The Effect of Hot Water Extract of Tilapia on Exercise Capacity in Mice

Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) has become one of the main aquatic products of Taiwan. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a hot water extract of tilapia (HWET) in relieving fatigue and enhancing exercise performance in mice in a swimming endurance test. Male ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 per group) and treated with either a vehicle (control group) or different doses of HWET, which were designated as HWET-L (800 mg/kg/day), HWET-M (1600 mg/kg/day), and HWET-H (4000 mg/kg/day). The results of the swimming endurance test showed that HWET treatment significantly improved exercise-induced fatigue as the swimming time of the mice increased (p < 0.05). One hour after the test, blood samples were collected from each mouse and serum biochemical parameters were measured. The serum levels of lactate, creatine kinase (CK), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were lower in mice treated with HWET compared to the control group. Moreover, HWET treatment increased serum glucose levels and glycogen content in the liver. Enhanced glutathione (GSH) content in the liver and muscle was also found in the HWET-M and HWET-H groups. Western blot results showed that the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the liver tissue was downregulated by HWET treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrate that HWET supplementation could enhance exercise performance and alleviate fatigue via biochemical profile improvements. This suggests that HWET has the potential for future development into functional foods or nutritional supplements to relieve fatigue.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of a hot water extract of tilapia (HWET) on fatigue and exercise performance in mice. The results showed that HWET treatment improved swimming endurance and decreased fatigue in mice. HWET also had beneficial effects on serum biochemical parameters, including lactate, creatine kinase, and blood urea nitrogen levels. Additionally, HWET increased serum glucose levels and glycogen content in the liver. The supplementation of HWET also enhanced glutathione content in the liver and muscle. Furthermore, HWET downregulated the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the liver tissue. These findings suggest that HWET has the potential to be developed as a functional food or nutritional supplement for fatigue relief.