SYNOPSIS: University of Chichester researchers examined whether CurraNZ blackcurrant extract can help athletes reduce the risk of gastro-intestinal stress during exercise in the heat.
Twelve unacclimatised men took 600mg of CurraNZ for seven days before performing 60 minutes of moderate-intensity treadmill running in hot ambient conditions (34°C, 40% humidity). Measurements were taken of intestinal fatty acid binding protein, a marker of enterocyte damage, at rest and 20, 60 and 240 minutes post-exercise.
The findings showed:
- Robust evidence that blackcurrant helps reduce heat exertion-induced gastro-intestinal damage
Conclusion: Blackcurrant extract exerted a significant reduction in this marker of intestinal cell damage at each post-exercise time point, indicating blackcurrant helps maintain intestinal integrity.