BOONE, N.C. — A study conducted by Appalachian State University’s Human Performance Lab, which is located at the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, will test two weeks’ worth of mixed flavonoid versus placebo supplementation on the immune system, oxidative stress and inflammation of individuals following strenuous exercise. The study is funded by a $97,270 grant from Reoxcyn Innovation Group LLC.

Dr. David Nieman, professor in Appalachian’s Department of Health and Exercise Science and director of the Human Performance Lab, is the project’s lead researcher. Other collaborators on the project include Dr. Jennifer McBride, assistant director and research scientist in the Human Performance Lab, and Dr. Giuseppe Valacchi, associate professor in the Department of Animal Science at North Carolina State University.

“Prolonged and intensive exercise increases oxidative stress, inflammation, muscle damage, stress hormone levels, and immune dysfunction, which collectively represents exercise-induced physiological stress,” Nieman said.

According to Nieman, plant flavonoids — a type of plant chemical found in fruits, green tea, vegetables and other plant foods — may provide benefits for athletes and others who engage in strenuous activity, including improving immune function and lessening the oxidative stress and inflammation that occurs following bouts of vigorous exercise.

The purpose of the study, Nieman said, is to investigate the influence of two weeks’ worth of mixed flavonoid versus placebo supplementation on the body’s immune system, as well as the oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers in 20 male and female participants after a cycling exercise (75 kilometers) is performed by each individual.

Blood samples will be collected from the study participants pre-supplementation and then pre- and post-exercise (1.5 hours after the exercise is performed, and then 21 hours following the exercise test), Nieman explained, with immune cells separated and analyzed for oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers.

Nieman said he and his team hypothesize that two weeks of mixed flavonoid versus placebo supplementation will support immune function and lessen post-exercise increases in oxidative stress and inflammation in the test subjects.

Emily Zerona, a junior public health major at Appalachian from Concord, is assisting with the research project.

About the Department of Public Health and Exercise Science

The Department of Public Health and Exercise Science in Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences delivers student-centered education that is accentuated by quality teaching, scholarly activity and service. The department includes two undergraduate academic disciplines: exercise science and public health. The department also offers master’s degrees in exercise science and public health, which prepare students for advanced study in a variety of related fields as well as research. Learn more at https://phes.appstate.edu.

About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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