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CURRANZ – more science results in
I’ve posted on and off over the last few years about some of the benefits to endurance performance of supplementation of anthocyanin-rich products (that’s very concentrated blackcurrants to you and me – CurraNZ). I thought now was a good time to summarise the various findings and, for you non-believers, I’ll add some links to the science too. I have also added quick references to 3 new studies.
Note: I get free product in exchange for these posts but no money. I use the product as I think it provides a performance benefit. There is a discount and link at the end of this post if you want to give it a go.
- Elite climbing study (Science Link) – Some excellent results were found after looking at the effects of CurraNZ on hemodynamics in elite climbers. Somehow, CURRANZ is enabling the muscle tissue to extract a lot more oxygen from the blood and is massively improving reoxygenation time. (This study was initially performed at intermediate-level climbers but repeated on elites to be certain of the benefits)
- Fat Oxidation (FO) study (Science Link) – a recent FO study found that two weeks’ intake is more effective on fat oxidation. Furthermore, fat-burning adaptation and responses (up to 106%!) are greater with higher-BMI individuals. So it helps you lose weight.
- Muscle fibre type study (Science Link) – Slowtwitch muscle types we were shown to derive increased resistance to fatigue whereas fast-twitch muscle fibres demonstrated greater force production during exercise.
Summary of Older CURRANZ-based Scientific Papers
Longer-term Daily use and effective fat oxidation
- An average of 10% increase in fat oxidation after week one
- An average 16% increase in fat oxidation (fat burning) after week two
- No effect on fat oxidation when taken intermittently (every second day)
- Blackcurrant clearly favours fat as an energy source after longer intake
Based on a dosage of 600mg (2 tablets) of CurraNZ/day.
One Week usage and race effectiveness
- 38% of participants were consistently high responders up to 37.8%
- Six of the 16 subjects improved their total distance from 8.3% up to 37.8% across both blackcurrant trials
- Nine participants improved their total distance a minimum of 7.9% in at least one trial
- Blackcurrant responders improved their average total running distance by 262m-394m
- Blackcurrant responders improved their average sprint distance by 116m-265m
Based on a dosage of 600mg (2 tablets) of CurraNZ/day for a week. More than one in three people might respond this way.
Gastro-Intestinal Integrity & HEat Performance
- Participants had less gastro-intestinal damage
- Blackcurrant improved fat oxidation by on average 30% under conditions experienced in the heat
Based on a dosage of 600mg (2 tablets) of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Reduced effect on South East Asian Males
- No effect on fat oxidation at rest or during exercise
- A moderate-to-significant effect on cardiac responses during exercise
- No effect on cardiac function at rest
Based on a dosage of 600mg (2 tablets) of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Alters Physiological Responses and Femoral Artery Diameter during
Sustained Isometric Contraction
- The vasodilatory actions of the berry triggered a 6.9%-8.2% increase in the diameter of the femoral artery, resulting in a 20%-35% increase in blood flow
- There was a trend for lower systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure values in ranges of 7%-12% during muscle contraction. These values indicated the cardiovascular system experienced less stress
- Muscle fibres in the quadricep demonstrated 11%-16% less activity, indicating the muscle worked to the same intensity with reduced effort
- 12 out of 13 subjects saw higher cardiovascular responses during exercise, with increases to the cardiac output of 16% | Heart stroke volume improved by 11% | Total peripheral resistance reduced by 25%
- Subjects had higher total haemoglobin, enhanced uptake and utilization of oxygen in the muscle, leading to reduced fatigue
Based on a dosage of 600mg (2 tablets) of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Improves Cycling Performance and Fat Oxidation in Cyclists
- Participants had higher rates of whole-body fat oxidation of 15% and 27% at low and
moderate exercise intensities - A trend for higher power across the time trial
- Faster completion time by on average 2.4% with individual improvements of up to 8.6%
- Significant performance effect from the short-duration intake of NZ blackcurrant extract
Based on a dosage of 300mg (1 tablet) of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Effect on Substrate Oxidation and Physiological Responses During Prolonged Cycling
- A dose-effect was observed for average fat oxidation and carbohydrate oxidation
- CurraNZ-supplemented subjects burned 116 more calories during the protocol
- Blackcurrant-supplemented participants exhibited mean fat oxidation increases of 21.5% and 24.1% for 600mg and 900mg of extract.
