Heat Stress and Propolis

by Kim Mueller, Infinit Staff Nutritionist

Athletes training for the upcoming Ironman World Championships on October 10th no doubt have spent some time training their bodies to perform in heat, a process known as heat acclimatization, as a means to help reduce the likelihood of heat illness and consequent performance-declining symptoms associated with it, including heat cramps, heat syncope (e.g., fainting), and heat exhaustion (e.g., headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting). While the full effects of heat acclimatization take approximately 2 weeks, the latest 'buzz' (no pun intended) on the subject matter may work much faster and perhaps even strengthen the positive adaptations seen with heat training which is a definitely plus when facing the vigor of Madame Pele over 140.6 miles on the land of lava.

A compound known as propolis, the substance bees use to seal their hives, contains caffeic acid phenethyl ester, or CAPE, an ingredient that has demonstrated a broad spectrum of biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral. The onset of hyperthermal stress when racing in heat generates free radicals that impair endurance capacity and immune cell redistribution. Intervention with antioxidants, such as CAPE, according to researcher Yu-Jen Chen of Chinese Culture University in Taiwan can prevent or reduce hyperthermia-induced free radical generation and damage.

To examine whether CAPE has a protective effect against hyperthermal stress in athletes, Chen & colleagues isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) from 30 competitive cyclists and discovered that pretreatment with CAPE (0,1,2,4 ìg/mL) reversed or reduced hypothermia-induced survival inhibition, necrosis, superoxide production, glutathione depletion, and intracellular superoxide burst in a dose-dependent manner. In layman terms, Chen says this implies that CAPE might not only promote athletic performance but also prevent injury to endurance-induced hyperthermia. As with most clinical trials, further human studies need to be conducted to solidify these findings.

Side Note: It is not recommended to try anything that hasn't already been tested in training on race day. Also, please let a professional extract propolis from the bee hives as I am pretty confident that a hundred bee stings will not have a positive impact on athletic performance. Click here for more details.