Montmorency cherry supplementation enhances 15 km cycling time trial performance: Optimal timing 90-min pre-exercise

Montmorency cherry (MC) can improve endurance performance, but optimal pre-exercise timing of supplementation and influence of training status on efficacy are unknown. We investigated the effect of MC concentrate ingestion between 30- and 150-min pre-exercise in trained and recreational cyclists on 15-km time trial (TT) performance and exercise economy. Twenty participants (10 recreationally active, RA; 10 trained, T) completed 10 min of steady-state exercise (SSE) at 40%Δ (SSE) and a TT on four separate occasions following an unsupplemented (US), 30-, 90- or 150-min pre-exercise Montmorency cherry concentrate (MCC) supplementation conditions (MCC^30/90/150min). Venous and capillary blood samples were taken at regular intervals pre- and post-SSE and TT. MCC significantly improved TT performance, but not exercise economy. The greatest improvement in performance occurred following MCC^90min compared to US (US 1603.1 ± 248 s vs. MCC^90min 1554.8 ± 226.7 s, 2.83% performance improvement). Performance was significantly enhanced for trained (US 1496.6 ± 173.1 s vs. MCC^90min 1466.8 ± 157.6 s) but not recreationally active participants. Capillary [lactate] and heart rate were significantly greater during the TT for the 90-min dose timing (p < 0.05). In the MCC^30min and MCC^90min conditions, plasma ferulic (US 8.71 ± 3.22 nmol. L⁻¹ vs. MCC^30min 15.80 ± 8.69 nmol. L⁻¹, MCC^90min 12.65 ± 4.84 nmol. L⁻¹) and vanillic acid (US 25.14 ± 10.91 nmol.L⁻¹ vs. MCC^30min 153.07 ± 85.91 nmol. L⁻¹, MCC^90min 164.58 ± 59.06 nmol. L⁻¹) were significantly higher pre-exercise than in US and MCC^150min conditions (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in muscle oxygenation status or plasma nitrite/nitrate concentration. MCC supplementation enhanced endurance exercise performance optimally when consumed ∼90 min pre-exercise producing maximal plasma phenolic metabolites during exercise. The ergogenic effect was greater for trained participants.