Based on dosages of 300,600,900mg (1, 2,3 tablets) of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Enhances Fat Oxidation During Prolonged Cycling in Endurance-Trained Females
- CurraNZ increased fat oxidation by an average of 27%, with ranges of up to 33% and 55%
- Participants expended on average 11% less carbohydrate
- Increased pre-exercise plasma NEFA and glycerol concentrations, suggesting an effect on lipolysis at rest
Based on a dosage of 600mg (2 tablets) of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Improves High-Intensity Intermittent Running
- CurraNZ improved distance covered during sprints by an average 10.8%, or 411m
- 1 in 3 subjects improved more than 15%
- Despite the longer running duration, there was a trend towards higher lactate at exhaustion, suggesting greater tolerance
- By 30 mins after exercise completion, lactate clearance was greater in 64% of
participants
Based on the usage of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Performance during the Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test for Footballers
- Elite footballers experienced less slowing in the high-intensity, repeated sprint tests
- Elite players had reduced slowing of sprint times, an effect not observed in the non-elite players
- 12 of the 24 players (including five of the nine elites) demonstrated a lower fatigue index on blackcurrant by a combined absolute value of 12%,
Based on a dosage of 600mg (2 tablets) of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Effect on Maximal Sprint Speed during Intermittent Shuttle test
- Short-term use of CurraNZ allowed athletes to better maintain the fastest sprinting times
- Athletes who increased time to exhaustion in later phases did so by on average 15% (equating to 2 minutes and 20 seconds)
- Athletes could run for longer at a higher intensity with reduced fatigue
- Some subjects reported less perceived exertion on blackcurrant
Cardiovascular Function during Supine Rest in Endurance Trained Males
- A moderate-to-large dose-response of cardiac values in differing ranges at 300mg, 600mg, 900mg
- At a dose of 900mg, cardiac output increased by 27.5% without an increase in heart-rate
- Total peripheral resistance reduced by 20.2% (900mg)
- Increased stroke volume – the amount of blood pumped by each stroke of the heart – increased by 17.5% (900mg)
Based on dosages of 300,600,900mg (1, 2,3 tablets) of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Effect on Muscle Fibre-Specific Fatigue
- Individuals with Type 1 fibres (slow twitch) had increased resistance to fatigue
- Individuals with Type 2 fibres (fast-twitch) could produce 15% greater force during the initial stages of the 16-set contractions
Based on a dosage of 600mg (2 tablets) of CurraNZ/day for a week.
Beneficial Physiological Effects For Endurance Triathletes
- A complete downward-right shift in the lactate curve
- 6% increase in power at OBLA, allowing for greater exercise intensity
- Lactate reduced by 14% at maximum oxygen uptake and by up to 27% at lower cycling intensities
- Increased cardiac output by 26%, increased stroke volume by 25%
- Decrease of total peripheral resistance by 16% The findings demonstrate increased blood flow may
Intra-individual responses during high-intensity, intermittent running
- 38% of participants were consistently high responders up to 37.8%
- Six of the 16 subjects improved their total distance from 8.3% up to 37.8% across both blackcurrant trials
- Nine participants improved their total distance a minimum of 7.9% in at least one trial
Effect on Repeated Cycling Time Trial Performance
- Total time of the two 4km cycling trials was 0.82% faster with NZBC extract
- Seven of the ten participants had faster total times and higher mean power values
- No effect of NZBC on heart rate or lactate values
Effects on whole-body fat oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise in males
- An average of 10% increase in fat oxidation after week one
- An average 16% increase in fat oxidation (fat burning) after week two
- No effect on fat oxidation when taken intermittently (every second day)
- Blackcurrant clearly favours fat as an energy source after longer intake
- The potential to deliver a greater degree of fat burning in overweight, obese and unhealthy people
Enhances fat oxidation during submaximal exercise in the heat
- Blackcurrant increased fat oxidation by on average 30% compared to the placebo group under the conditions
Effect on motivation to exercise
- Heart rate, blood lactate and oxidative stress were similar in both groups.
- The blackcurrant group walked further in both meantime and distance
- The blackcurrant group recorded a significantly higher number of ‘positive’ mood scores
- A decrease in MAO-B activity in the blackcurrant group
- Reduced plasma prolactin levels in the blackcurrant group compared to placebo
Promotional Discount Code is 5KRUNNER on the curranz website, this should give you 10% off, sometimes Curranz offer a 20% discount for first time customers
CURRANZ Review Performance and Recovery Tablets, Blackcurrant-based
To see the full blackcurrant science roundup, including the latest abstracts, (pages 5-8) here.
