Montmorency tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) supplementation accelerates recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in females

Tart Montmorency cherry concentrate (MC) has been reported to attenuate the symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and to accelerate exercise recovery, which has been attributed to its high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Although these data are promising, there are no data regarding exclusively female populations. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to examine the efficacy of MC on recovery following EIMD in females. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, twenty physically active females (mean ± SD age 19 ± 1 y; stature 167 ± 6 cm; body mass 61.4 ± 5.7 kg) consumed MC or a placebo (PL) for eight days (30 mL twice per day). Following four days of supplementation, participants completed a repeated-sprint protocol and measures of muscle soreness (DOMS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), limb girth, flexibility, muscle function, and systemic indices of muscle damage and inflammation were collected pre, immediately post (0 h) and 24, 48 and 72 h post-exercise. Time effects were observed for all dependent variables (p