Countermeasure Influence of 4-Weeks Cranberry Ingestion on Immune Dysfunction, Inflammation, and Muscle Damage Induced by Intensive Cycling

RESEARCH DESIGN: Subjects will come to the lab for orientation/baseline testing, pre-and post-supplementation (4 weeks cranberry ingestion compared to water alone) blood, stool, and urine sample collections with 3-d food records, two 2.25 h cycling sessions, and additional lab visits to provide 1-day 7:00 am recovery blood and saliva samples) (thus 7 total lab visits). The total amount of time subjects will be asked to volunteer for this study is about 16 hours at the Human Performance Laboratory (over a 10-week period).

1.A. Orientation/Baseline Testing (Visit #1) After voluntarily signed IRB-approved consent forms, study participants will be tested for maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) during a graded, cycling test with continuous metabolic monitoring with the Cosmed CPET metabolic device (Cosmed, Rome, Italy). Body composition will be measured with the seca BIA and Bod Pod body composition analyzer (Life Measurement, Concord, CA). Demographic and training histories will be acquired with questionnaires. 3-day food records, 24-h urine collection kits, and stool collection kits will be supplied with thorough instructions.

B. Pre-Supplementation Lab Visit #2 and 4-Week Cranberry Supplementation Protocol: Four weeks prior to the first cycling session, subjects will report to the Human Performance Laboratory at approximately 7:00-8:00 am. DOMS and POMS questionnaires will be administered. To assess potential adverse effects, a symptom inventory will be conducted using a 4-week retrospective questionnaire (before and after the 4-week supplementation period). Blood and saliva samples will be collected in an overnight fasted state to coincide with the same time of the day for the post-supplementation blood draw. Urine samples, stool samples, and 3-d food records will be turned in. A 4-week supply of cranberry juice or placebo will be given to the participants, with instructions to consume 4 fl. Oz. each with the first and last meals of the day (8 fl. Oz. per day for 4 weeks). Subjects will be instructed to store and then bring the cranberry and placebo beverage containers to their next lab visit (to verify compliance). Subjects will be given a 10-week log book to record daily whether or not they are sick and the severity of their symptoms.

C. 2.25 h Cycling Session (Lab Visit #3): During the 3-day period prior to the 2.25-h cycling session, subjects will taper exercise training and ingest a moderate-carbohydrate diet using a food list restricting high fat foods, visible fats, and polyphenols. Subjects will record all food and beverage intake during the 3-day period, with macro- and micro-nutrient intake assessed using the Food Processor dietary analysis software system (ESHA Research, Salem, OR). We will also measure total flavonoid intake (and 6 flavonoid subgroups) using the USDA flavonoid database that we have incorporated into the Food Processor database (9). Study participants will report to the Human Performance Lab in an overnight fasted state, turn in urine and stool samples, provide blood and saliva samples, ingest 1 cup cranberry with 1 cup of water, or 1 cup of water alone, and then cycle 2.25 h at high intensity (70% VO2max) while ingesting water alone (3 ml/kg every 15 minutes). A sweat patch will be applied to the lower back before exercise begins and then taken off immediately after the exercise bout is complete (https://www.epicorebiosystems.com/gx-sweat-patch/). Blood and saliva samples will be collected at 0 h, 1.5 h, 3.0 h, and 24 h post-exercise.

Testing protocol during the lab sessions with the 2.25-h run session: