Recovery facilitation with Montmorency cherries following high-intensity, metabolically challenging exercise (original) (raw)

2014, Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism

The impact of Montmorency tart cherry concentrate [MC] on physiological indices and functional 32 performance was examined following a bout of high intensity stochastic cycling. Trained cyclists (n = 33 16) were equally divided into 2 groups (MC or isoenergetic placebo [PLA]) and consumed 30 mL of 34 supplement, twice per day for eight consecutive days. On the fifth day of supplementation, 35 participants completed a 109 minute cycling trial designed to replicate road race demands. 36 Functional performance (maximum voluntary isometric contraction [MVIC], cycling efficiency, 6-37 second peak cycling power) and delayed onset muscle soreness [DOMS] were assessed at baseline, 38 24, 48 and 72 h post-trial. Blood samples collected at baseline, immediately pre and post-trial, and 39 1, 3, 5, 24, 48 and 72 h post-trial were analysed for indices of inflammation (IL-1-β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, 40 hsCRP), oxidative stress (lipid hydroperoxides) and muscle damage (creatine kinase). MVIC (P < 0.05) 41 did not decline in the MC group (vs. PLA) across the 72 h post trial period and economy (P < 0.05) 42 was improved in the MC group at 24 h. IL-6 (P < 0.001) and hsCRP (P < 0.05) responses to the trial 43 were attenuated with MC (vs. PLA). No other blood markers were significantly different between 44 MC and PLA groups. The results of the study suggest that Montmorency cherry concentrate can be 45 an efficacious functional food for accelerating recovery and reducing exercise-induced inflammation 46 following strenuous cycling exercise. 47