A new study has examined that cyclists can accelerate recovery, maintain muscle function and reduce certain markers of exercise-induced inflammation with the help of Montmorency tart cherry juice on the day of their races.
The research team, led by Glyn Howatson and Phillip G. Bell performed the study at Northumbria University in the U.K and conducted this double-blind, placebo-controlled study to identify the effects of Montmorency tart cherry juice on recovery from a metabolically challenging exercise: prolonged, high-intensity cycling.
The study involved 16 well-trained male cyclists who were divided into two groups i.e. one group consumed Montmorency tart cherry juice and the other group drank a placebo that contained an equal amount of carbohydrates.
The cyclists in the tart cherry juice group mixed 30 mL (or about 1 ounce) of Montmorency tart cherry juice concentrate with 10o mL of water and drank the juice twice a day (8 a.m. and 6 p.m.) for eight consecutive days. Each glass contained the equivalent of 90-110 Montmorency tart cherries, which are the most common varietal of tart cherries grown in the U.S. These dark, ruby red cherries have been frequently studied for their potential role in exercise recovery, including a similar study with cyclists previously conducted by Howatson and Bell that examined the positive impact of Montmorency tart cherry juice after a three-day simulated road race.
The two groups were monitored after the race by assessing the blood for specific markers of physiological stress that helps evaluate the body's ability to recover. The cyclists in the Montmorency tart cherry group maintained muscle function (as measured by maximum voluntary isometric contraction) and experienced a reduction in certain inflammatory responses following the simulated cycling race, compared to those consuming the placebo drink. The tart cherry juice also appeared to maintain exercise efficiency, reducing the amount of oxygen muscles need to do work. The VO-2 (maximal oxygen consumption) values were 4 percent lower at 24 hours compared to the placebo group.
The authors concluded that this new study adds to the growing body of evidence providing support for the use of Montmorency tart cherry juice in exercise recovery. Given the existing research among cyclists and marathon runners they suggest future work should explore the potential benefits from strenuous exercises that are both metabolically and mechanically challenging, such as football, hockey and court sports.
The study was published in journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.
