Beneficial Effects of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Maximal Sprint Speed during the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test

Abstract

New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract has been shown to enhance high-intensity intermittent treadmill running. We examined the effects of NZBC extract during the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) which involves 5 × 15 min blocks with intermittent 15-m maximal sprints, interspersed by moderate and high-intensity running to simulate team sport activity, and a subsequent run to exhaustion. Thirteen males (age: 22 ± 1 year, trueV˙O2max: 50 ± 5 mL·kg−1·min−1) participated in three indoor sessions (T: 24 ± 3 °C, humidity: 52% ± 9%). In the first session, a multistage fitness test was completed to determine peak running speed and estimate trueV˙O2max. Participants consumed NZBC extract in capsules (300 mg·day−1 CurraNZ™) or placebo (PL) (300 mg·day−1 microcrystalline cellulose M102) for seven days in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over design (wash-out at least seven days). NZBC extract did not affect average 15-m sprint times in each block. NZBC reduced slowing of the fastest sprint between block 1 and 5 (PL: 0.12 ± 0.07 s; NZBC: 0.06 ± 0.12 s; p < 0.05). NZBC extract had no effect on heart rate, vertical jump power, lactate and time to exhaustion (PL: 13.44 ± 8.09 min, NZBC: 15.78 ± 9.40 min, p > 0.05). However, eight participants had higher running times to exhaustion when consuming NZBC extract. New Zealand blackcurrant extract may enhance performance in team sports with repeated maximal sprints.

Dietary Anthocyanins: A Review of the Exercise Performance Effects and Related Physiological Responses

“…For example, Perkins et al (2015) observed an increase of 10.6% (P=0.023) in total running distance during an incremental intermittent high-intensity running protocol to exhaustion on a treadmill (placebo 3871±622 vs. blackcurrant 4282±833 m) and Murphy et al (2017) observed an increased performance of 0.82% (P=0.034) for a repeated 4 km cycling time-trial (placebo 771±60 vs. blackcurrant 764±56 s), but sample size could have been a limitation to allow firm conclusions for each of the two separate 4 km tests. Increased resistance to fatigue during exercise has also been shown following intake of blackcurrant extract with less slowing of maximal sprint running in the last 15-minute block of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (Willems et al, 2016). The positive effects of blackcurrant extract on exercise performance have been identified in trained cyclists (Cook et al, 2015;Murphy et al, 2017;Willems et al, 2015), active but untrained males (Perkins et al, 2015;Willems et al, 2016) and trained youth footballers (Godwin et al, 2017).…”

“…Increased resistance to fatigue during exercise has also been shown following intake of blackcurrant extract with less slowing of maximal sprint running in the last 15-minute block of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (Willems et al, 2016). The positive effects of blackcurrant extract on exercise performance have been identified in trained cyclists (Cook et al, 2015;Murphy et al, 2017;Willems et al, 2015), active but untrained males (Perkins et al, 2015;Willems et al, 2016) and trained youth footballers (Godwin et al, 2017). The effects in elite athletes are unknown and need to be examined in future research, especially in those with a relatively low anthocyanin intake.…”

“…While benefits to exercise performance following a short duration of intake of anthocyanins have been observed (Table 2) Murphy et al, 2017;Perkins et al, 2015;Willems et al, 2016) the effects of regular intake on training adaptations are an important consideration. Blunting of training adaptations has been observed following a high intake of antioxidants, and it is possible that the blunting requires an intake threshold.…”

“…CherryActive®: 363±42 vs placebo: 330±26 W, P=0.034) and total work by 10%(CherryActive®: 21±3 vs. 19±3 kJ, P=0.021).The studies byCook et al (2015),Godwin et al (2017),Murphy et al (2017),Perkins et al (2015) andWillems et al (2016) observed blackcurrant extract taken for 6-days before and on the morning of the seventh-day, 2-hours before performance testing, with Keane et al(2018) supplementing cherry acutely 90-minutes before. This raises questions if the performance benefits are entirely affected by intake of last dose, or a result of the previous 6days intake.…”

Book of Abstract–German Exercise Science & Training Conference (GEST19) of the German Society of Sport Science (dvs), February 20th–22nd 2019

“…Performance improvements under various conditions. (Perkings et al, 2015; Willems et al, 2016) have demonstrated an ergogenic effect of NZBC extract after a seven-day intake phase. The aim of this study is to examine the in-fluence of NZBC extract on performance in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (Yo-YoIR1).…”