Blackcurrant health benefits – exercise/sports recovery and immunity

In 2009 Plant & Food Research Ltd scientists discovered and published that an extract from New Zealand blackcurrants that could help protect the body from the stresses of exercise¹. Researchers found signs that the extract, taken in capsule form before and after exercise, has a triple effect: minimising muscle damage by modulating oxidative stress, reducing inflammation and potentially enhancing the body’s natural defences against disease. While the scientists identify that the research is early stage the findings demonstrate that blackcurrant fruit extracts, combined with exercise, can have a beneficial effect on human health.

In October 2011 Plant & Food Research Ltd hosted a congress in Tokyo Japan to showcase their research to New Zealand industry clients.

• CLICK HERE to see the NZ research presented at the conference by Dr Roger Hurst (Plant & Food Research Ltd.) – ‘Sports Performance and Recovery – the Science’
• CLICK HERE for the Japanese version

1. Lyall KA, Hurst SM, Cooney J, Jensen D, Lo K, Hurst RD, Stevenson LM. 2009. Short-term blackcurrant extract consumption modulates exercise-induced oxidative stress and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory responses. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 297: R70–R81 CLICK HERE to see the free full paper online