THE IMPACT OF SUPPLEMENTATION WITH POMEGRANATE FRUIT (PUNICA GRANATUM L.) ON SPORT PERFORMANCE

Foods and supplements high in polyphenols are gaining popularity within sports nutrition. Polyphenols represent the most abundant dietary source of antioxidants and are part of an emerging field of nutraceuticals based on their biological activity and potent treatment effects in clinical conditions associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), one of the oldest known edible fruits, is nowadays broadly consumed throughout the world. Its fruits and seed are rich in numerous bioactive compounds, as polyphenols, and therefore, the scientific interest in this plant has been constantly growing in recent years. Pomegranate and its extracts have been shown to have health benefits relating to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Using data obtained from PubMed and Scopus, this article provides a brief overview of the experimental evidence on intake pomegranate to improve exercise performance in humans.