Hot Water Extract of Vaccinium corymbosum Increases Endurance Exercise Capacity by Improving Fatty Acid β-Oxidation and Antioxidant Defense System in Mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of water extract from Vaccinium corymbosum (VCW) on endurance exercise capacity. Exhaustive swimming time in the exercise and orally administered VCW group (Ex-VCW) was significantly increased compared to that of the exercise only group (Ex-CON). Compared to the Ex-CON group, the Ex-VCW group displayed lower lactate and higher non-esterified fatty acid levels after 10 min post-exercise and exhibited increased muscular glycogen level. VCW enhanced antioxidant activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione (GSH) in the experimental group compared to those of the Ex-CON group. Muscular malondialdehyde (MDA) level in Ex-VCW group appeared to be slightly decreased compared to that of the Ex-CON group; however, this difference was not statistically significant. VCW enhanced mRNA expression levels of mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α, NRF, and Tfam) and fatty acid β-oxidation (CPT-1, β-HAD, and PPAR-δ) related genes. These results suggest that VCW increases endurance exercise capacity via enhanced antioxidant activities, energy metabolism, and mitochondrial biogenesis-related gene expression.