The structural characteristics, beneficial effects and biological mechanisms of food and medicinal plant polysaccharides on exercise-induced fatigue: A review.

Exercise-induced fatigue is a common non-pathological condition as a result of excessive or exhaustive sport exercise, and its effective alleviation is essential for optimal sport performance. The use of polysaccharides extracted from food and medicinal plants has been increasingly recognized for their efficacy in relieving exercise-induced fatigue, owing to their remarkable effects and lack of side effects as supplements. Through a comprehensive analysis of nearly two decades of research, we have identified that polysaccharides derived from food and medicinal plants exhibit anti-fatigue properties primarily through antioxidant mechanisms, modulation of immune responses, regulation of gut microbiota, and the regulation of metabolic processes-often involving a combination of these factors. Importantly, the anti-fatigue effects and mechanisms of action are strongly dependent on their molecular composition structural characteristics, molecular weight, and other physiochemical properties. This article aims to provide an up-to-date and systematic review of the beneficial effects and underlying biological mechanisms for alleviation of exercise-induced fatigue and the molecular properties of dietary and medicinal plant polysaccharides. The ultimate goal is to establish a more robust theoretical foundation and identify the potential structural modifications of food and medicinal plant polysaccharides in mitigating exercise-induced fatigue.