Ten days of supplementation with a standardized Boswellia serrata extract attenuates soreness and accelerates recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running in recreationally active men

Extracts derived from Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata) effectively reduce the pain and swelling associated with osteoarthritis. It is unknown whether the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of B. serrata extend to muscle and joint pain resulting from high-impact eccentric exercise. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of a standardized B. serrata extract LI51202F1 (SBS) to decrease soreness and improve recovery after repeated bouts of downhill running (DHR) compared to placebo (PLA). In total, 50 men (mean age 28 ± 4) were randomly allocated to consume 60 mg SBS or PLA once per day for 10 days (6 days before, the day of, and 3 days after DHR). On day 7, delayed soreness was induced by three 15-min DHR episodes on a 10% declined treadmill. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of joint and muscle soreness, in addition to the maximal weight lifted for a one-repetition leg extension (1RM-LE) were assessed at baseline (pre-supplementation) and on days 8, 9, and 10. Blood and urine samples collected at baseline, before, and after DHR were analyzed for inflammation-related biomarkers. VAS scores significantly increased while muscle strength decreased from baseline measures after DHR regardless of group assignment (main effect of time p  = 0.001). On day 10, the SBS group’s VAS scores were 8.0 ± 1.6 mm lower than the PLA group (  = 0.006). The SBS-supplemented subjects reported less knee joint pain after DHR than the PLA group (  , improves recovery and reduces soreness following high-impact eccentric exercise.

, Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2019/07/020323).

The study investigates the effects of Boswellia serrata on muscle soreness and recovery.