The Performance Rundown: 5 Key Nuggets from the CurraNZ research

As the autumn marathon season kicks into gear, more runners, cyclists, triathletes and team sports players are choosing CurraNZ to boost endurance, enhance fat oxidation, and power performance.

With over 60 peer-reviewed studies, CurraNZ - made from our proprietary New Zealand blackcurrant extract - has earned a reputation as one of the most evidence-based, effective ergogenic aids available for athletes of all levels.

Here, we run through the sizzlers from our research, and why CurraNZ is one of the most effective legal performance enhancers around - whether you're into your team sports or endurance pursuits. 

1. Faster Completion Times and Meaningful Gains

A study from the University of Chester1 showed that just a single dose of CurraNZ before a 5K run made participants, on average, 38 seconds faster - a margin more commonly seen after months of training, not a single supplement. 

Over 88% of runners improved their finish times, with gains as high as 5.7%. Sports scientists compared the performance impact to the best “super shoes,” but at a fraction of the cost.

2. Enhanced Fat Burning and Energy Utilization in Cyclists

Our first performance study found CurraNZ significantly increases fat oxidation in cyclists by 27% during moderate exercise, while lowering carbohydrate usage by 5%. Trained cyclists went 44 seconds faster in a 10-mile time trial after just a week’s supplementation, with performance improvements up to 8.7% and higher average power. 

These metabolic adaptations help athletes conserve precious glycogen, delay fatigue, and push harder for longer - improvements typically associated with months of dedicated training.

3. Repeated High-Intensity Performance in Runners

A project using high-intensity treadmill running protocols revealed half of the participants consistently achieved reproducible improvements3 with CurraNZ, boosting total running distance by an average of 328m (16.7%) over placebo. 

Such large gains - up to 38% for the highest responder - were seen after only seven days. 

This study repeated an earlier project6, published in 2015, validating the findings that CurraNZ allowed athletes to cover more distance in high-intensity running sports. Researchers also found athletes could tolerate higher lactate levels and keep going for longer. 

These improvements, normally reserved for elite training programs, are now achievable for recreational and semi-pro athletes seeking an edge.

4. Reduced Fatigue, Improved Recovery, and Greater Sprint Endurance

Elite team sport athletes using CurraNZ4 maintained top sprint speeds deeper into repeated sprint tests, ran further before exhaustion, and reported less perceived effort. The supplement enabled faster post-exercise lactate clearance (supporting quicker recovery), higher lactate tolerance, and the ability to tolerate higher heart rates at intensity. 

These benefits translate to less fatigue, sustained speed, and improved training consistency - critical factors in both endurance events and marathon build-ups.

5. Speed and Agility Benefits for Dynamic Athletes

For sports requiring speed and rapid direction changes6, CurraNZ has been shown to improve dynamic agility and sprint times, supporting its use for all kinds of active pursuits, including rugby and football.

The Takeaway

Whether you’re a team sports player, training for a marathon or chasing new personal bests on the bike, CurraNZ offers proven, repeatable performance gains. This simple, natural supplement optimises fat metabolism, delays fatigue, speeds up recovery - and is now a part of the toolkit for serious athletes and weekend warriors alike.

References

1. Acute intake of 900mg CurraNZ The effects of an acute dose of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on 5 km running performance, International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2023, 33, 323-33 https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2023-0029

2. New Zealand Blackcurrant Improves Performance and Fat Oxidation in Cyclists, Willems ME1, Myers SD, Blacker S, Cook MD. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2015 June 30. DOI 10.1007/s00421-015-3215-8

3. Individual Responses to Repeated Dosing with Anthocyanin-Rich New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract During High-Intensity Intermittent Treadmill Running in Active Males. Nutrients. 2024 Dec 10;16(24):4253. doi: 10.3390/nu16244253. PMID: 39770875; PMCID: PMC11677273. Perkins IC, Blacker SD, Willems MET.

4. Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Performance during the Running Based Anaerobic Sprint Test in Trained Youth and Recreationally Active Male Football Players. Charlie Godwin 1, Matthew D. Cook 2 and Mark E. T. Willems. Sports 2017, 5(3), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports5030069

5. Effects of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Sequential Performance Testing in Male Rugby Union Players, P Burnett, M Willems, 2022, Sports https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10100152

6. New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Improves High-Intensity Intermittent Running. Perkins, Vine, Blacker, Willems. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2015 Mar 26.http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0020