Montmorency cherry supplement does not affect aerobic exercise performance in healthy men

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effects of short-term Montmorency cherry (MC) supplementation upon exercise performance, total blood nitrate levels, muscle oxygenation, and slow-component [Formula: see text]O2 kinetics. Methods: Twelve healthy male participants ingested a MC or placebo (PL) supplement in a randomized cross-over fashion over a six day period then cycled at a power output achieved at 70% of [Formula: see text]O2 peak for a maximum of 30 minutes or until exhaustion. Near-Infrared Spectroscopy sensors were used to determine muscle oxygenation. Blood was collected one hour post-supplement consumption on day one, day six, and one hour post-exercise. Results: All results are presented as mean±SEM. Blood nitrate (μM/L) levels were not different one hour post-ingestion (MC=8.30±2.15, PL=8.18±1.86), following six days of supplementation (MC=9.14±1.89, PL=7.24±1.75) or one hour post-exercise (MC=9.63±1.61, PL=7.97±1.92) for treatment F=0.26, p=0.62; for time F=0.45, p=0.64; or treatment by time interaction F=2.28, p=0.13. Muscle oxygenation was not different between treatments for the right or left vastus lateralis, F=0.68, p=0.81 nor was time to respiratory compensation point (minutes) (MC=18.40±1.48, PL=17.16±1.78) F=0.52, p=0.60. MC supplement ingestion does not alter blood nitrate levels. Conclusion: Short-term MC ingestion does not increase muscle oxygenation during cycling exercise nor does it change slow-component [Formula: see text]O2 kinetics.