Abstract
Purpose
Blackcurrant intake increases peripheral blood flow in humans, potentially by anthocyanin-induced vasodilation which may affect substrate delivery and exercise performance. We examined the effects of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract on substrate oxidation, cycling time-trial performance and plasma lactate responses following the time-trial in trained cyclists.
Methods
Using a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, 14 healthy men (age: 38 ± 13 years, height: 178 ± 4 cm, body mass: 77 ± 9 kg, \(\dot{V}\)O2max: 53 ± 6 mL kg−1 min−1, mean ± SD) ingested NZBC extract (300 mg day−1 CurraNZ™ containing 105 mg anthocyanin) or placebo (PL, 300 mg microcrystalline cellulose M102) for 7 days (washout 14 days). On day 7, participants performed 30 min of cycling (3 × 10 min at 45, 55 and 65 % \(\dot{V}\)O2max), followed by a 16.1 km time-trial with lactate sampling during a 20-min passive recovery.
Results
NZBC extract increased fat oxidation at 65 % \(\dot{V}\)O2max by 27 % (P < 0.05) and improved 16.1 km time-trial performance by 2.4 % (NZBC: 1678 ± 108 s, PL: 1722 ± 131 s, P < 0.05). Plasma lactate was higher with NZBC extract immediately following the time-trial (NZBC: 7.06 ± 1.73 mmol L−1, PL: 5.92 ± 1.58 mmol L−1, P < 0.01).
Conclusions
Seven-day intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract improves 16.1 km cycling time-trial performance and increases fat oxidation during moderate intensity cycling.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- CHox:
-
Carbohydrate oxidation
- FATox:
-
Fat oxidation
- NZBC:
-
New Zealand blackcurrant
- PL:
-
Placebo
- \(\dot{V}\)O2max :
-
Maximal oxygen uptake
- WRmax :
-
Maximum work rate
References
Achten J, Jeukendrup AE (2003) The effect of pre-exercise carbohydrate feedings on the intensity that elicits maximal fat oxidation. J Sport Sci 21:1017–1024
Achten J, Gleeson M, Jeukendrup AE (2002) Determination of the exercise intensity that elicits maximal fat oxidation. Med Sci Sport Exerc 34:92–97
Alvarez-Suarez JM, Giampieri F, Tulipani S, Casoli T, Di Stefano G, González-Paramás AM, Santos-Buelga C, Busco F, Quiles JL, Cordero MD, Bompadre S, Mezzetti B, Battino M (2014) One-month strawberry-rich anthocyanin supplementation ameliorates cardiovascular risk, oxidative stress markers and platelet activation in humans. J Nutr Biochem 25(3):289–294
Bailey SJ, Fulford J, Vanhatalo A, Winyard PG, Blackwell JR, Dimenna FJ, Wilkerson DP, Benjamin N, Jones AM (2010) Dietary nitrate supplementation enhances muscle contractile efficiency during knee-extensor exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol 109:135–148
Bassett DR, Howley ET (2000) Limiting factors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32:70–84
Benn T, Kim B, Park YK, Wegner CJ, Harness E, Nam TG, Kim DO, Lee JS, Lee JY (2014) Polyphenol-rich blackcurrant extract prevents inflammation in diet-induced obese mice. J Nutr Biochem 25:1019–1025
Boushel R, Langberg H, Gemmer C, Olesen J, Crameri R, Scheede C, Sander M, Kjaer M (2002) Combined inhibition of nitric oxide and prostaglandins reduces human skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise. J Physiol 543:691–698
Bowtell JL, Summers DP, Dyer A, Fox P, Mileva KN (2011) Montmorency cherry juice reduces muscle damage caused by intensive strength training. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43:1544–1551
Braakhuis AJ, Hopkins WG, Lowe TE (2014) Effects of dietary antioxidants on training and performance in female runners. Eur J Sport Sci 14:160–168
Cohen J (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. L. Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale
Connolly DA, McHugh MP, Padilla-Zahour OI, Carlson L, Sayers SP (2006) Efficacy of a tart cherry juice blend in preventing the symptoms of muscle damage. Brit J Sport Med 40:679–684
Cureton KJ, Tomporowski PD, Singhal A, Pasley JD, Bigelman KA, Lambourne K, Trilk JL, Mccully KK, Arnaud MJ, Zhao Q (2009) Dietary quercetin supplementation is not ergogenic in untrained men. J Appl Physiol 107:1095–1104
Czank C, Cassidy C, Zhang Q, Morrison DJ, Preston T, Kroon PA, Botting NP, Kay CD (2013) Human metabolism and elimination of the anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-glucoside: a 13C-tracer study1−3. Am J Clin Nutr 97:955–1003
De La Cruz AA, Hilbert G, Mengin V, Rivière C, Ollat N, Vitrac C, Bordenave L, Decroocq S, Delaunay JC, Mérillon JM, Monti JP, Gomès E, Richard T (2013) Anthocyanin phytochemical profiles and anti-oxidant activities of Vitis candicans and Vitis doaniana. Phytochem Analysis 24:446–452
Gladden LB (2004) Lactate metabolism: a new paradigm for the third millennium. J Physiol 558:5–30
Horowitz JF, Mora-Rodriguez R, Byerley LO, Coyle EF (1997) Lipolytic suppression following carbohydrate ingestion limits fat oxidation during exercise. Am J Physiol 273:E768–E775
Howatson G, McHugh MP, Hill JA, Brouner J, Jewell AP, van Someren KA, Shave RE, Howatson SA (2010) Influence of tart cherry juice on indices of recovery following marathon running. Scan J Med Sci Spor 20:843–852
