EFFECT OF STRAWBERRY JUICE SUPPLEMENTATION AND AEROBIC EXERCISE ON CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE AND REACTION TIME OF THIRD-YEAR SPORT SCIENCE STUDENTS OF ODA BULTUM UNIVERSITY, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, CHIRO, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Cardiovascular endurance and reaction time are crucial for health and physical performance. Strawberry juice supplementation and aerobic exercise have shown potential benefits for cardiovascular health and cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of strawberry juice supplementation and aerobic exercise on the cardiovascular endurance and reaction time of Third-year sport science students at Oda Bultum University. An experimental pretest-posttest design was employed. A total of 21 students were included using census sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: Strawberry Juice Group, Aerobic Exercise Group, and Aerobic Exercise with Strawberry Juice Group. The Aerobic Exercise group engaged in 45 minutes of aerobic exercise three times per week for 8 weeks. The Aerobic Exercise with Strawberry Juice group received both strawberry juice supplementation 500 mL of strawberry juice (Alang brand) and engaged in aerobic exercise. The Strawberry Juice group consumed the strawberry juice but did not engage in the Aerobic exercise. Cardiovascular endurance was assessed via a 12-minute run test, and reaction time was measured using a ruler drop test. Data were collected at baseline and after the 8-week intervention period. Analysis was conducted using paired sample t-tests for within-group comparisons and two-way MANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni multiple comparisons for between-group differences using SPSS version 26 (p < 0.05). Results showed significant improvements in cardiovascular endurance and reaction time for all three groups after eight weeks (p < 0.05). Multiple comparisons between groups revealed that the Strawberry juice with aerobic exercise Group showed more significant changes in cardiovascular endurance and reaction time compared to the Strawberry Juice Group and Aerobic exercise Group. In conclusion, the combination of strawberry juice supplementation and aerobic exercise had a greater positive effect on cardiovascular endurance and reaction time than either intervention alone among the sport science students