Work

Acute ingestion of snake fruit jelly improves glycemic response, enhances endurance performance and antioxidant defense, and reduces inflammatory markers in healthy adults

Year: 2025

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: Background Snake fruit is rich in vitamin C, carotene, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and monoterpenoids – bioactive constituents known for their potent antioxidant properties. Based on these components, the present study investigated the potential effects of snake fruit jelly ingestion on glycemic control, endurance performance, alongside its impact on antioxidant status, inflammatory responses, and metabolic biomarkers in healthy individuals.Methods A randomized crossover design was used in two separate experiments involving 48 healthy sedentary men and women aged 19–35 years. All participants ingested 140 g of both control jelly and snake fruit jelly on separate occasions. Experiment 1 (n = 25): Blood glucose (BG) concentrations were measured at baseline and every 30 minutes for 2 hours post-ingestion. Experiment 2 (n = 23): Following each jelly ingestion, participants performed leg cycling at 60% of peak oxygen consumption until exhaustion. Blood samples were collected before and after exercise to measure BG, insulin, cortisol, and biomarkers of antioxidant status and inflammation.Results In Experiment 1, BG concentrations at 30 and 60 minutes post-ingestion, as well as the incremental area under the BG curve at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes, were significantly lower following snake fruit jelly ingestion compared with control (all p < 0.05). In Experiment 2, post-exercise superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly increased, while tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and cortisol concentrations were significantly decreased after snake fruit jelly ingestion (all p < 0.05). Between-group analysis revealed that endurance time and SOD activity were significantly higher, whereas BG, insulin, and TNF-α concentrations were significantly lower following snake fruit jelly ingestion compared with control jelly ingestion (all p < 0.05). Cortisol and interferon-gamma concentrations showed no significant differences between conditions.Conclusion Acute ingestion of snake fruit jelly enhances glycemic control, endurance performance, and antioxidant activity, while reducing blood glucose, insulin, and pro-inflammatory markers in response to endurance exercise.Clinical trial registration Retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06227260).

Source: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

DOI: 10.1080/15502783.2025.2579029