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Are there any concerns or considerations?

  1. There remains little consensus on specific doses of most of these fruit polyphenols.
    • Athletes are encouraged to consume a wide range of fruits and vegetables within a well-chosen diet to supply a variety of phytochemicals.
    • Furthermore, there may be variations in anthocyanin content of different variants of berries according to the conditions they’re grown in.
    • Further research is required to compare different variants of berries, including their bio-availability.
  2. The research may only be relevant to specific variants of the fruit – such as New Zealand blackcurrants, Montmorency cherries
    • It is important to check the source / variant of the fruit in any supplement.
  3. Gastrointestinal distress in those with sensitive gastrointestinal tracts
    • Cherries are known to have a laxative effect, and high doses of other berries may also cause gastrointestinal distress in those with sensitive gastrointestinal tracts. This may be particularly of concern in athletes with physical impairments that limit voluntary bowel control. As such, increasing berry/ cherry intake or the use of berry/ cherry juices (or derived products) should be trialled outside of exercise first.
  4. The role of flavonoids on upper respiratory tract infections in athletes is yet to be fully researched.
  5. Research indicates consuming high doses of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds reduce the adaptive response to exercise training.
    • While consuming a wide range of fruits is strongly supported in the daily diet of athletes, supplementation of high doses of these fruit-derived polyphenols is NOT recommended during day to day training periods.

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