Effect of Honey Supplementation on Muscular Endurance
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Megan Weiler
Presenter(s): Megan Weiler
Mentors(s): Jenniffer Riley
Honey is a glucose-rich substance, promoting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production through cellular respiration. ATP is required for muscle contractions, with diminished ATP levels contributing to fatigue. Honey supplementation before exercise may delay ATP depletion through elevating glucose levels, thus lengthening ATP availability. This delay may also enhance muscular endurance by allowing more physical exertion before the onset of fatigue. This study was conducted to determine the effect of honey supplementation on muscular endurance. Eight participants were analyzed, utilizing their ideal bicep curl weight between ten, twelve, and twenty pound dumbbells. Over two weeks, two sets of dominant arm bicep curls until failure were observed. Only one week required honey supplementation. After honey supplementation, participants waited five minutes before their bicep curl set. Bicep curl form was kept consistent throughout each set. Results indicate no statistically significant improvement in performance (p = 0.21). Participants who used a twelve pound dumbbell had the lowest p value, though it was still not statistically significant (p = 0.16). Seven participants improved after honey supplementation with an average increase of 6.75 repetitions. These findings suggest honey may help improve muscular endurance, but further research must be done to solidify this claim.