CURRANZ has emerged as a potent natural intervention to burn more body fat during exercise, and now, new evidence shows that it becomes even MORE effective with longer use.
Previous studies have shown our extract's unprecedented effects on fat burning after just a week’s intake, but a new University of Chichester duration study, measuring effects after seven and 14 days' daily dosing, demonstrates that longer intake is more beneficial.
Excitingly, the study is also indicating that the ‘fat burning effect’ may be more pronounced in unhealthy and overweight individuals, who have a reduced capacity for fat burning compared to healthy people.
The study, based on 600mg daily intake of CurraNZ® New Zealand blackcurrant extract, showed:
- An average of 11% increase in fat oxidation after week one
- An average 17% increase in fat oxidation (fat burning) after week two
- Highest responder showed improvements of up to 66% at seven days and 106% after 14 days, this in the same person
- Participants felt the brisk walk to be less intense
This is the first walking study, using individuals who habitually exercise once or twice a week, to show how blackcurrant can enhance the outcomes of an activity commonly enjoyed by the general population.
Mark Willems, Professor of Exercise Physiology at the University of Chichester, describes these findings as “exciting”.
Professor Willems says: “We were hoping to see a difference with longer intake – in clinical studies you see dosing protocols of three months – so we are just starting to think about the effects of longer-term duration intake.
“This isn’t an in-your-face difference from week one to week two, but the fact that we have shown an increase from 11% to 17% between the two relatively short time points is encouraging. After one week the fat oxidation effects are just getting started, but if you take it for longer, then blackcurrant effects become even more beneficial.
“What is really positive is that 30 minutes of brisk walking is an exercise model used by the general population and is something you should do five-six days a week.
“There is a clear health promotion message in these findings, which aligns with accepted healthy eating advice that you need to do it every day. If you’re in poor health you are not going to eat, for example, apples just for a week, you need to do it every day for long periods to turn your health around. And now we are seeing this with New Zealand blackcurrant.”
The findings revealed early data to support the theory that CurraNZ will be even more effective in overweight, unhealthy people. The highest responder had the second-highest body mass index and highest percentage of body fat of the subject group, but the lowest value for fat burning during the walk without blackcurrant.
Participants also noted lower perceived exertion with blackcurrant, a finding supported by other studies showing the berry, a powerful blood flow-promoter, reduces cardiovascular stress and can make the act of exercising easier.
Professor Willems says: “This study adds to the building picture that New Zealand blackcurrant is beneficial for health and fitness when combined with exercise.
“It may help as well with adherence to exercise programs, plus general weight management, so a good public health implication.
“Plus, it is fairly unique for a natural product and a berry to achieve these levels of increases in such a short space of time.”
Intake Duration of Anthocyanin-Rich New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Affects Metabolic Responses during Moderate Intensity Walking Exercise in Males was published June 2020 in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2020.1783421
