New Supplement Study Reveals Enhanced Muscle Glycogen & 24% Fat Burning

How a Supplement Can Give You A Bigger Fuel Tank for Muscles—Enhanced Glycogen, Fat Burning & a Stronger Finish

New research on New Zealand blackcurrant extract, CurraNZ, reveals it can significantly increase muscle carbohydrate reserves and boost fat-burning—a serious advantage for endurance athletes and weekend warriors alike.

The full body of 60 supporting science papers is partly listed below.

The “Bigger Petrol Tank” Advantage

A pioneering study (Reference 1, below) recently published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology investigated the effect of CurraNZ on trained male athletes.

The key finding? Taking just two capsules (600mg) of CurraNZ daily for seven days resulted in muscles starting a session with significantly greater reserves of glycogen.

• Why this matters: Glycogen is your body’s critical, limiting fuel source for high-intensity and endurance exercise. More glycogen equals a bigger fuel tank to go harder for longer and finish stronger.

Turbocharged Metabolism: Fat Burning

The study also confirmed CurraNZ’s potent metabolic effects:

• Users experienced a 24% increase in fat utilisation compared to the placebo.
• The research, confirmed using the gold-standard muscle biopsy method, shows you get the best of both worlds: increased fat burning without sacrificing crucial muscle glycogen.

As Dr Stefanie Flippin, professional ultra-runner and coach, notes: “Endurance athletes have tried to optimise fat oxidation for years, yet rarely achieve this balance.”

The Stronger Finish Kick

While not the study’s main focus, the data showed a strong trend for improved finishing performance:

• 9 out of 10 participants improved their performance at the end of the test.
• This performance test mimicked a hard 3–4-minute effort—like a final-kilometre breakaway in a race or triathlon.

CurraNZ acts as an insurance policy—ensuring you have the crucial finishing kick when it matters most.

Faster Recovery and Refuelling

Beyond the performance benefits, CurraNZ acts as a powerful co-nutrient for carbohydrate re-feeding.

• Accelerated Glycogen Restoration: CurraNZ can help athletes replenish glycogen stores more quickly after hard efforts, making it ideal for those who train twice a day or compete in multi-day events.
• A Practical Advantage: This is especially relevant since anecdotal evidence suggests many athletes, particularly women and larger men, struggle to consume enough carbohydrates to properly recover.

Quick Summary of CurraNZ Benefits

Benefit	Practical Impact
Bigger “Fuel Tank”	Measurably increased muscle glycogen and starting energy reserves.
Greater Fat Burning	24% increase in fat breakdown during endurance activity (demonstrated in this and previous studies).
Faster Recovery	Accelerated glycogen restoration after hard sessions, reducing downtime.
Stronger Race Finish	Trend for improved sprint ability post-endurance exercise.
Trusted Track Record	This is the 35th clinical study, confirming benefits across fit and less-fit individuals.

Unique Quality: Look for the Enzans Factor

CurraNZ is a 10-time award-winning supplement. The proprietary, high-potency New Zealand blackcurrant bioactives are characterised by Enzans.

The brand claims that New Zealand’s high UV levels and strong sunlight produce berries with one of the highest anthocyanin levels in the world—up to 1.5 times that of European varieties.

