Cashew Apple Juice Improves Physical Fitness and Oxidative Stress Status in the Middle-Aged and Elderly Volunteers.

OBJECTIVE

Based on the crucial role of oxidative stress on physical performance and muscular strength, we aimed to determine the effect of a 12 week-consumption period of cashew apple juice, a substance possessing antioxidant effect, on the physical fitness and oxidative stress status of the middle aged and the elderly.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled design was performed. Forty-five healthy middle-age and elderly volunteers received 1,000 ml of either cashew apple juice (120 and 240 mg/day) or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. The changes of malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzymes in the plasma together with the health related-physical fitness was assessed every four weeks throughout the 12-week consumption period and four weeks after the cessation of the consumption.

RESULTS

The subjects who consumed the cashew apple juice at dose of 240 mg/day showed improved oxidative stress status and enhanced performance in 30-second chair stand test and 6-minute walk test. These data suggested that a 12-week consumption period of cashew apple juice consumption enhance muscle strength of lower extremities and the cardiopulmonary endurance.

CONCLUSION

The possible underlying mechanism might occur partly via the improved oxidative stress status. Therefore, cashew apple fruit juice may be a potential candidate to enhance the health-related physical fitness for the middle aged and elderly volunteers. However, further research is required to provide better understanding about the precise underlying mechanism.