Effect of pomegranate tablet use before match simulation on post match lactate elimination in badminton

This study aims to investigate the effects of pomegranate tablet consumption before a badminton match simulation on post-simulation blood lactate and heart rate values. The match simulations were created based on analyses of the men's singles semi-final and final matches from the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympic Games. The study was designed as double-blind and crossover, with the participation of nine male badminton players aged 18-24. Participants consumed pomegranate tablets with water prior to the match simulation, and blood lactate and heart rate measurements were taken before and after the simulations.Due to the sample size being less than 50, the normality of the data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney U tests. The results showed no significant differences in resting blood lactate and heart rate values following the consumption of pomegranate tablets (p>0.05). However, significant differences were found in blood lactate levels after warm-up, immediately after the simulation, and at the 30th minute (p<0.05). Similarly, heart rate values were significantly different after warm-up and immediately after the simulation (p<0.05).In conclusion, the consumption of pomegranate tablets prior to the match simulation was found to have a positive effect on blood lactate and heart rate values following the simulation. Future studies are recommended to explore these effects on different gender groups and with larger sample sizes. This study is expected to provide valuable insights for future research and contribute to field applications.