Montmorency cherry supplement does not affect aerobic exercise performance in healthy men

Aim: To determine the effects of short-term Montmorency cherry (MC) supplementation upon exercise performance, total blood nitrate levels, muscle oxygenation, and slow-component (V) over dotO(2) kinetics. Methods: Twelve healthy male participants ingested a MC or placebo (PL) supplement in a randomized cross-over fashion over a six day period then cycled at a power output achieved at 70% of (V) over dotO(2) peak for a maximum of 30 minutes or until exhaustion. Near-Infrared Spectroscopy sensors were used to determine muscle oxygenation. Blood was collected one hour post-supplement consumption on day one, day six, and one hour post-exercise. Results: All results are presented as mean +/- SEM. Blood nitrate (mu M/L) levels were not different one hour post-ingestion (MC = 8.30 +/- 2.15, PL = 8.18 +/- 1.86), following six days of supplementation (MC = 9.14 +/- 1.89, PL = 7.24 +/- 1.75) or one hour post-exercise (MC = 9.63 +/- 1.61, PL = 7.97 +/- 1.92) for treatment F = 0.26, p = 0.62; for time F = 0.45, p = 0.64; or treatment by time interaction F = 2.28, p = 0.13. Muscle oxygenation was not different between treatments for the right or left vastus lateralis, F = 0.68, p = 0.81 nor was time to respiratory compensation point (minutes) (MC = 18.40 +/- 1.48, PL = 17.16 +/- 1.78) F = 0.52, p = 0.60. MC supplement ingestion does not alter blood nitrate levels. Conclusion: Short-term MC ingestion does not increase muscle oxygenation during cycling exercise nor does it change slow-component (V) over dotO(2) kinetics.