Method for evaluating the ability of a composition to prevent muscle damage and fatigue; food supplement and drug

A method for evaluating the ability of a chemical substance (S) or of a chemical composition (C) to prevent muscle fatigue and muscle damage induced by physical exertion in human beings, said method comprising:

• A step a) of culturing human primary skeletal muscle cells;
• A step b) of differentiating the cells obtained in step a) in order to obtain myotubes;
• A step c) of bringing a chemical substance (S) or a chemical composition (C) into contact with the cell medium obtained in step b);
• A step d) of bringing at least one calcium ionophore agent (AI) into contact with the cell medium obtained in step c);
• A step e) of measuring the level of expression of a combination of biological markers comprising or consisting of:
• at least one biological marker (M1) of glycemic homeostasis, chosen from the elements of the group consisting of the myokines or cytokines produced by muscles,
• at least one biological marker (M2) of muscle lesions, chosen from creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase,
• at least one biological marker (M3) of ATP metabolism, chosen from the elements of the group consisting of lactate, aqueous ammonia and oxypurines,
• in the culture medium obtained in step d);
• and
• A step f) of comparing the levels of expression of each of said three biological markers (M1), (M2) and (M3) measured in step e) with the reference expression level for each of these three biological markers.