Abstract
Montmorency cherry (MC) can improve endurance performance, but optimal pre-exercise timing of supplementation and influence of training status on efficacy are unknown. We investigated the effect of MC concentrate ingestion between 30- and 150-min pre-exercise in trained and recreational cyclists on 15-km time trial (TT) performance and exercise economy. Twenty participants (10 recreationally active, RA; 10 trained, T) completed 10min of steady-state exercise (SSE) at 40%Δ (SSE) and a TT on four separate occasions following an unsupplemented (US), 30-, 90- or 150-min pre-exercise Montmorency cherry concentrate (MCC) supplementation conditions (MCC30/90/150min). Venous and capillary blood samples were taken at regular intervals pre- and post-SSE and TT. MCC significantly improved TT performance, but not exercise economy. The greatest improvement in performance occurred following MCC90min compared to US (US 1603.1±248s vs. MCC90min 1554.8±226.7s, 2.83% performance improvement). Performance was significantly enhanced for trained (US 1496.6±173.1s vs. MCC90min 1466.8±157.6s) but not recreationally active participants. Capillary [lactate] and heart rate were significantly greater during the TT for the 90-min dose timing (p<0.05). In the MCC30min and MCC90min conditions, plasma ferulic (US 8.71±3.22nmol. L-1 vs. MCC30min 15.80±8.69nmol. L-1, MCC90min 12.65±4.84nmol. L-1) and vanillic acid (US 25.14±10.91nmol.L-1 vs. MCC30min 153.07±85.91nmol. L-1, MCC90min 164.58±59.06nmol. L-1) were significantly higher pre-exercise than in US and MCC150min conditions (p<0.05). There was no significant change in muscle oxygenation status or plasma nitrite/nitrate concentration. MCC supplementation enhanced endurance exercise performance optimally when consumed ∼90min pre-exercise producing maximal plasma phenolic metabolites during exercise. The ergogenic effect was greater for trained participants.
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