Antioxidant Responses to Exercise and Cherry Consumption
Condition: Dietary Modification
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      To date, there are no published studies on the effects of tart cherry consumption on
      postprandial antioxidant and oxidative stress levels following a high-fat meal. Further, no
      one has looked at the effects of prior exercise on a high-fat meal that includes high
      phytonutrients like tart cherries. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the
      effects of tart cherry consumption on antioxidant and oxidative stress levels in human plasma
      after consumption of a high-fat meal, as well as the postprandial impact of prior exercise in
      combination with tart cherry consumption on a high-fat meal.
    

Detailed description: 
      Study Design: This will be a single blinded, randomized, cross-over design in healthy humans.
      There will be four study visits for the four different treatments: 1) a high-fat meal alone,
      2) a high-fat meal with tart cherry consumption, 3) prior exercise to a high-fat meal alone,
      and 4) prior exercise to a high-fat meal with tart cherry consumption. All participants will
      complete all 4 treatments in a random order. There will be a 7-day washout period between
      each visit.

      Subjects: We will recruit 25 apparently healthy, physically active (structured exercise >
      3h/week) adult men, ages 18-30 years. All subjects will be normal weight based on body mass
      index (BMI = 18-24.9kg/m2) or body composition (14-24% body fat). The IRB proposal has been
      submitted and will be reviewed this month. The entire study will take place at the CTRU and
      sample analysis will take place in the Dept. of Food Science and Technology.

      Protocol: For 24h prior to testing, participants will be provided with all food and
      beverages. This will allow us to control their antioxidant intake prior to testing. The
      lead-in diet will be representative of a standard American diet and be low in total
      antioxidants. Estimated total daily energy needs will be based on each participants predicted
      resting metabolic rate and multiplied by a moderate physical activity value (1.65).
      Participants will consume all foods that are provided and no additional foods or beverages,
      may be consumed. Participants will arrive at the CTRU at 0700 hours in the fasted state (no
      food or drink for 8-12h) and will have abstained from exercise for 48h, unless participating
      in one of the 2 exercise treatment visits. Baseline measurements of height, weight, blood
      pressure, and body fat percentage will be taken. An intravenous catheter will be placed in
      the antecubital vein and a baseline sample will be taken.

      Participants will then complete a high-fat meal challenge, either with or without tart
      cherries depending on their treatment visit. The meals will have tart cherry juice or a
      placebo consumed with a high-fat meal. The placebo will be designed to match the tart cherry
      juice for volume and macronutrient content, but without the phytonutrient content of the tart
      cherries. The high-fat breakfast meal will be a Sausage Biscuit and Hash Browns (McDonalds
      Corporation). Blood draws will then be obtained at 1, 2 and 3 hours postprandially for
      antioxidant and oxidative stress measurements.

      Acute Exercise Protocol: Two of the four treatments will include an acute bout of submaximal
      aerobic exercise performed 15 hours (1600 hours; 4:00p.m.) prior to the high-fat meal test.
      The exercise will consist of 30 minutes of treadmill running at 70% of each participants'
      calculated heart rate reserve (HRR). This will be a supervised session where participants
      will wear a heart rate monitor. Participants will also be asked to give their ratings of
      perceived exertion every 10 minutes during the exercise bout. Participants will be instructed
      to consume the dinner meal provided to them after this exercise session is complete, which
      will also be 8-12h prior to the high-fat meal test.

      Sample Analysis: Plasma will be tested for total anthocyanins content by HPLC-UV/VIS as well
      as HPLC-ESI-MS. Antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress measurements will be performed by
      H-ORACFL and FRAP assays.
    

Intervention name(s): Tart cherry Juice; High-fat meal; Exercise
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Tart cherry juice will be used to compare antioxidant and oxidative stress levels in human plasma following a high fat meal.; A high fat meal will be given to elicit postprandial oxidative stress.; The exercise will consist of 30 minutes of treadmill running at 70% of each participants' calculated heart rate reserve.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Basic Science