Oral Ingestion of Deep Ocean Minerals Increases High-Intensity Intermittent Running Capacity in Soccer Players after Short-Term Post-Exercise Recovery: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

This study examined whether deep ocean mineral (DOM) supplementation improved
high-intensity intermittent running capacity after short-term recovery from an initial bout of prolonged
high-intensity running in thermoneutral environmental conditions. Nine healthy recreational male
soccer players (age: 22 ± 1 y; stature: 181 ± 5 cm; and body mass 80 ± 11 kg) completed a graded
incremental test to ascertain peak oxygen uptake (V·O2PEAK), two familiarisation trials, and two
experimental trials following a double-blind, repeated measures, crossover and counterbalanced
design. All trials were separated by seven days and at ambient room temperature (i.e., 20 ◦C). During
the 2 h recovery period after the initial ~60 min running at 75% V·O2PEAK, participants were provided
with 1.38 ± 0.51 L of either deep ocean mineral water (DOM) or a taste-matched placebo (PLA), both
mixed with 6% sucrose. DOM increased high-intensity running capacity by ~25% compared to PLA.
There were no differences between DOM and PLA for blood lactate concentration, blood glucose
concentration, or urine osmolality. The minerals and trace elements within DOM, either individually
or synergistically, appear to have augmented high-intensity running capacity in healthy, recreationally
active male soccer players after short-term recovery from an initial bout of prolonged, high-intensity
running in thermoneutral environmental conditions.

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