
- Montana State University (US)
- Venue
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 2007-12
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 507-520
- ISSN
- 1526-484X (ISSN-L)
- 1543-2742
- OpenAlex
- W2107432622
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Montana State University ScholarWorks (Montana State University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Keywords
- carbohydrate supplementation, post-exercise recovery, eccentric exercise, interleukin-6, muscle damage, delayed onset muscle soreness, C-reactive protein, cortisol, creatine kinase, elbow flexion, muscle strength, glycogen resynthesis, inflammation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, C-Reactive Protein, Creatine Kinase, Dietary Carbohydrates, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Time Factors, Biomarkers, Exercise, Interleukin-6, Muscle, Skeletal, Cross-Over Studies, Inflammation Mediators
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