The effect of dietary anthocyanins on biochemical, physiological, and subjective exercise recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Anthocyanins (ACN), the sub-class of (poly)phenols responsible for the red-blue-purple pigmentation of fruit and vegetables, have gained considerable interest in sport and exercise research due to their potential to facilitate exercise recovery. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus and CINAHL. Thirty nine studies were included and the standardized mean difference (Hedges ) for creatine kinase (CK), anti-oxidative and inflammatory markers, strength, power and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) indices were pooled in separate meta-analyses; meta-regression was also performed on reported ACN dose. Immediately post-exercise there was an increase in antioxidant capacity (: 0.56) and reduced C reactive protein (: -0.24) and tumor necrosis factor α (: -40);  ≤ 0.02. Strength was improved with ACN at all time points (: 0.45-0.67). DOMS (: -0.23) was lower 24 hours post-exercise and power was improved 24 hours (: 0.62) and 48 hours (: 0.57) post exercise. The CK was lower 48 hours post-exercise (: -0.31) and there was a trend for a positive association with ACN dose ( = 0.057). This systematic review provides new data showing ACN-rich foods promote functional and subjective recovery likely due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ACN.