Impact of Red Cabbage and Red Onion Anthocyanin Supplementation on Lipid Profiles in Amateur Soccer Players: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study
Article Sidebar
-
Anthocyanins, Red Cabbage, Red Onion, Amateur Soccer Players, Lipid Profile
Abstract
Background: Dietary anthocyanins have been recognized for their potent antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties. However, the efficacy of anthocyanin-rich dietary interventions in modulating the lipid metabolism of physically active cohorts remains unclear.
Aims: This exploratory, placebo-controlled pilot study aimed to evaluate whether a short-term (22-day) dietary supplementation with anthocyanin-rich red cabbage juice or red onion salad significantly modulates lipid profile parameters, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG), in healthy amateur soccer players.
Methods: Fifteen male amateur soccer players (mean age: 24.86 ± 5.93 years) were enrolled and randomly assigned to three groups: red cabbage, red onion, and placebo. Over a 22-day period, participants consumed their assigned supplement while maintaining their regular physical activity levels. Venous blood samples were collected via the cubital vein before baseline and post-intervention for lipid profile parameters. Statistical significance was assessed using paired t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) or Welch’s ANOVA where appropriate, with the significance threshold set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Intra-group analyses revealed no statistically significant amelioration in lipid parameters within the red cabbage or red onion cohorts. However, a significant elevation in LDL-C concentrations was observed in the placebo group, increasing from 0.63 ± 0.13 to 0.70 ± 0.11 g/L (p = 0.037). This observation likely reflects the influence of extraneous, uncontrolled variables rather than a direct consequence of the intervention.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that short-term dietary supplementation with anthocyanins does not significantly alter the lipid profiles of amateur soccer players. This lack of physiological response may be attributable to the optimized lipid metabolism characteristic of physically active individuals or the exploratory nature of the study design. While these preliminary data provide a foundation for future, adequately powered investigations in athletic populations, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the limited sample size.
Keywords: Anthocyanins; Red Cabbage; Red Onion; Amateur Soccer Players; Lipid Profile.
Full text article
References
Aguinaga-Ontoso, I., Guillen-Aguinaga, S., Guillen-Aguinaga, L., Alas-Brun, R., & Guillen-Grima, F. (2023). Effects of nutrition interventions on athletic performance in soccer players: A systematic review. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 13(6), 1271. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13061271
Ahmad, I., Jan, H., Ahmed, A., Ihteshamulhaq, Khan, A. A., Shahab, M., Rehmat, N., Iftakhar, F. B., Ahmad, B., & Shan, F. (2021). Determination of serum lipid profile in elderly and non-elderly Pakistani Acute myocardial infarction patients. Annals of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology, 25(7), 708–717. http://annalsofrscb.ro/index.php/journal/article/view/10088
Askari, G., Ghiasvand, R., Paknahad, Z., Karimian, J., Rabiee, K., Sharifirad, G., & Feizi, A. (2013). The effects of quercetin supplementation on body composition, exercise performance and muscle damage indices in athletes. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 4(1),https://.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23412140/
Bacchetti, T., Tullii, D., Masciangelo, S., Gesuita, R., Skrami, E., Brugè, F., Silvestri, S., Orlando, P., Tiano, L., & Ferretti, G. (2014). Effect of black and red cabbage on plasma carotenoid levels, lipid profile and oxidized low density lipoprotein. Journal of Functional Foods, 8, 128–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2014.02.020
Bendokas, V., Stanys, V., Mažeikienė, I., et al. (2020). Anthocyanins: From the field to the antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants, 9(9), 819. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9090819
Bibbins-Domingo, K., Brubaker, L., & Curfman, G. (2024). The 2024 revision to the declaration of Helsinki: Modern ethics for medical research: Modern ethics for medical research. The Journal of the American Medical Association. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.22530
Bibi, J., Lei, Y., Kotwica-Mojzych, K., Głowacka, M., & Mojzych, M. (2024). The power of pomegranate as natural supplement remedy for sportsmen and athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Functional Foods, 121(106453), 106453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2024.106453
Bojarczuk, A., & Dzitkowska-Zabielska, M. (2023). Polyphenol supplementation and antioxidant status in athletes: A narrative review. Nutrients, 15(1), 158. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15010158
Erken, O. (2022). Some bioactive metabolites’ response to long-term water stress in red cabbage. Scientia Horticulturae, 293(110731), 110731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110731
