Author(s): WILLEMS, M., PEACH, M.W., EWBANK, K.C., BRIGGS, A.R., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF CHICHESTER, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 624

INTRODUCTION:
Anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant has been shown in females and males with different training status to affect whole-body metabolic and cardiovascular responses during moderate-intensity exercise (i.e. <70% of maximum oxygen uptake) (1-4). For example, exercise-induced fat oxidation at a moderate-intensity was higher during cycling in endurance-trained males (1) and running in male ultra-endurance athletes (4,5). We examined in a male ultra-endurance runner [age: 49 years, BMI: 22.0 kg/m2, body fat (%): 9.7%, maximum oxygen uptake: 47.6 mL/(kg·min)] the effects of a 7-day intake of blackcurrant extract (420 mg anthocyanins per day) on the physiological and metabolic responses during high-intensity (i.e. >70% of maximum oxygen uptake) marathon treadmill running.
METHODS:
The study employed a single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized design. An incremental submaximal running protocol and incremental running protocol to exhaustion was completed to allow quantification of the intensity of the marathon treadmill (constant speed of 9.9 km/hr). During the treadmill run (gradient 0%), heart rate and expired air collections (using Douglas bags) were taken at eight time points with blood lactate at five timepoints for analysis of physiological and metabolic parameters. Dosing consisted of 7 days of 1200 mg of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract in four capsules per day (each capsule had 105 mg of anthocyanins). During the treadmill runs in the placebo and extract condition, the participant used a habitual and similar drink and food intake strategy.
RESULTS:
With NZBC extract, heart rate may have been lower by 2 beats (placebo: 140±14, NZBC extract: 138±14 beats/min, P=0.09), with 8.7% lower responses for both minute ventilation (placebo: 51.3±3.7, NZBC extract: 46.8±2.1 L/min) and oxygen uptake (placebo: 38.4±1.3, 81.2±2.9%, NZBC extract: 35.1±1.2 mL/(kg·min), 73.7±2.4% of maximum oxygen uptake, P<0.01). There were no effects on lactate (placebo: 1.8±0.9, NZBC extract: 2.1±1.3 mMol/L, carbohydrate oxidation (placebo: 2.13±0.40, NZBC extract: 1.82±0.29 g/min), fat oxidation (placebo: 0.64±0.12, NZBC extract: 0.62±0.10 g/min) and respiratory exchange ratio (placebo: 0.87±0.03, NZBC extract: 0.86±0.02) .
CONCLUSION:
New Zealand blackcurrant extract was able to affect cardiorespiratory responses during high-intensity marathon treadmill running. Reduced oxygen consumption with 420 mg of blackcurrant anthocyanins for 7 days during marathon running at high extensity may have application for endurance competition.
[1] Cook 2015/ [2] Cook 2017/ [3] Strauss 2018/ [4] Willems 2022/ [5] Willems 2024