Tart cherry powder may speed up muscle recovery after sprints
NCT ID NCT06122038
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether taking powdered tart cherries for 10 days helps trained adults recover faster after repeated sprints. Forty healthy men and women took either tart cherry powder or a placebo, then did a series of 30-meter sprints. Researchers measured muscle soreness, power, inflammation, and markers of muscle damage to see if the cherry supplement made a difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tart cherry extract powder
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a natural supplement to help athletes recover faster after high-intensity exercise.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 40 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Dietary supplements often show mixed effects in larger trials.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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40 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2023
- Finished
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Dec 2023
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 35 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy male and female (n=40) participants between the ages of 18 - 35 years of age will finish the study protocol. An even distribution of males (n=20) and females (n=20) is planned. * Participating in some form of exercise at least four days per week with at least two days consisting of some form of high-intensity exercise for the past six months. * Examples include regular gym attendance to complete resistance training, interval exercise, or participation in some form of organized physical activity involving high-speed running or other forms of high-intensity exercise. * Have a body mass index (BMI) range of 18.0 - 30.0 kg/m2. Males with a body mass index greater than 30.0 kg/m2, but a body fat percentage less than 27.5% fat will be accepted into the study. Females with a body mass index greater than 30.0 kg/m2, but a body fat percentage less than 32.5% fat will be accepted into the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Participant has a positive medical history of heart disease/cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension (140/90 or greater mmHg), kidney disease (dialysis or renal failure), hepatic impairment or disease, or Type I or Type II diabetes. * Participant has a positive medical history of unstable thyroid disease, previously diagnosed major affective disorder, psychiatric disorder that required hospitalization in the prior year, immune disorder (i.e., HIV/AIDS), a history of cancer (except localized skin cancer without metastases or in situ cervical cancer within five years prior to screening visit. * Participant has an abnormality or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract precluding swallowing (e.g. dysphagia) and digestion (e.g., known intestinal malabsorption, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, steatorrhea) * Positive medical history for any neurological condition or neurological disease * Currently smoke or have quit within the past six months * Current daily use of aspirin, NSAIDS, naproxen sodium, COX-2 inhibitors, or any other over-the-counter or prescribed medication indicated for pain relief. * Intake of any dietary supplement known or purported to impact muscle repair and recovery such as antioxidants, curcumin, turmeric, branched-chain amino acids, vitamin D, tart cherry, pomegranate, fish oils, or creatine monohydrate. * Individuals who indicate they are actively involved in any form of a dietary program in the past 30 days to lose weight * Participants who are lactating, pregnant or planning to become pregnant * Have a known sensitivity or allergy to any of the study products * Any condition or abnormality that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the safety of the participant or the quality of the study data * History of alcohol or substance abuse in the 12 months prior to screening * Receipt or use of an investigational product in another research study within 28 days prior to baseline testing
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Exercise and Performance Nutrition Laboratory
Saint Charles, Missouri, 63301, United States
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