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References

1. Jones, L.A., Leung, L., Barrett, J.S. et al. New Zealand blackcurrant extract augments muscle glycogen storage at rest and enhances intramuscular triglyceride degradation during prolonged exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-025-05995-9
2. Perkins, I.C., Vine, S.A., Blacker, S.D., & Willems, M.E.T. (2015). New Zealand blackcurrant extract improves high-intensity intermittent running. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2015 Oct;25(5):487-93. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0020. Epub 2015 Mar 26. PMID: 25812064.
3. Perkins, I.C., Bradley, M., Blacker, S.D., Willems, M.E.T. Effect Of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract On Muscle Fibre-Specific Fatigue, Sports 2020 doi:10.3390/sports8100135
4. Potter, J.A., Hodgson, C.I., Broadhurst, M., Howell, L., Gilbert, J., Willems, M.E. and Perkins, I.C., 2019. Effects of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on sport climbing performance. European Journal of Applied Physiology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04226-2
5. Godwin C, Cook MD, Willems MET. Effect of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on performance during the running based anaerobic sprint test in trained youth and recreationally active male football players. Sports 5, 69, 2017. doi:10.3390/sports5030069.
6. Willems, M.E.T., Cousins, L., Williams, D., & Blacker, S.D. (2016). Beneficial effects of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on maximal sprint speed during the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test. Sports, 4(3), 42.
7. Murphy C, Cook MD, Willems MET. Effect of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on repeated cycling time trial performance. Sports 5(2), 25, 2017. doi: 10.3390/sports5020025.
8. Cook, M.D., Myers, S.D., Blacker, S.D. and Willems, M.E.T., 2015. New Zealand blackcurrant extract improves cycling performance and fat oxidation in cyclists. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2015 DOI 10.1007/s00421-015-3215-8
9. Fryer S, Paterson C, Perkins IC, Gloster C, Willems ME, Potter JA. New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Enhances Muscle Oxygenation During Forearm Exercise in Intermediate-Level Rock Climbers. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2020 May 26;1(aop):1-6.
10. Fryer S, Giles D, Bird E, Stone K, Paterson C, Baláš J, Willems MET, Potter J, Perkins I. New Zealand blackcurrant extract enhances muscle oxygenation during repeated intermittent forearm muscle contractions in advanced and elite rock climbers. 2020. European Journal of Sport Science, DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2020.1827048
11. Burnett, P.J.M.; Willems, M.E.T. Effects of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Sequential Performance Testing in Male Rugby Union Players. Sports 2022, 10, 152. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10100152.
12. Willems et al Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Force Steadiness of the Quadriceps Femoris Muscle during Sustained Submaximal Isometric Contraction. J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2022, doi: 10.3390/jfmk7020044
13. M Willems, S Montenari et al Acute Effects of NZBC on Cycling Time-Trial Are Performance Dependent in Endurance-Trained Cylists: A Home-Based Study, Sports 2023, 11, 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11050093
14. Moss, Brindley, Enright et al The effects of an acute dose of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on 5 km running performance, Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab Samantha L. Moss, Edward Brindley, Kevin Enright, Jamie Highton & Richard Bott 2023 https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2023-0029
15. Şahin M, Bilgiç P, Montanari S, Willems M. Intake Duration of Anthocyanin-Rich New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Affects Metabolic Responses during Moderate Intensity Walking Exercise in Adult Males, Journal of Dietary Supplements. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2020.1783421
16. Beneficial physiological and metabolic effects with acute intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract during 4h of indoor cycling in a male Ironman athlete: A case study, M Willems, T Spurr, J Lacey, A Briggs, Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, August 2024 https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030141
17. I Perkins, S Blacker, M Willems et al, Individual responses to Repeated Dosing with anthocyanin-Rich New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract During High-Intensity, Intermittent Treadmill Running in Active Males, Nutrients, 2024, 16(24), 4253; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244253
18. Hunt, J.E.A.; Coelho, M.O.C.; Buxton, S.; Butcher, R.; Foran, D.; Rowland, D.; Gurton, W.; Macrae, H.; Jones, L.; Gapper, K.S.;et al. Consumption of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Improves Recovery from Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Non-Resistance Trained Men and Women: A Double-Blind Randomised Trial. Nutrients 2021, 13, 2875. https:// doi.org/10.3390/nu13082875
19. Fryer S, Paterson C, Perkins IC, Gloster C, Willems ME, Potter JA. New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Enhances Muscle Oxygenation During Forearm Exercise in Intermediate-Level Rock Climbers. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2020 May 26;1(aop):1-6.
20. Fryer S, Giles D, Bird E, Stone K, Paterson C, Baláš J, Willems MET, Potter J, Perkins I. New Zealand blackcurrant extract enhances muscle oxygenation during repeated intermittent forearm muscle contractions in advanced and elite rock climbers. 2020. European Journal of Sport Science, DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2020.1827048
21. Hurst R, Lyall K, Roberts J et al. Consumption of an Anthocyanin-Rich Extract Made From New Zealand Blackcurrants Prior to Exercise may Assist Recovery from Oxidative Stress and Maintains Circulating Neutrophil Function: A Pilot Study, Frontiers In Nutrition doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00073
22. Hurst R, Lyall K, Roberts J et al. Daily consumption of NZBCE for five weeks supports recovery through management of Oxidative Stress and inflammation: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Pilot Study. Frontiers in Nutrition doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00016
23. Cook, M.D., Myers, S.D., Blacker, S.D. and Willems, M.E.T., 2015. New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Improves Cycling Performance and Fat Oxidation in Cyclists. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2015 DOI 10.1007/s00421-015-3215-8
24. Şahin MA, Bilgiç P, Montanari S, Willems MET. Effects of Daily and Intermittent Intake of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Whole-Body Fat Oxidation During Moderate Intensity Exercise in Males IJSNEM Vol. 29, Suppl 1, 2019 s1-4
25. Lee BJ, Flood TR , Hiles AM, Wheeler LEV, Costello R, Walker EF, Ashdown K, Kuennen MR, Willems MET. New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Enhances Fat Oxidation During Submaximal Exercise in the Heat IJSNEM https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2020.02.017
26. Strauss JA, Willems MET, Shepherd SO. New Zealand blackcurrant extract enhances fat oxidation during prolonged cycling in endurance-trained females. European Journal of Applied Physiology 118(6), 1265-1272, 2018. doi: 10.1007/s00421-018-3858-3.
27. Cook MD, Myers SD, Gault ML, Edwards VC, Willems ME. Dose effects of New Zealand blackcurrant on substrate oxidation and physiological responses during prolonged cycling. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2017 Jun 1;117(6):1207-16.
28. Şahin M, Bilgiç P, Montanari S, Willems M. Intake Duration of Anthocyanin-Rich New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Affects Metabolic Responses during Moderate Intensity Walking Exercise in Adult Males, Journal of Dietary Supplements. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2020.1783421
29. Willems M, Briggs A. Running-Induced Metabolic and Physiological Responses Using New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract in a Male Ultra-Endurance Runner: A Case Study. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk7040104
30. Willems, M.E.T.; Banic, M.; Cadden, R.; Barnett, L. Enhanced Walking-Induced Fat Oxidation by New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Is Body Composition-Dependent in Recreationally Active Adult Females. Nutrients 2022, 14, 1475. https:// doi.org/10.3390/nu14071475
31. Willems M.E.T Anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant extract enhances whole-body resting fat oxidation in physically active males, Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals, August 2023 2(8): 30-40. DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.31989/dsn.v2i8.1124.
32. Willems M.ET et al Effects of CurraNZ, a New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract during Sables Athletes in Hot Conditions: Two Case Studies, J Func Morph Kinesiology https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9020076
33. Beneficial Physiological and Metabolic Effects with Acute Intake of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract during 4 h of Indoor Cycling in a Male Ironman Athlete: A Case Study, J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2024, 9, 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030141
34. Cook et al. Effects of New Zealand Black Currant Extract on Exercising Substrate Utilization and Postexercise Blood Pressure in Men and Women. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2024-0108.

If you want to try some

Promotional Discount Code is 5KRUNNER on the curranz website (not affiliated); this should give you 10% off. Sometimes, Curranz offers a 25% discount for first-time customers.

Last Updated on 25 January 2026 by the5krunner