Bell 2015.
| Methods | Double‐blind randomised controlled trial (parallel design) | |
| Participants | Setting: laboratory; England n = 16 healthy men (8 in the experimental group; 8 in the placebo group) Mean age 30 (SD 8) years Inclusion/exclusion criteria Exclusion criteria for the study included > 45 years of age, female, allergy to specific fruit products, currently taking any nutritional supplements or medication, and history of gastrointestinal, renal or cardiovascular disease |
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| Interventions |
Intervention Participants were instructed to consume 30 mL of the supplement twice per day (0800 and 1800 hours) for 8 consecutive days (4 days pretrial, on the day of, and 3 days post‐trial). Manuscript states "manufacturer's specification (Cherry Active Ltd, Hanworth, UK), each 30 mL dose of MC contained ˜90–110 Montmorency tart cherries; independent laboratory analysis shows the juice to provide 9.2 mg·mL−1 of anthocyanins and 669.4 mg·mL−1 of carbohydrate (Atlas Biosciences, Tuscon, Ariz., USA)" Placebo A commercially available mixed berry cordial (less than 5% fruit in concentrate form), mixed with 100 mL water and maltodextrin (MyProtein Ltd., Northwich, UK) until matched for carbohydrate content Duration 8 days |
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| Outcomes |
PRIMARY Muscle soreness was assessed using a 0 to 200 mm visual analogue scale where 0 is "no pain" and 200 is "pain/soreness as bad as it could be". Participants rated their soreness after completing a squat to approximately a 90° knee flexion before standing and immediately marked upon the scale to indicate their level of soreness SECONDARY Maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the dominant knee extensors was determined using a strain gauge (MIE Medical Research Ltd., Leeds, UK). Participants were seated on a platform and the strain gauge was attached to the dominant ankle at an internal joint angle of 80° (verified by a goniometer). Participants were given standardised verbal encouragement for the duration of each of the 3 maximum 3‐second contraction. Each contraction was separated by 1 minute. Power: 6‐second peak cycle power Cycling efficiency |
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| Exercise type | A 109‐minute cycling trial designed to replicate road race demands on an electromagnetically braked, cycle ergometer (Velotron Racer‐Mate, Seattle, Wash., USA) | |
| Sources of funding | Manuscript states: "The Cherry Marketing Institute (a not for profit organisation) provided financial support for the analysis of inflammatory indices" | |
| Notes | Authors were contacted on 3 February 2017 to request raw data for delayed onset muscle soreness and maximal voluntary isometric contraction and responded on 3 February 2017 | |
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | No details in manuscript Authors confirmed via email on 3 February 2017 that stratified randomisation based on aerobic fitness and coin toss was employed |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Low risk | No details in manuscript Author confirmed via email on 3 February 2017 that opaque vessels used for all drinking bottles and this was prepared by an independent member of the department |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Double‐blind |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Double‐blind |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Low risk | All participants completed the study |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | High risk | Delayed onset muscle soreness data immediately post‐exercise not recorded or reported Adverse effects of antioxidant supplementation were not reported |
| Other bias | Low risk | Participants did not complete any other exercise or take supplements/medication over the course of the study |