Dose-Response Impact of Glucosyl-Hesperidin on Exercise Performance, and Perception

Author

• Grayson Glenn, University of South AlabamaFollow

Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Degree Name

BS

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Faculty Mentor

Ryan Colquhoun, Ph.D.

Advisor(s)

Matt Barenie, Ph.D. and Neil Schwarz, Ph.D.

Abstract

Hesperidin has been proven to have metabolic and clinical effects including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-obesity, and glucose/insulin homeostasis (Nones et al., 2011). There have been limited studies investigating the efficacy of hesperidin as an exercise performance supplement. One study found that prolonged intake of 2Shesperidin decreased fat mass in amateur cyclists and showed a promoting effect on muscle development (Martínez Noguera et al., 2021). Another similar study found that taking 500 mg/day 2S-hesperidin improves estimated functional threshold power and maximum performance in amateur cyclists (Martínez-Noguera et al., 2020). These small-scale studies indicate that there are positive correlations between hesperidin supplementation and an increase in exercise performance and overall health. We expanded upon these studies by examining the effects of Glucosyl-Hesperidin. Glucosyl-Hesperidin (GHES) is a modified form of the citrus flavonoid hesperidin (Yamada et al., 2006). GHES is simply a hesperidin molecule with an added glucose molecule. The addition of the glucose molecule makes glucosyl-hesperidin approximately 10,000 times more water soluble, which improves its absorption into the body (Yamada et al., 2006). This led us to believe that glucosyl-hesperidin may be more bioavailable than hesperidin. The effects of glucosyl hesperidin on exercise performance, blood flow, and cognition are still largely unknown. However, there have been studies that indicate possible positive impacts of glucosyl-hesperidin on exercise performance, blood flow, and cognition. One study found that glucosyl hesperidin intake increased beta-oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation in skeletal muscle of sedentary rats (Nagayama et al., 2023). The same study also showed that glucosyl hesperidin was potentially the cause of improved aerobic performance of rats during long-term acute exercise (Nagayama et al., 2023). Another study found that glucosyl-hesperidin facilitated the recovery of skin temperature and blood flow following cold stress (Kapoor et al., 2023). We believed that glucosyl-hesperidin could be a supplement that could make a difference in the lives/training of athletes at all levels of competition. The goal of this study was to determine whether glucosyl-hesperidin supplementation gave rise to increased maximum oxygen consumption, anaerobic capacity, and cognition.

Recommended Citation

Glenn, Grayson, "Dose-Response Impact of Glucosyl-Hesperidin on Exercise Performance, and Perception" (2026). Honors Theses. 156.
https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_theses/156