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Scientists are hailing new studies showing the ‘impressive’ gut-protecting effects of CurraNZ blackcurrant extract for exercisers, as a new means of relief against the dreaded ‘Runner’s Trots’, a common affliction when training in the heat.
Heat-induced gastric stress, which affects 90% of athletes, is one of the most major obstacles for people competing in the heat. It not only prevents peak performance but stops individuals from taking on nutrition and is a leading cause of athletes failing to complete races.
Current prevention strategies are limited to weeks and months of complex heat acclamation training, which the majority of recreational athletes cannot access with ease.
But a new study has found that CurraNZ® Original provides ‘impressive’ protection against exertional heat stress by:
Exertional heat stress is caused by exercising in high temperatures, which causes blood to be redistributed away from the digestive system to help with thermal regulation, which stresses the gut. The resulting symptoms, commonly referred to as ‘Runner’s Trots’ affect both upper and lower gastro-intestinal tracts, leading to diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, stitch and dizziness.
US Researcher and co-author, Dr Matthew Kuennen, an exercise physiologist and Associate Professor at Highpoint University in North Carolina, says “I am impressed with blackcurrant’s ability to reduce markers of gut leak and gastro-intestinal barrier function during prolonged endurance exercise under hot/dry conditions.
“Based on these findings, I would recommend blackcurrant supplementation as a potentially meaningful alternative when heat acclimation is not an option.”
The study involved healthy recreationally active men, who were not accustomed to running in the heat. They underwent moderate-intensity treadmill running in hot ambient conditions (34C/93.2F) after taking 600mg of blackcurrant for seven days.
Dr Kuennen adds, “It’s important to stress that exercising in the heat still provides the best adaptations, however just on the basis of improvements in gut barrier function that blackcurrant provides, it has merit in this cohort.”
Dr. Flippin, a professional ultra-runner and physician who works with athletes, is only too familiar with the threat that gastric stress poses during summer months. She says: “There’s no runner who hasn’t experienced GI distress. With current strategies limited to heat training itself, any type of mitigation and protective measure is highly beneficial and this offers an exciting new option for runners.
"CurraNZ is. an extremely valuable prevention strategy for runners and a new means to gain an extra few percent in performance”.
The Colorado-based physician explains, "Often times, runners take antacids in a bid to stave off these issues, but they have limited effect. Until now, there hasn’t been a supplement like CurraNZ that could provide direct, scientifically-validated protection to athletes just 7 days prior to an event.
“Additionally, a large part of trail and ultra running relies on refuelling, which is essential to be able to sustain 4-20 hours of running. GI distress can bring down the house of cards and derail an athlete’s chances because they can’t tolerate their nutrition.
“New Zealand blackcurrant extract opens up a whole new avenue as an easy supplement for runners to prevent the risks of heat stress.
“In this day and age, athletes are reaching for the last few final percentages to achieve peak performance and preventative measures like this represents a valuable tool for any runner.
“As a physician I would absolutely recommend this as a prevention and mitigation against exertional heat stress.”
Dr Kuennen noted there were some drivers of GI stress that the berry wasn’t able to overcome. “We weren’t able to verify that it made meaningful reductions in the bacteria leak or inflammation that occurs with exertional heat stress. So as it is, we have part of the picture, so there is still a chance individuals might experience GI discomfort during exercise and heat exposure”.
References
1 CurraNZ, an anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant extract reduces treadmill running-induced gastro-intestinal symptoms in the heat: A pilot study. Sports, xxx 2024, Mark ET Willems 1, *, Tess R Flood 1,2, Matthew R Kuennen 3 and Ben J Lee, DOI xxxxx
2. New Zealand blackcurrant extract modulates the heat shock response in men during exercise in hot ambient conditions. European Journal of Applied Physiology https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05439-w, February 2024 Nathan J. Conrad, Emerson P. Heckler, Ben J. Lee, Garrett W. Hill, Tessa R. Flood, Lucy E. V. Wheeler, Rianne Costello, Ella F. Walker, Trevor L. Gillum, Mark E. T. Willems, Matthew R. Kuennen
3. Anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract preserves gastrointestinal barrier permeability and reduces enterocyte damage but has no effect on microbial translocation and inflammation after exertional heat stress, International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, July 2022. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0330 Ben J. Lee, Tessa R. Flood, Ania M Hiles, Ella F. Walker, Lucy E. V. Wheeler, Kimberley M Ashdown, Mark E. T. Willems, Rianne Costello, Luke Griesler, Phebe A Romano, Garrett W Hill, Matthew R. Kuennen.
