A study by scientists at Plant & Food Research found that an extract from New Zealand blackcurrants could offer benefits for exercise recovery and post-exercise immune function.
The study found:
- A single serve of 1.6mg of New Zealand blackcurrant anthocyanins per kg of bodyweight taken one hour before exercise had positive effects on exercise recovery.
- The benefits are unlikely to be attributable to the antioxidant properties of the extract and more likely due to the blackcurrant extract activating adaptive defensive pathways in cells and tissues.
- Consumption of the New Zealand blackcurrant extract one hour prior to exercise preserved circulating neutrophil function.
- Blackcurrant can benefit active people wanting to maintain performance and avoid decreased immune function that can accompany training.
