Intake Duration of Anthocyanin-Rich New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Affects Cardiovascular Responses during Moderate-Intensity Walking But Not at Rest

Abstract

We examined effects of intake duration of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract on cardiovascular responses during supine rest and moderate-intensity walking. Recreationally active men (n = 15, age: 24 ± 6 yr, BMI: 24.7 ± 4.3 kg·m−2) volunteered in a randomized, cross-over design. One metabolic equivalent (1-MET) was measured (3.97 ± 0.66 mL·kg−1·min−1) and an incremental walking test was performed to individualize speed at 4 (n = 3) or 5 (n = 12) METs for the 30-min walk (5.7 ± 0.7 km·hr−1). NZBC extract (210 mg of anthocyanins) was taken with breakfast for 7 and 14 days, with a 14-days washout. The final dose was ingested 2-hr before recording of the cardiovascular responses (Portapres Model-2). At rest, %changes at 7- and 14-days intake were observed for stroke volume (+6.8% (trend), p = 0.065; +8.5%, p = 0.012), cardiac output (+10.1%, p = 0.007; +8.5%, p = 0.013), total peripheral resistance (−12.0%, p = 0.004; −13.1%, p = 0.011), diastolic (−5.7%, p = 0.045; −9.7%, p = 0.015) and mean arterial pressure (−4.4%, p = 0.040; −7.2%, p = 0.029), but without intake duration effect. During walking, %changes at 7- and 14-days intake were observed for stroke volume (+7.7% (trend), p = 0.063; +9.9%, p = 0.006), cardiac output (+8.7%, p = 0.037; +10.1%, p = 0.007), diastolic blood pressure (−6.2%, p = 0.042; −10.6%, p = 0.001), and total peripheral resistance (−9.6%, p = 0.042; −13.5%, p = 0.005) but without intake duration effect. During walking, %changes at 14-days were observed only for mean arterial pressure (−6.4%, p = 0.018) and arterio-venous oxygen difference (−7.9%, p = 0.019). NZBC extract affects cardiovascular responses at rest and during moderate-intensity exercise with 7- and 14-day intake. Only during moderate-intensity exercise, a longer intake of NZBC extract was required for an effect on some cardiovascular responses.