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The effect of tart cherry juice compared to a sports drink on cycling exercise performance, substrate metabolism, and recovery.

  • 2024-08-14
  • PloS one 19(8)
    • Ruirui Gao
    • Nicole Rapin
    • Justin W Andrushko
    • Jonathan P Farthing
    • Julianne Gordon
    • Philip D Chilibeck

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
12 recreational cyclists (8 males and 4 females; 35±16y; VO2peak 38.2±7.4 ml/kg/min)
Methods
randomized, counter-balanced cross-over design, with one-month washout, consuming cherry juice or sports drink twice a day (300mL/d) for 4d before and 2d after exercise. On exercise day, beverages (1g/kg carbohydrate) 45min before 90min cycling at 65%VO2peak, then 10km time trial.
Duration
4 days before and 2 days after exercise
Tart cherries have low glycemic index, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and therefore may benefit performance and recovery from exercise. We determined the effects of consuming tart cherry juice versus a high-glycemic index sports drink on cycling performance, substrate oxidation, and recovery of low-frequency fatigue. Using a randomized, counter-balanced cross-over design, with one-month washout, 12 recreational cyclists (8 males and 4 females; 35±16y; VO2peak 38.2±7.4 ml/kg/min) consumed cherry juice or sports drink twice a day (300mL/d) for 4d before and 2d after exercise. On the exercise day, beverages (providing 1g/kg carbohydrate) were consumed 45min before 90min of cycling at 65%VO2peak, followed by a 10km time trial. Blood glucose, lactate, carbohydrate and fat oxidation, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), O2 cost of cycling, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during the initial 90min of cycling. Muscle soreness, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and low-frequency fatigue were determined at baseline and after the time trial on the exercise day, and 30min after beverage consumption 24 and 48h later. There were no differences for time trial performance (17±3min cherry juice vs. 17±2min sports drink, p = 0.27) or any other measures between drink conditions. There were time main effects (p<0.05) for isometric MVC (decreasing) and low-frequency fatigue (increasing; i.e. decreased force at low relative to high stimulation frequencies), changing significantly from baseline to post-exercise and then returning to baseline at 24h post-exercise. Tart cherry juice was not effective for improving performance, substrate oxidation during exercise, and recovery from exercise, compared to a high-glycemic index sports drink.

Research Insights

  • tart cherry→Improved Cycling Time Trial Performance

    There were no differences for time trial performance (17±3min cherry juice vs. 17±2min sports drink, p = 0.27)

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Improved Maximal Voluntary Contraction

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Increased Fat Oxidation

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Reduced Blood Glucose Levels

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Reduced Carbohydrate Oxidation

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Reduced Lactate Levels

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Reduced Low-Frequency Fatigue

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Reduced Muscle Soreness

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Reduced Oxygen Cost of Exercise

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Reduced Rating of Perceived Exertion

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
  • tart cherry→Reduced Respiratory Exchange Ratio

    There were no differences for ... any other measures between drink conditions.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    300 mL/day for 4 days before and 2 days after exercise; on exercise day 1 g/kg carbohydrate
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