Science, sports and nutrition: the path of Doctor Enzo Riccardi and the study of polyphenols

Dr. Riccardi, you have a very detailed and specific curriculum, which combines pharmacology, nutrition and sports. Can you tell us about your educational and professional path, and what you do today in clinical practice?

" I am the owner of the Dr. Enzo Luigi Riccardi Pharmacy and I represent the fifth generation of pharmacists in my family, active in Tivoli (RM) since 1880. I have a degree in Pharmacy and Human Nutrition Sciences. For almost twenty years I have been dealing with health and sports performance, in particular taking care of the nutrition of athletes, together with my team of nutritional biologists. I personally follow the development and formulation of food supplements ".

" In particular, I assist top athletes in motorsports: racing drivers, including a multiple endurance world champion and former Formula 1 driver, currently competing in the American IMSA Hypercar championship, one of the fastest categories in the world. I also follow motorcyclists competing in world championships in the disciplines of Enduro, Motocross (including a multiple world champion), Superbike and MotoGP ."

" After graduating in Pharmacy, I developed a strong interest in the world of food supplements, which I explored both through theoretical study and by regularly participating in the main international scientific conferences, a precious opportunity to interact with world-renowned experts. I enriched my education with several Masters, including one of the most qualifying: the II level Master in "Nutraceuticals and Food Supplements: from Raw Materials to Clinical Use" at the University of Pavia, a center of excellence recognized for its high scientific level and cutting-edge laboratories . "

This path has allowed me to acquire in-depth skills also on production technologies, fundamental to understand the critical issues and optimize the effectiveness of the formulations.

" My research activity is constant, fueled by the study of international scientific literature. Just this month I published, together with other colleagues, a new work in the journal Nutraceuticals, dedicated to the polyphenols present in cherries, compounds that we have been using for some time in some of our formulations. I would like to express special thanks to Dr. Alessandro Colletti, creator of the study and trainer of this high-level research group, for years a precious source of stimuli and scientific insights for me ".

What prompted you to devote a review to the clinical effects of cherry polyphenols and what was your main objective?

" The idea for the publication was born from the growing attention towards functional foods and, in particular, towards polyphenols, natural compounds present in plants. Among these, we wanted to study in depth those contained in cherries. In fact, there are numerous clinical studies on these extracts, but they are often dispersed and difficult to compare. With this review we wanted to collect and systematically analyze the most relevant clinical evidence, evaluating the documented effects, safety of use and efficacy of cherry polyphenols. We considered different formulations, cherry varieties, dosages and health parameters investigated ".

Can you explain in a simple way how cherry polyphenols affect inflammation, physical performance and sleep?

" The polyphenols in cherries, especially anthocyanins, have a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. In simple terms, they act as "cellular shields": they neutralize free radicals, harmful molecules produced during oxidative stress (such as that caused by intense physical activity), and reduce inflammatory responses that are harmful to tissues ."

" At the molecular level, they regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha and modulate the activity of enzymes involved in inflammatory processes (COX-2, NOX, xanthine oxidase). Furthermore, they seem to promote a positive balance of the intestinal microbiota, with an effect similar to that of probiotics. These synergistic effects help improve muscle recovery, strengthen immune function and promote quality sleep, thanks also to the natural presence of melatonin in cherries, a substance that regulates the sleep-wake rhythm ."

What benefits of cherry extracts for sports and recovery emerge from clinical studies? And what is the most effective form of supplementation?

" In the sports field, supplementation with cherry extracts has shown significant benefits: reduction of muscle damage, attenuation of post-exercise pain, reduction of oxidative stress and improvement of recovery times. The most promising results have been observed in endurance sports (such as marathon and cycling), but also in strength exercises or in conditions of oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) ."

" Numerous studies have shown that the consumption of concentrated cherry juice or powdered extracts leads to an improvement in muscular resistance, a reduction in inflammatory indicators and a lower subjective perception of effort. Among the most effective forms are standardized juice concentrates or dry extracts titrated in anthocyanins, preferably without added sugars, especially in subjects with alterations in carbohydrate metabolism ."

What are the main challenges in the study of polyphenols today and how can research improve their clinical efficacy?

" One of the main critical issues that emerged concerns the low bioaccessibility of polyphenols, often degraded by the intestinal microbiota before being absorbed. This limits the actual bioavailable quantity and therefore the clinical efficacy. Furthermore, the individual variability of the microbiota makes it difficult to predict a uniform response in treated subjects ."

" To overcome these limitations, it is necessary to deepen the study of the interactions between polyphenols and microbiota, develop more stable and easily absorbable formulations (e.g. with carriers, liposomes or microencapsulation) and work towards personalized integration, based on the individual profile of the microbiota. Finally, it is desirable that research is oriented towards long-term, well-controlled and standardized clinical studies, to confirm the benefits of these compounds in clinical and sports contexts ".