Effects of red grapes on running

  Based on this recent article below it could be concluded that there is not a correlation between red grape consumption (would include red wine) and improvements in running performance. This does not mean don't eat red grapes. There are still many studies that support health benefits of red grapes.

 

IJSNEM Volume 23, Issue 1, February

Original Research


Grape Consumption's Effects on Fitness, Muscle Injury, Mood, and Perceived Health

2013, 23, 57 – 64 Compounds found in the skins of grapes, including catechins, quercetin, and resveratrol, have been added to the diet of rodents and improved run time to exhaustion, fitness, and skeletal-muscle mitochondrial function. It is unknown if such effects occur in humans. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate whether 6 wk of daily grape consumption influenced maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), work capacity, mood, perceived health status, inflammation, pain, and arm-function responses to a mild eccentric-exercise-induced arm-muscle injury. Forty recreationally active young adults were randomly assigned to consume a grape or placebo drink for 45 consecutive days. Before and after 42 d of supplementation, assessments were made of treadmill-running VO2max, work capacity (treadmill performance time), mood (Profile of Mood States), and perceived health status (SF-36 Health Survey). The day after posttreatment treadmill tests were completed, 18 high-intensity eccentric actions of the nondominant elbow flexors were performed. Arm-muscle inflammation, pain, and function (isometric strength and range of motion) were measured before and on 2 consecutive days after the eccentric exercise. Mixed-model ANOVA showed no significant effect of grape consumption on any of the outcomes. Six weeks of supplemental grape consumption by recreationally active young adults has no effect on VO2max, work capacity, mood, perceived health status, inflammation, pain, or physical-function responses to a mild injury induced by eccentric exercise. Keywords: DOMS, eccentric, polyphenols, pain, soreness, SF-36, work capacity

Authors: Patrick J. O'Connor, Amanda L. Caravalho, Eric C. Freese, Kirk J. Cureton