Howley ET, Bassett DR, Welch HG (1995) Criteria for maximal oxygen uptake: review and commentary. Med Sci Sports Exerc 27:1292–1301
Jeacocke NA, Burke LM (2010) Methods to standardize dietary intake before performance testing. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 20:87–103
Jeukendrup AE, Wallis GA (2005) Measurement of substrate oxidation during exercise by means of gas exchange measurements. Int J Sports Med 26(Suppl 1):S28–S37
Lansley KE, Winyard PG, Bailey SJ, Vanhatalo A, Wilkerson DP, Blackwell JR, Gilchrist M, Benjamin N, Jones AM (2011) Acute dietary nitrate supplementation improves cycling time trial performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43:1125–1131
Macrae HS, Mefferd KM (2006) Dietary antioxidant supplementation combined with quercetin improves cycling time trial performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 16:405–419
Martin S, Andriambeloson E, Takeda K, Andriantsitohaina R (2002) Red wine polyphenols increase calcium in bovine aortic endothelial cells: a basis to elucidate signalling pathways leading to nitric oxide production. Br J Pharmacol 135:1579–1587
Matsumoto H, Takenami E, Iwasaki-Kurashige K, Osada T, Katsumura T, Hamaoka T (2005) Effects of blackcurrant anthocyanin intake on peripheral muscle circulation during typing work in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 94:36–45
Myburgh KH (2014) Polyphenol supplementation: benefits for exercise performance or oxidative stress? Sports Med 44(Suppl 1):S57–S70
Nagai K, Jiang MH, Hada J, Nagata T, Yajima Y, Yamamoto S, Nishizaki T (2002) (−)-Epigallocatechin gallate protects against NO stress-induced neuronal damage after ischemia by acting as an anti-oxidant. Brain Res 956:319–322
Nakamura Y, Matsumoto H, Todoki K (2002) Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by black currant concentrate in rat thoracic aorta. Jpn J Pharmacol 89:29–35
Niki E, Yamamoto Y, Takahashi M, Yamamoto K, Yamamoto Y, Komuro E, Miki M, Yasuda H, Mino M (1988) Free radical-mediated damage of blood and its inhibition by antioxidants. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 34:507–512
Ohguro I, Hiroshi O, Nakazawa M (2007) Effects of anthocyanins in black currant on retinal blood flow circulation of patients with normal tension glaucoma. A pilot study. Hirosaki Med J 59:23–32
Paton CD, Hopkins WG (2006) Variation in performance of elite cyclists from race to race. Eur J Sport Sci 6:25–31
Powers SK, Deruisseau KC, Quindry J, Hamilton KL (2004) Dietary antioxidants and exercise. J Sports Sci 22:81–94
Skarpańska-Stejnborn A, Basta P, Pilaczyńska-Szcześniak Ł (2006) The influence of supplementation with the black currant (Ribes nigrum) extract on selected prooxidative-antioxidative balance parameters in rowers. Stud Phy Cult Tour 13:51–58
Tsuda T, Ueno Y, Aoki H, Koda T, Horio F, Takahashi N, Kawada T, Osawa T (2004) Anthocyanin enhances adipocytokine secretion and adipocyte-specific gene expression in isolated rat adipocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 316:149–157
Tsuda T, Ueno Y, Kojo H, Yoshikawa T, Osawa T (2005) Gene expression profile of isolated rat adipocytes treated with anthocyanins. Biochim Biophys Acta 1733:137–147
Venables MC, Hulston CJ, Cox HR, Jeukendrup AE (2008) Green tea extract ingestion, fat oxidation, and glucose tolerance in healthy humans. Am J Clin Nutr 87:778–784
Viña J, Gomez-Cabrera MC, Lloret A, Marquez R, Miñana JB, Pallardó FV, Sastre J (2000) Free radicals in exhaustive physical exercise: mechanism of production, and protection by antioxidants. IUBMB Life 50:271–277
Wu X, Gu L, Prior RL, Mckay S (2004) Characterization of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in some cultivars of Ribes, Aronia, and Sambucus and their antioxidant capacity. J Agric Food Chem 52:7846–7856
Zhu Y, Ling W, Guo H, Song F, Ye Q, Zou T, Li D, Zhang Y, Li G, Xiao Y, Liu F, Li Z, Shi Z, Yang Y (2013) Anti-inflammatory effect of purified dietary anthocyanin in adults with hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. Nutr Metab Cardiovas Dis 23:843–849
Ziberna L, Lunder M, Tramer F, Drevenšek G, Passamonti S (2013) The endothelial plasma membrane transporter bilitranslocase mediates rat aortic vasodilation induced by anthocyanins. Nutr Metab Cardiovas Dis 23:68–74
Acknowledgments
Funding and supply of supplement (CurraNZ™) for this study was obtained from Health Currancy Ltd. (United Kingdom). The authors declare no other conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by Anni Vanhatalo.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cook, M.D., Myers, S.D., Blacker, S.D. et al. New Zealand blackcurrant extract improves cycling performance and fat oxidation in cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 2357–2365 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3215-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3215-8