As fitness enthusiast constantly looking for practical, natural and non-pharmacological ways to enhance our performance, the benefits of fruit derived polyphenol supplementation may prove promising. The reason for the enthusiasm is in the efficacy of fruit-derived polyphenol supplements, which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, in improving exercise performance and/or tolerance both acutely and chronically. Montmorency cherries are rich in polyphenols that possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasoactive properties. Montmorency cherry polyphenols have been shown to enhance recovery of muscle strength following a bout of muscle-damaging exercise. In a recent study Morgan, Barton and Bowtell proved that Montmorency cherry powder supplementation enhanced 15-km cycling performance. This improvement in exercise performance seems to involve enhanced muscle perfusion as evidenced by increased muscle oxygenation presumably due to the vasoactive and anti-oxidative effects of the phytochemicals within the Montmorency cherries. The results of this study suggest that supplementation with MC concentrate might represent, a practical, non-pharmacological, dietary intervention to enhance performance in trained individuals. However, further research is required to investigate the dose–response between MC supplementation and performance as well as the precise mechanisms responsible for this ergogenic potential, especially in the presence of a diet high in polyphenols.
Morgan, P.T., Barton, M.J. & Bowtell, J.L. Eur J Appl Physiol (2019) 119: 675.