# Physiological and Recovery Responses to Dietary Polyphenols in the Context of Exercise: Relevance for Muscle Aging and Sarcopenia

## TL;DR

This review explores how dietary polyphenols may help with muscle recovery after exercise and could potentially slow muscle aging in older adults.

## Contribution

The paper proposes a translational framework linking polyphenol effects on exercise recovery to mechanisms of muscle aging and sarcopenia.

## Key findings

- Polyphenol intake may reduce biomarkers of muscle damage and speed recovery of muscle strength.
- Mechanistic evidence highlights redox homeostasis and mitochondrial regulation as key pathways.
- There is biological overlap between recovery processes and age-related muscle decline mechanisms.

## Abstract

Introduction: The biological effects of dietary polyphenols have gained increasing attention due to their roles in regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and mitochondrial function. Human studies suggest that polyphenol intake may support aspects of post-exercise recovery, neuromuscular function, and selected aspects of physical performance. However, most investigations have been conducted in young or metabolically healthy populations, limiting direct clinical translation to older adults. Objective: This narrative review aims to synthesize current mechanistic and human evidence on the physiological and recovery-related effects of dietary polyphenols in the context of exercise adaptation and skeletal muscle function, and to examine their potential relevance to muscle aging and sarcopenia. Methods: A structured, non-systematic literature search was conducted to integrate findings from human intervention trials, preclinical studies, and mechanistic research addressing polyphenols, exercise adaptation, muscle recovery, and muscle aging. Evidence was synthesized narratively with emphasis on shared physiological pathways and functional outcomes. Results: Human intervention studies suggest that polyphenol intake may attenuate biomarkers of exercise-induced muscle damage, modulate inflammatory responses, and accelerate recovery of muscle strength and functional performance. Mechanistic evidence supports the involvement of redox homeostasis, mitochondrial regulation, and inflammatory signaling as central mediators of these effects. While clinical data in older populations remain limited, converging evidence suggests biological overlap between recovery-related pathways and mechanisms implicated in age-related muscle decline. Conclusions: Current evidence is consistent with a biologically plausible role for polyphenols in modulating exercise-related physiological and recovery processes. By aligning recovery-focused evidence with pathways central to muscle aging, this review proposes a translational framework that may inform the design of future targeted clinical trials in older and clinical populations.