Fig. 1

Study design. The subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups and randomly assigned to either a supplementation of 50 ml of concentred peeled fresh fruit juice of Sicilian OFI, which was diluted to 170 ml with water, or 170 ml of Placebo (PL), for 5 days. One week before starting the supplementation, each participant performed the first maximal effort test (BL). The participants consumed OFI or Placebo for 3 days before the second maximal effort test and continued to take it for 2 consecutive days after the testing procedure. After a 2 week wash out period, the treatments were reversed