Escalante-Aburto, A., Mendoza-Córdova, M. Y., Mahady, G. B., Luna-Vital, D. A., Gutiérrez-Uribe, J. A., & Chuck-Hernández, C. (2023). Consumption of dietary anthocyanins and their association with a reduction in obesity biomarkers and the prevention of obesity. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 140(104140), 104140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2023.104140
Gaamouri, N., Zouhal, H., Hammami, M., Hackney, A. C., Abderrahman, A. B., Saeidi, A., El Hage, R., & Ounis, O. B. (2019). Effects of polyphenol (carob) supplementation on body composition and aerobic capacity in taekwondo athletes. Physiology & Behavior, 205, 22–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.03.003
Gurrola-Díaz, C. M., García-López, P. M., Sánchez-Enríquez, S., Troyo-Sanromán, R., Andrade-González, I., & Gómez-Leyva, J. F. (2010). Effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract powder and preventive treatment (diet) on the lipid profiles of patients with metabolic syndrome (MeSy). Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology, 17(7), 500–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2009.10.014
Habanova, M., Saraiva, J. A., Holovicova, M., Moreira, S. A., Fidalgo, L. G., Haban, M., Gazo, J., Schwarzova, M., Chlebo, P., & Bronkowska, M. (2019). Effect of berries/apple mixed juice consumption on the positive modulation of human lipid profile. Journal of Functional Foods, 60(103417), 103417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2019.103417
Krustrup, P., Nielsen, J. J., Krustrup, B. R., Christensen, J. F., Pedersen, H., Randers, M. B., Aagaard, P., Petersen, A.-M., Nybo, L., & Bangsbo, J. (2009). Recreational soccer is an effective health-promoting activity for untrained men. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43(11), 825–831. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2008.053124
Lafay, S., Jan, C., Nardon, K., Lemaire, B., Ibarra, A., Roller, M., Houvenaeghel, M., Juhel, C., & Cara, L. (2009). Grape extract improves antioxidant status and physical performance in elite male athletes. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 8(3), 468–480. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3763295/
Lagouge, M., Argmann, C., Gerhart-Hines, Z., Meziane, H., Lerin, C., Daussin, F., Messadeq, N., Milne, J., Lambert, P., Elliott, P., Geny, B., Laakso, M., Puigserver, P., & Auwerx, J. (2006). Resveratrol improves mitochondrial function and protects against metabolic disease by activating SIRT1 and PGC-1alpha. Cell, 127(6), 1109–1122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2006.11.013
Lindstrom, M., DeCleene, N., Dorsey, H., Fuster, V., Johnson, C. O., LeGrand, K. E., Mensah, G. A., Razo, C., Stark, B., Varieur Turco, J., & Roth, G. A. (2022). Global burden of cardiovascular diseases and risks collaboration, 1990-2021. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 80(25), 2372–2425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2022.11.001
Mizelman, E., Chilibeck, P. D., Hanifi, A., Kaviani, M., Brenna, E., & Zello, G. A. (2020). A low-glycemic index, high-fiber, pulse-based diet improves lipid profile, but does not affect performance in soccer players. Nutrients, 12(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051324
Nyakayiru, J., Jonvik, K. L., Trommelen, J., Pinckaers, P. J. M., Senden, J. M., van Loon, L. J. C., & Verdijk, L. B. (2017). Beetroot juice supplementation improves high-intensity intermittent type exercise performance in trained soccer players. Nutrients, 9(3), 314. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9030314
Parenteau, F., St-Amant, A., & Bergdahl, A. (2024). Effects of polyphenol-rich, berry supplementation on exercise performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Nutrition Open Science, 56, 241–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutos.2024.06.006
Qin, Y., Xia, M., Ma, J., Hao, Y., Liu, J., Mou, H., Cao, L., & Ling, W. (2009). Anthocyanin supplementation improves serum LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations associated with the inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in dyslipidemic subjects. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 90(3), 485–492. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2009.27814
Safonicheva, O., Kryuchkova, K., Lazareva, I., Chekulaev, P., Ovchinnikova, M., Kurshev, V., Budanova, E., Gameeva, V., Gavrilov, V., Epishev, V., & Zaborova, V. (2023). Study of Morpho-functional characteristics of the cardiovascular system according to electrocardiography, phonocardiography, echocardiography in master athletics. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 18, 2079–2092. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S432202
Stankiewicz, B., Cieślicka, M., Kujawski, S., Piskorska, E., Kowalik, T., Korycka, J., & Skarpańska-Stejnborn, A. (2021). Effects of antioxidant supplementation on oxidative stress balance in young footballers- a randomized double-blind trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00447-z
Wallace, T. C., Slavin, M., & Frankenfeld, C. L. (2016). Systematic review of anthocyanins and markers of cardiovascular disease. Nutrients, 8(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8010032
Authors
Copyright (c) 2026 Hamza Elrobrini, Salim Zaabar, Naïma Bouchefa-Guendouze, Fatiha Brahmi, Hocine Remini, Sana Kerrour
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
-
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
-
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
