Enhance Cycling Performance with Anthocyanin

Sport and exercise nutrition is evolving rapidly, with fruit-derived polyphenol supplements emerging as a key area of interest. Among these, anthocyanin, found in blueberries and blackcurrants, stands out due to its notable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasoactive properties.

Anthocyanin has shown promising results in enhancing exercise recovery and performance. However, the effects of acute anthocyanin intake on exercise performance has not been fully explored. This article delves into a recent study examining the acute effects of a high dose of anthocyanin on cycling performance.

Acute Effects of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Cycling Time-Trial Are Performance Dependent in Endurance-Trained Cyclists: A Home-Based Study

Study Design

This innovative study used a home-based approach. Participants, consisting of 34 endurance-trained male and female cyclists, were required to have access to a cycling turbo-trainer and an online cycling platform. The study adopted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design.

Over four morning sessions, participants engaged in a 16.1 km cycling time trial after consuming either 900 mg of a fruit extract supplement or a placebo. The supplement contained a significant amount of anthocyanin. The study uniquely considered factors such as diet standardization, menstrual cycle symptoms for female participants, and cycling experience.

Study Results

The findings were intriguing. Overall, acute intake of the anthocyanin-rich supplement did not significantly enhance the 16.1 km time-trial performance for the entire cohort. However, when analyzing the data based on individual cycling speeds, a notable effect emerged in the slower cyclists.

Slower cyclists demonstrated improved performance with the supplement, indicated by faster completion times and higher power and speed profiles, particularly in the later stages of the trial. In contrast, faster cyclists did not exhibit such improvements. These results suggest a potential benefit of acute anthocyanin intake for high-intensity endurance performance in slower cyclists.

Recommendation

The study offers valuable insights into the acute effects of anthocyanin-rich supplements on exercise performance. It suggests that while the overall impact on a diverse group of athletes might be limited, specific subgroups, such as slower cyclists, could significantly benefit from such supplementation.

This finding opens up new avenues for personalized nutrition strategies in sports. However, it also underscores the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms and to determine if these effects are consistent across different types of athletes and exercise modalities.

For athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking to enhance performance, particularly those at a beginner or intermediate level, considering an anthocyanin-rich supplement could be a worthwhile experiment. However, they should do so with an understanding of the nuances and limitations of current research.

Thrivous Vitality

Thrivous develops Vitality Geroprotector to enhance cellular and metabolic function for healthy aging. Each serving provides a clinical dose of blueberry extract standardized for anthocyanin. As indicated by this study, Vitality may enhance cycling performance and improve physical performance in similar activities. Vitality Geroprotector is available to purchase online now in the Thrivous store.