Broad Spectrum Polyphenol Supplementation from Tart Cherry Extract on Markers of Recovery from Intense Resistance Exercise

Performed at Jacksonville University

A double-blind, crossover study using 13 healthy, male subjects, ingested 500mg of NordicCherry® or placebo for 10 days. Subjects performed a demanding resistance exercise protocol consisting of 6 sets of 10 repetitions of barbell back squat with 80% 1RM. The protocol was performed once following 7 days of 500 mg of tart cherry extract and once following placebo. Serum protein carbonyl (PC) content, creatine kinase activity (CK) and creatine kinase myocardial band content (CK-MB) were used to assess oxidative stress, skeletal and cardiac muscle damage respectively. Muscle soreness was assessed by visual analog scale. Physical performance was measured by countermovement jump power and handgrip dynamometer strength.

This study demonstrated that tart cherry extract reduced oxidative stress and markers of muscle and cardiac damage following intense resistance exercise. This occurred along with a prevention of a decrease in handgrip strength seen following the intense exercise protocol, indicating a potential reduction in central fatigue. These benefits were seen with minimal energy intake.

NordicCherry® at 500mg a day showed:

• Improve athletic performance

• Decrease muscle damage and improve exercise recovery

• Reduce soreness after exercise

• Decrease cardiac muscle damage

Hooper DR, Orange T, Gruber MT, Darakjian AA, Conway KL, Hausenblas HA. Broad Spectrum Polyphenol Supplementation from Tart Cherry Extract on Markers of Recovery from Intense Resistance Exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Jun 14;18(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00449-x. PMID: 34126996; PMCID: PMC8204440.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34126996