Moderate Highland Barley Intake Affects Anti-Fatigue Capacity in Mice Via Metabolism, Anti-Oxidative Effects and Gut Microbiota

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2025 Feb 26

PMID 40005062

Authors

Liangxing Zhao

Qingyu Zhao

Sameh Sharafeldin

Luman Sang

Chao Wang

Yong Xue

Qun Shen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: this study aimed to explore the effects of different intake levels (20-80%) of highland barley on the anti-fatigue capacity of ICR mice, focusing on energy metabolism, metabolite accumulation, oxidative stress, and changes in the gut microbiota.

Methods: male ICR mice were assigned to five groups: control (normal diet) and four experimental groups with highland barley supplementation at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of total dietary energy. Anti-fatigue performance was assessed by behavioral experiments (rotarod, running, and exhaustive swimming tests), biochemical markers, and gut microbiota analysis.

Results: the results showed that moderate supplementation (20%) significantly enhanced exercise endurance and anti-fatigue capacity, as evidenced by increased liver glycogen (134.48%), muscle glycogen (87.75%), ATP content (92.07%), Na-K-ATPase activity (48.39%), and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (103.31%), catalase (87.75%), glutathione peroxidase (81.14%). Post-exercise accumulation of blood lactate, quadriceps muscle lactate, serum urea nitrogen, and the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde was significantly reduced, with differences of 31.52%, 21.83%, 21.72%, and 33.76%, respectively. Additionally, 20% supplementation promoted the growth of beneficial gut microbiota associated with anti-fatigue effects, including , , , , and . However, when intake reached 60% or more, anti-fatigue effects diminished, with decreased antioxidant enzyme activity, increased accumulation of metabolic waste, and a rise in potentially harmful microbiota (, , and ).

Conclusions: moderate highland barley supplementation (20% of total dietary energy) enhances anti-fatigue capacity, while excessive intake (≥60%) may have adverse effects.

References

Yang L, Wang Y, Zheng G, Li Z, Mei J . Resveratrol-loaded selenium/chitosan nano-flowers alleviate glucolipid metabolism disorder-associated cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Int J Biol Macromol. 2023; 239:124316. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124316. View

Liu Y, Li C, Shen X, Liu Y . The use of traditional Chinese medicines in relieving exercise-induced fatigue. Front Pharmacol. 2022; 13:969827. PMC: 9353218. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.969827. View

Zhu T, Pan Q, Xiao K, Zuo C, Liu Q, Zhou D . Stilbenes-enriched peanut sprouts alleviated physical fatigue regulating interactions of nutrients-microbiota-metabolites revealed by multi-omics analysis. Food Funct. 2024; 15(6):2960-2973. DOI: 10.1039/d3fo04076c. View

Wang X, Xing R, Chen Z, Yu H, Li R, Li P . Effect and mechanism of mackerel (Pneumatophorus japonicus) peptides for anti-fatigue. Food Funct. 2014; 5(9):2113-9. DOI: 10.1039/c4fo00121d. View

Li D, Ren J, Zhang T, Liu R, Wu L, Du Q . Anti-fatigue effects of small-molecule oligopeptides isolated from Panax quinquefolium L. in mice. Food Funct. 2018; 9(8):4266-4273. DOI: 10.1039/c7fo01658a. View

Daniell E, Ryan E, Brick M, Thompson H . Dietary dry bean effects on hepatic expression of stress and toxicity-related genes in rats. Br J Nutr. 2012; 108 Suppl 1:S37-45. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114512000815. View

Kanehira T, Nakamura Y, Nakamura K, Horie K, Horie N, Furugori K . Relieving occupational fatigue by consumption of a beverage containing γ-amino butyric acid. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2011; 57(1):9-15. DOI: 10.3177/jnsv.57.9. View

Skibola C, Smith M . Potential health impacts of excessive flavonoid intake. Free Radic Biol Med. 2000; 29(3-4):375-83. DOI: 10.1016/s0891-5849(00)00304-x. View

Kankofer M, Kolm G, Aurich J, Aurich C . Activity of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase and lipid peroxidation intensity in stallion semen during storage at 5 degrees C. Theriogenology. 2005; 63(5):1354-65. DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.07.005. View

10.

Green H . Mechanisms of muscle fatigue in intense exercise. J Sports Sci. 1997; 15(3):247-56. DOI: 10.1080/026404197367254. View

11.

Sun X, Deng H, Shan B, Shan Y, Huang J, Feng X . Flavonoids contribute most to discriminating aged Guang Chenpi ( 'Chachi') by spectrum-effect relationship analysis between LC-Q-Orbitrap/MS fingerprint and ameliorating spleen deficiency activity. Food Sci Nutr. 2023; 11(11):7039-7060. PMC: 10630847. DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3629. View

12.

Li Q, Wang Y, Cai G, Kong F, Wang X, Liu Y . Antifatigue Activity of Liquid Cultured Tricholoma matsutake Mycelium Partially via Regulation of Antioxidant Pathway in Mouse. Biomed Res Int. 2015; 2015:562345. PMC: 4677160. DOI: 10.1155/2015/562345. View

13.

Liu J, Wang X, Zhao Z . Effect of whey protein hydrolysates with different molecular weight on fatigue induced by swimming exercise in mice. J Sci Food Agric. 2013; 94(1):126-30. DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6220. View

14.

Ma X, Chen H, Cao L, Zhao S, Zhao C, Yin S . Mechanisms of Physical Fatigue and its Applications in Nutritional Interventions. J Agric Food Chem. 2021; 69(24):6755-6768. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c01251. View

15.

Schlesinger S, Neuenschwander M, Schwedhelm C, Hoffmann G, Bechthold A, Boeing H . Food Groups and Risk of Overweight, Obesity, and Weight Gain: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. Adv Nutr. 2019; 10(2):205-218. PMC: 6416048. DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmy092. View

16.

Lu G, Liu Z, Wang X, Wang C . Recent Advances in C.A. Meyer as a Herb for Anti-Fatigue: An Effects and Mechanisms Review. Foods. 2021; 10(5). PMC: 8151278. DOI: 10.3390/foods10051030. View

17.

Giera M, Lingeman H, Niessen W . Recent Advancements in the LC- and GC-Based Analysis of Malondialdehyde (MDA): A Brief Overview. Chromatographia. 2012; 75(9-10):433-440. PMC: 3336054. DOI: 10.1007/s10337-012-2237-1. View

18.

Gao H, Zhang W, Wang B, Hui A, Du B, Wang T . Purification, characterization and anti-fatigue activity of polysaccharide fractions from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). Food Funct. 2018; 9(2):1088-1101. DOI: 10.1039/c7fo01821e. View

19.

Teng Y, Wu D . Anti-Fatigue Effect of Green Tea Polyphenols (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG). Pharmacogn Mag. 2017; 13(50):326-331. PMC: 5421434. DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.204546. View

20.

Clark A, Mach N . Exercise-induced stress behavior, gut-microbiota-brain axis and diet: a systematic review for athletes. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2016; 13:43. PMC: 5121944. DOI: 10.1186/s12970-016-0155-6. View