LANSING, Mich., Dec. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/
-- Cyclists who are preparing for race day may have a
new sports drink to give them an edge in recovery: tart cherry
juice. A new study published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition,
and Metabolism1 found that Montmorency tart cherry juice helped
accelerate recovery, maintain muscle function and reduce certain
markers of exercise-induced inflammation among a group of cyclists
participating in a simulated road race.
The research team, led by Glyn Howatson and Phillip G. Bell at Northumbria University in the
U.K., conducted this double-blind, placebo-controlled study to
identify the effects of Montmorency tart cherry juice on recovery from
a metabolically challenging exercise: prolonged, high-intensity
cycling. The study involved 16 well-trained male cyclists who were
divided into two groups: one group consumed Montmorency tart cherry juice and the other
group drank a placebo that contained an equal amount of
carbohydrates.
Research Methodology
The cyclists in the tart cherry
juice group mixed 30 mL (or about 1 ounce) of Montmorency tart cherry juice concentrate with
100 mL of water and drank the juice twice a day (8 a.m. and 6 p.m.)
for eight consecutive days. Each glass contained the equivalent of
90-110 Montmorency tart cherries,
which are the most common varietal of tart cherries grown in the
U.S. These dark, ruby red cherries have been frequently studied for
their potential role in exercise recovery, including a similar
study with cyclists previously conducted by Howatson and Bell that
examined the positive impact of Montmorency tart cherry juice after a
three-day simulated road race.2
The fifth day of the study involved a 109-minute cycling trial
designed to replicate a road race. The two groups were monitored
after the race by assessing the blood for specific markers of
physiological stress that helps evaluate the body's ability to
recover. The cyclists in the Montmorency tart cherry group maintained
muscle function (as measured by maximum voluntary isometric
contraction) and experienced a reduction in certain inflammatory
responses following the simulated cycling race, compared to those
consuming the placebo drink. The tart cherry juice also appeared to
maintain exercise efficiency, reducing the amount of oxygen muscles
need to do work. The VO-2 (maximal oxygen consumption) values
were 4% lower at 24 hours compared to the placebo group.
To help assess dietary compliance, participants kept food
diaries and were required to adhere to a low-polyphenolic diet that
eliminated fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, alcohol, chocolate and
whole grains for the duration of the study.
The authors conclude that this new study adds to the growing
body of evidence providing support for the use of Montmorency tart cherry juice in exercise
recovery. Given the existing research – among cyclists and marathon
runners – they suggest future work should explore the potential
benefits from strenuous exercises that are both metabolically and
mechanically challenging, such as football, hockey and court
sports.
Montmorency tart cherries are
available year-round in dried, frozen and juice forms – including
juice concentrate, which was the form used in the U.K. study.
Montmorency tart cherry juice
concentrate can be mixed with water or other juices. It can also be
consumed straight from the bottle or used as an ingredient in
recipes, including smoothies and other beverages.
The Cherry Marketing Institute, a not-for-profit organization,
provided financial support for the analysis of inflammatory
indices. All other elements of the study were funded by Northumbria
University, and the University of Ulster,
U.K. The funders had no role in the study design, data
collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the
manuscript.
For more information on the growing body of research on
Montmorency tart cherries, visit
www.choosecherries.com.
About the Cherry Marketing Institute
The Cherry
Marketing Institute is a not-for-profit organization funded by
North American tart cherry growers and processors. CMI's mission is
to increase the demand for tart cherries through promotion, market
expansion, product development and research. For more information –
including research, recipes, serving ideas and product forms –
visit www.choosecherries.com.
SOURCES
1 Bell PG, Walshe IH, Davison GW, Stevenson EJ,
Howatson G. Recovery facilitation with Montmorency cherries following high-intensity,
metabolically challenging exercise. Applied Physiology,
Nutrition and Metabolism. Published online prior to
print. 2014.
2 Bell PG, Walshe IH, Davison GW, Stevenson E,
Howatson G. Montmorency cherries
reduce the oxidative stress and inflammatory responses to repeated
days high-intensity stochastic cycling. Nutrients. 2014; 6:
829-843.
For a link to the study abstract:
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/apnm-2014-0244?src=recsys#.VIjRm6Hna70
Full research paper available upon request.
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SOURCE Cherry Marketing Institute