Effectiveness of a combined New Zealand green-lipped mussel and Antarctic krill oil supplement on markers of exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation in untrained men.

Green-lipped mussel oil (PCSO-524) has been shown to attenuate signs and symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), and krill oil has been shown to have a protective effect against cytokine-induced tissue degradation. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of PCSO-524 and ESPO-572 (75% PCSO-524 and 25% krill oil) on signs and symptoms of EIMD. Fifty-one untrained men consumed 600 mg/d of PCSO-524 ( = 24) or ESPO-572 ( = 27) for 26 d prior to and 72 h following a downhill running bout. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), pressure pain threshold, limb swelling, range of motion (ROM), isometric torque, and blood markers of inflammation and muscle damage were assessed at baseline, 24, 48 and 72 h post-eccentric exercise. ESPO-572 was 'at least as good as' PCSO-524 and both blends were superior ( < 0.05) to placebo in lessening the increase in DOMS at 24, 48, 72 h. ESPO-572 and PCSO-524 were protective against joint ROM loss compared to placebo ( < 0.05) at 48 and 72 h. Notably, at 24 and 48 h, joint ROM was higher in the ESPO-572 compared to the PCSO-524 group ( < 0.05). No differences between the two blends for the other markers were found. ESPO-572 is 'at least as good' as PCSO-524 in reducing markers of muscle damage and soreness following eccentric exercise and was superior to PCSO-524 in protecting against the loss in joint ROM during recovery. Our data support the use of ESPO-572, a combination of green-lipped mussel and krill oil, in mitigating the deleterious effects of EIMD.