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.

1. 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)
2. 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.
3. 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.

More details

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.

Poster presentation details

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.

More Details

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.