Effectiveness of Whole Fruit and Anthocyanin Supplementation

on Exercise Induced Oxidative Stress in Athletes

Imogene Carson
Humboldt State University

Background Results Discussion

•  Anthocyanins are dark-pigmented compounds within fruits and Studies on Tart Cherry Supplementation 800  
Daily Anthocyanin Supplementation

vegetables that provide antioxidant effects and major health 700  

benefits Supplement

Anthocyanins(mg)/day
600  

•  Possess ability to combat free radicals and reduce excessive cell Type, OS/ 500  
Anthocyanin
damage11 Ref Amount, Exercise Type Inflammation 400  
Dosage
•  Endurance athletes are more susceptible to Oxidative Stress (OS) Frequency, (p-values) 300  

due to longer workout durations Duration 200  

100  
•  OS leads to inflammation—eventually causing injury and •  Tart Cherry 273.51mg Eccentric Knee PC (p=.01)
3 0  
prolonging rates of recovery, may result to detrimental health (TC) Juice Extensions TC  (3)   TC  (5)   TCC  (7)   TC(1)   Blueberry  (8)   BCNx  (6)   ROC  (2)   POM  (4)  

issues  9     •  30mL Fruit Supplements

•  2x/d *Above graph depicts the varying levels of anthocyanins within

•  9days supplements, questions still surround whether higher anthocyanin levels
are better with exercise
•  TC Juice 40mg Marathon IL-6 (p<.001)
5
•  8oz Running CRP (p<.01)
•  Speculation whether anthocyanins possess ability to decrease
•  2x/d TAS (p<.05)
OS and inflammation from exercise
•  7 days TBARS (p<.05)
•  Higher anthocyanin amounts may correlate with greater
•  TC Capsule 66mg ½ Marathon Creatine bioavailability within body10  
7
•  480mg Running (p=.047) •  Current studies vary in biomarker methods and fruit
•  1x/d Urea (p=.048) supplementation forms
•  10 days Cortisol (p=.016)
•  Whole fruits have unaltered antioxidant ratios, potential for
IL-13 (p=.029) greater antioxidant effect9
•  TC Juice 273.51mg High Intensity LOOH (p<.01)
1
•  30mL Cycling IL-6 (p<.05)
• 
• 
2x/d
7 days
CRP (p<.05) Conclusion
Questions Other Fruit Supplementation Studies •  Anthocyanin effects speculative but unknown
What are the effects of whole fruit supplementation following •  Potential towards endurance geared sports
exercise? Do fruits higher in anthocyanins elicit more effective Supplement •  Promising for exercise recovery
responses with exercise recovery? Type, OS/
Ref Anthocyanin
Amount, Exercise Type Inflammation
Dosage Limitations
Purpose Frequency, (p-values)
Duration •  Varying forms and modes of exercise
To evaluate the effects of whole fruit supplementation, high in
•  Blueberry 96.6g Eccentric TAS (p=.038) •  No strong focus with endurance athletes
anthocyanins, on exercise induced oxidative stress in endurance 8
Smoothie contractions of ROS (p<.01) Multiple forms of supplementation; powder, smoothie, juice,
athletes. • 
•  100mL quadriceps capsule
•  3x/d
•  3 days •  Different biomarker tests
Methods •  BCNx, 368.94mg Eccentric knee CK (p=.030) •  Large range between study durations
6
•  16oz exercise ORAC (p=.039)
•  Measured effects of fruit on OS and inflammation •  2x/d IL-6 (p=.023) Future Research
•  10 subject minimum •  8days
•  Focus on whole fruits high in anthocyanins
•  Examined distance runners5, cyclists1,7, professional handball •  ROC 1.55mg Handball TAS & Serum
2 •  Detect whether anthocyanin amounts are significant with
players2, and recreational athletes3,  4,  6,  8 •  50mg players Thiol groups
reducing OS and inflammation
•  Study Duration: 3 days8 to 2 months2 •  2x/d (p<.05)
•  2mo •  One sport focus
•  Supplementation type: tart cherry juice1,  3,  5    , tart cherry capsules7, •  Mirror experiment protocol over multiple studies
•  POM juice N/A Recreational Lactate ,PC, MDA
blueberry smoothies8, Red Orange Capsules2, Black Currant Nectar 4
•  200mL/d sports (p<.01) •  Increase participant numbers and study duration
Extract (BCNx)6, and Pomegranate (POM) juice4
•  21days