Tart Cherries - The Influence on Acute Adaptation

Participants Twenty-one recreationally active participants (2 females) were recruited for this study; the mean ± SD age, stature and mass were 27 ± 7 years old, 179.5 ± 8.6 cm and 80.86 ± 11.29 kg, respectively. Participants were healthy, non-smoking, with no history of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, thyroid or renal disease and free from musculoskeletal injuries. Further exclusion criteria stipulated the participants were not to be highly trained or partaking in structured resistance training. Health and training status were determined by a screening questionnaire. Highly trained was defined as completing structured and periodized training and developing towards (within 20%) of maximal or nearly maximal norms within their given sport. Participants were asked to refrain from all exercise five days prior to, and for the duration of testing. The participants were also asked to maintain their habitual diet and to complete a food log to ascertain polyphenols intake, such as fruits & vegetables, fruit juices, nuts and seeds, chocolate and coffee/tea. Further, participants were asked to refrain from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nutritional supplements, such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, protein, vitamin C and E. This study received ethical approval from Northumbria University Ethics Committee (reference number: 51533 ).

Experimental Design The study was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled design. Participants were subject to block randomisation to one of two groups to consume either the VTC supplement or a placebo, matched for calorific content. Participants were required to come to the lab on a total of nine occasions, which included a familiarisation (visit 1). Bout 1 (visit 2) and Bout 2 (visit 6) were separated by two weeks. Each damaging bout was followed by 3 consecutive days to record dependent measures, which took place at the same time of day (±2h). The loading phase for the supplement ingestion commenced 4 days prior to the first exercise bout, and continued on the day of the exercise, and for 3 days following the exercise bout. No supplement was consumed before or during bout 2 for either group. Lastly, participants were required to fill in a food diary in the 24 h prior to the damaging bout to monitor food and drink intake and enable replication for subsequent sessions.

Damage Protocol An isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex System 4, New York, NY, USA) was set up as recommended by the manufacturer to test the dominant elbow flexors. The participant's position was stabilised using a pelvic strap and two shoulder straps to minimise mechanical assistance from other body parts. The final position of the dynamometer seat and power head were recorded and replicated for each participant's to ensure consistency on subsequent days. Joint position and range of motion was monitored throughout by extracting data from the dynamometer to an analogue-to-digital converter (Micro 1401, Cambridge Electronic Design; CED, Cambridge, UK) to ensure on return visits each participant was placed in an identical position (recorded on Spike2, v7.12; CED, Cambridge, UK). In accordance with previous recommendations [50], dynamometer readings were corrected for the gravity acting upon limb mass. The dynamometer was set to an angular velocity of 30 degrees/s-1 in the passive mode and participants were instructed to resist maximally from full elbow flexion through the whole range of motion until full extension was achieved. Each participant completed 40 (five sets of eight repetitions; each set separated by 90 s rest) maximal lengthening contractions of the elbow flexors. Previous research utilising a protocol of the same intensity but varying in volume-both lower and higher-has successfully induced muscle damage. Visual feedback from the dynamometer and standardised strong verbal encouragement from the investigator was given during the damaging exercise to encourage maximal effort. This was performed on visit 2 (bout 1) and visit 6 (bout 2) of the study.

Supplementation The participants consumed either a placebo or a TC spray-dried extract made from the Vistula cultivar (Iprona Lana SpA, South Tyrol, Italy), in the form of capsules, twice per day for a period of eight days. The supplementation period was selected to replicate similar the loading phases of TC supplementation reported in previous work. The dose increased on the day of the damaging bout 1. The rationale for the dose increase was based on previous research that showed increased bioavailability of circulating anthocyanin and polyphenols, which were considered important in the current study to reduce the additional negative effects associated with EIMD. The participants were required to consume a lower dose (73.5 mg of anthocyanins) for the first four days, then consume a higher dose (132.3 mg of anthocyanins) for the remaining four days (day of damage protocol, 24, 48 and 72 h post). The loading dose was determined by replicating similar volumes of reported anthocyanin content from previous studies that used powdered TC supplement. The higher dose was doubled, similarly to research which have observed differences in dose-response relationship studies. No supplement was consumed before or during bout 2 to ascertain the influence of VTC on the adaptive response expected following Bout 2.

Functional Performance and Perceptual Variables Dependent variables were recorded at baseline, 24-, 48- and 72-h post the damage protocol (for both Bout 1 and 2), measures of functional performance and perceptual variables were used to assess the fatigue and recovery after an isolated muscle damage protocol.