Improvement of low‐intensity long‐time running performance in rats by intake of glucosyl hesperidin

Recently, the use of ergogenic aids in sports by both athletes and fans has increased. Moreover, the overall demand for new ergogenic aids has increased. Hesperidin is a polyphenol that is useful for improving exercise performance by activating energy generation through β‐oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation in skeletal muscles. However, it is difficult to use this compound as an ergogenic aid because of its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Glucosyl hesperidin is formed when one molecule of glucose is transferred to hesperidin via glycosyl‐transferase. It is 10,000× more soluble and has 3.7× higher bioavailability than hesperidin. In this study, we assessed whether continuous (14 days) intake of glucosyl hesperidin improves the aerobic exercise capacity of rats during long‐term acute exercise. Although glucosyl hesperidin intake did not improve the performance of high‐intensity running (30 m/min), we did observe improvement in low‐intensity running (15 m/min) (p < 0.05). We demonstrate that in sedentary rats, glucosyl hesperidin intake increased β‐oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation in the skeletal muscle (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Glucosyl hesperidin intake may have created a metabolic state useful for long‐term exercise. In conclusion, the continuous intake of glucosyl hesperidin improved the aerobic exercise capacity of rats during long‐term acute exercise.