Kim Donghyun, Wadazumi Tsuyoshi
Graduate School of Health and Well-Being, Kansai University, Osaka 590-8515, Japan.
Faculty of Health and Well-Being, Kansai University, Osaka 590-8515, Japan.
Nutrients. 2025 Aug 27;17(17):2780. doi: 10.3390/nu17172780.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Paprika xanthophylls (PXs) have potent antioxidant properties and are believed to improve oxygen delivery (DO) efficiency by enhancing red blood cell (RBC) deformability. This study investigated whether PX ingestion improves endurance performance and subsequently enhances cognitive function by improving brain microcirculation.
A crossover design was used to compare the effects of PX ingestion and a control condition in 21 healthy college students (18 males, 3 females). Each participant served as their own control, completing both conditions in a randomized order with a one-month washout period to eliminate any carryover effects. The participants underwent an incremental load test, a constant load test, the Trail Making Test Type B (TMT-B), and the Stroop test (ST).
In the incremental tests, the PX group showed a significantly lower heart rate ( = 0.032) and higher exercise efficiency (EE) ( = 0.004). In the constant load test, heart rate was lower ( = 0.020), and EE was higher ( = 0.030). No significant between-group differences were found in the cognitive tests; however, the PX group showed significant improvements in the TMT-B ( = 0.034) and ST interference rate I ( = 0.040).
It is speculated that PX intake may improve DO efficiency, which could contribute to the observed enhancements in endurance performance and, in turn, positively affect cognitive function by optimizing the brain's oxygenation state. However, due to the absence of a placebo control group and unmeasured RBC deformability and cerebral blood flow, as well as a significant male predominance, this study's results should be interpreted with caution.
背景/目的：辣椒叶黄素（PXs）具有强大的抗氧化特性，据信可通过增强红细胞（RBC）的可变形性来提高氧输送（DO）效率。本研究调查了摄入PXs是否能改善耐力表现，并随后通过改善脑微循环来增强认知功能。
采用交叉设计，比较21名健康大学生（18名男性，3名女性）摄入PXs和对照条件的效果。每位参与者作为自己的对照，以随机顺序完成两种条件，并有一个月的洗脱期以消除任何残留效应。参与者进行了递增负荷试验、恒定负荷试验、B型连线测验（TMT-B）和斯特鲁普测验（ST）。
在递增试验中，PX组的心率显著降低（P = 0.032），运动效率（EE）更高（P = 0.004）。在恒定负荷试验中，心率较低（P = 0.020），EE较高（P = 0.030）。在认知测试中未发现显著的组间差异；然而，PX组在TMT-B（P = 0.034）和ST干扰率I（P = 0.040）方面有显著改善。
据推测，摄入PXs可能会提高DO效率，这可能有助于观察到的耐力表现增强，进而通过优化大脑的氧合状态对认知功能产生积极影响。然而，由于缺乏安慰剂对照组，未测量RBC可变形性和脑血流量，以及男性占主导地位，本研究结果应谨慎解释。
