Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Repeated Cycling Time Trial Performance

Abstract: New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract increased 16.1 km cycling time trial performance.
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of NZBC extract on 2 × 4 km time trial
performance. Ten male cyclists (age: 30 ± 12 years, body mass: 74 ± 9 kg, height: 179 ± 7 cm, body
fat: 11 ± 3%, V˙ O2max: 55 ± 7 mL·kg−1·min−1, mean ± SD) volunteered. Participants were
familiarized with the time trials. Participants consumed capsulated NZBC extract (300 mg·day−1
CurraNZ™; containing 105 mg anthocyanin) or placebo for seven days (double blind, randomised,
cross-over design, wash-out at least seven days) before 2 × 4 km time trials (10 min active
self-paced recovery between trials) (SRM ergometer, SRM International, Germany). Heart rate was
recorded and blood lactate sampled immediately after each trial and 8 min into recovery between the
trials. Times over comparable one km distances in each 4 km time trial were similar. No effect was
observed for the time to complete the first (placebo: 380 ± 28 s, NZBC: 377 ± 27 s) and second 4 km
of cycling (placebo: 391 ± 32 s, NZBC: 387 ± 30 s), within both groups the second 4 km times slower
by 11 ± 8 s and 11 ± 9 s for placebo and NZBC, respectively. However, the total time of the two 4
km cycling trials was 0.82% faster with NZBC extract (placebo: 771 ± 60 s, NZBC 764 ± 56 s, p =
0.034) with seven participants having faster total times. There was no effect of NZBC on heart rate
and lactate values at identical time points. New Zealand blackcurrant extract seems to be
beneficial in repeated
short-distance cycling time trials for overall performance.