Effects of montmorency tart cherry (L. Prunus Cerasus) consumption on nitric oxide biomarkers and exercise performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Montmorency tart cherry juice (MC) on nitric oxide (NO) biomarkers, vascular function, and exercise performance. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PLA)-controlled, crossover study, 10 trained cyclists (mean ± SD; V˙O 59.0 ± 7.0 mL/kg/min) acutely ingested 30 mL of either MC or PLA following dietary restrictions of polyphenol-rich compounds and completed 6-minutes moderate- and severe-intensity cycling bouts 1.5 hour post-ingestion on 2 occasions for each experimental condition. The severe-intensity cycling test was continued to exhaustion on 1 occasion and immediately followed by a 60-seconds all-out sprint on the other occasion. Blood pressure, pulse wave measures, tissue oxygenation index, and plasma nitrite concentration were assessed pre- and 1.5 hour post-ingestion. Time to exhaustion was not different between conditions (P > .05), but peak power over the first 20 seconds (363 ± 42 vs 330 ± 26 W) and total work completed during the 60-seconds all-out sprint (21 ± 3 vs 19 ± 3 kJ) were 10% higher in the MC trial compared to the PLA trial (P < .05). Systolic blood pressure was 5 ± 2 mm Hg lower 1.5 hour post-MC supplementation compared to PLA supplementation (P < .05). There were no differences in pulse wave measures, plasma nitrite concentration, or tissue oxygenation between the MC and PLA trials (P > .05). These results suggest that acute supplementation with MC can lower blood pressure and improve some aspects of exercise performance, specifically end-sprint performance, in trained cyclists.

Sex differences in fatigability and recovery relative to the intensity–duration relationship

“…The probe was placed on the vastus lateralis, 20 cm above the fibular head lateral side of the patella (Keane et al . ). Optodes were held in place by an elasticised, tensor bandage and covered by an opaque, dark material to avoid motion and ambient light influences.…”

“…The light-emitting probe comprised diodes operating at three wavelengths (735, 810 and 850 nm), and an emitter-detector distance of 3 cm. The probe was placed on the vastus lateralis, 20 cm above the fibular head lateral side of the patella (Keane et al 2018). Optodes were held in place by an elasticised, tensor bandage and covered by an opaque, dark material to avoid motion and ambient light influences.…”

Fruit-Derived Polyphenol Supplementation for Athlete Recovery and Performance

“…Dietary controls are a further factor worthy of consideration. Several of the reviewed studies incorporated some element of dietary polyphenol restriction [ 11 , 64 , 67 , 80 , 82 , 107 , 120 , 136 ], in attempts to reduce the background noise that may be introduced by variation in dietary polyphenol intake, but which may also maximise the effects produced by polyphenol supplementation. Habitual polyphenol intake is difficult to accurately quantify, since despite our knowledge that polyphenol content of foods will be highly variable, reliance on standard values is required ( http://phenol-explorer.eu/ is an excellent resource for this purpose).…”

“…Other polyphenol-containing supplements have also shown mixed results when used prior to exercise in an attempt to improve performance. Trained cyclists experienced modest improvements in end-sprint performance 1.5 h after ingestion of Montmorency cherry concentrate [ 67 ]. Recreationally active men also apparently derived ergogenic effects from supplementation with ecklonia cava extract [ 68 ] and a combined grape and apple polyphenol supplement [ 69 ], with increased time to exhaustion during a maximal incremental treadmill running test, and cycling at 70% maximum aerobic power, respectively.…”

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

“…International Journal of Exercise Metabolism and Sports Nutrition Accepted version, 21/07/2018 Recently, Keane et al (2018) was the first study to examine the effects of an acute intake of cherry on exercise performance. They observed mL Montmorency cherry juice containing ~60 mg anthocyanins to have no effect on cycling time-to-exhaustion during severe intensity exercise (CherryActive®: 772±32 vs. placebo: 733±32 s, P=0.323), however in a 60-s all-out sprint following the time-to-exhaustion, cherry increased peak power by 9.5% metabolites from the anthocyanin pelargonidin were present, which were not in the blueberry juice, which may indicate dihydroxylation and demethylation of anthocyanin by xenobiotic and colonic bacteria (Kalt et al, 2014).…”