Writing in the Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, researchers from Amino Up Co. and the General Incorporated Association Sapporo EXCEL Athlete Club in Japan reported that Oligonol, a patented low-molecular-weight lychee fruit polyphenol, could increase the distance run among the athletes who consumed the supplement.
Oligonol (Amino Up Co., Ltd., Sapporo, Japan) is available from Maypro for use in capsules, powders, functional beverages, and active nutrition formulations. Amino Up Co. funded the study.
“Oligonol is a very well-researched polyphenolic compound, and this study further strengthens the scientific foundation behind its success in sports nutrition,” said Lauren Clardy (PhD), senior director of scientific affairs at Maypro, in statement. “The active nutrition category has evolved well beyond foundational ingredients like protein, caffeine, creatine, and taurine. For today’s leading brands who have moved beyond commoditized performance products, Oligonol offers a compelling combination of clinical validation, formulation versatility and premium consumer appeal.”
An advanced polyphenol
The sports industry has embraced the functional benefits of supplements, which are important resources for athletes to enhance training and maintain performance. Supplements may be used to address oxidative stress as well.
“Since oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation caused by exercise or sports are primary contributors to fatigue and pain, as well as obstacles to achieving peak exercise performance, polyphenols in various foods have become the subject of extensive research,” the scientists wrote.
Polyphenols are antioxidants synthesized by plants and protect them from environmental stresses like ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Polyphenols help people and animals by providing antioxidant benefits, a point of interest among researchers because oxidative stress and inflammation occur after exercise and sports.
However, polyphenols from diet have a high molecular weight and are often poorly absorbed after consumption. Functional food Oligonol is a standardized oligomerized-polyphenol from Litchi chinensis fruit extract (OPLFE). It contains high concentrations of low-molecular-weight polyphenols, which the researchers noted serve as antioxidants and can be efficiently absorbed by the body.
Study details
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial included 34 participants between 45 and 64 years old in Japan who ran at least 100 km each month. For the study, the participants were allowed to maintain their typical training schedule and dietary consumption was not monitored. Participants could not take other polyphenol-based supplements, only two capsules, one after each morning and evening meal, containing 100 mg each of OPLFE during a 60-day intervention period.
Over the intervention period, participants supplementing with 200 mg/day of Oligonol significantly increased their running distance during a 12-minute treadmill run test. They also reported lower exertion.
“Compared to placebo, the Oligonol group improved running distance by approximately 70 meters and reported a two-point reduction in RPE scores,” the researchers noted.
They added that Oligonol may support exercise performance through enhanced energy metabolism efficiency and fatigue resistance.
“We are encouraged to see these clinically meaningful endurance outcomes demonstrated in a well-controlled human study,” said Kohei Homma, senior executive director of R&D division at Amino Up. “For brands developing evidence-based exercise performance products, these findings provide compelling evidence supporting Oligonol’s ability to improve both endurance output and perceived exertion. Moreover, Oligonol is clinically shown to improve blood flow after a single dose, highlighting its fast-acting benefits.”
Source: Journal of Exercise and Nutrition. doi: 10.53520/jen2026.103225. Oligonol Increases the Distance Covered in the 12-Minute Run Test in Long-Distance Runners: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Trial. Authors: Takuma Shio et al.
