ATHLETES who took a supplement of New Zealand blackcurrant extract for a week experienced an improvement in their resting cardiovascular function, found a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual conference.
Cardio boost: blackcurrant extract can help
In the study, conducted by Mark Willems, Professor of Exercise Physiology at the University of Chichester, 15 cyclists were given different daily doses (300mg, 600mg or 900mg) of a powdered form of the fruit extract. Willems and his team measured various parameters of cardiovascular function. Results showed dose-dependent improvements in both stroke volume and cardiac output, but no changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure or heart rate.