Bioavailability of Ration Items Containing Tart Cherry Extract

Consumption of tart cherry (TC) products may have beneficial effects on military performance. For example, in-vitro and in-vivo evidence indicates the benefits of TC products on muscle. This includes reduced muscle damage, muscle soreness and strength decrements after resistance exercise; and increased antioxidant capacity, reduced inflammation and reduced lipid peroxidation following endurance exercise. Prior to assessing potential performance benefits, DEVCOM-Soldier Center's Combat Feeding Division (CFD) is seeking to determine the effect of shelf-stable tart cherry powder (TCP)-containing food items on the bioavailability and absorption of polyphenols in humans. The primary objective of his study is to evaluate the postprandial concentrations of anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, flavonols, phenolic acids, and their degradation products in response to a TCP-containing, shelf-stable bar and shelf-stable powdered drink, compared to a non-TCP containing control item and a TC-containing commercial item. Secondary objectives are to determine postprandial polyphenol absorption via urine concentrations of anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, flavonols, phenolic acids and their degradation products; and circulating antioxidant capacity. Active-duty military personnel and civilians will be invited to participate in the study if they are between the ages of 18 (or 17 for military personnel) and 39, are willing to participate in all study procedures and comply with all study instruction and pass a general medical clearance. In this randomized, crossover study, participants will consume three different food products containing TC component and a control (food item without TC) over four different sessions. Each session will be followed by a five-day washout period. On the day of each experimental session, and after verification of compliance with study procedures (e.g., overnight fast and low polyphenol diet day prior…), an IV catheter will be inserted, and an initial blood sample will be collected. Immediately following, volunteers will consume either: 1) commercially available TC juice ("gold standard"), 2) CFD-formulated snack bar containing TCP, 3) CFD-formulated powdered drink containing TCP, or 4) CFD-formulated beverage containing no polyphenols (Figure 1). TC containing treatments will be matched by total anthocyanin content (\~120 mg total). Blood samples will be collected on the day of each session and the day after for measurement of circulating phenolic compounds (by CFD using LC-MS). Biomarkers of oxidation and anti-oxidation will also be measured, along with associations between study outcomes and gut microbiome composition. Complete data will be collected for up to 15 participants.