Effects of the Cornelian Cherry Supplementation on the Selected Physiological Parameters in Marathon Runners

Effects of the Cornelian Cherry (Cornus Mas L.) Lyophilisate Supplementation on the Selected Physiological Parameters in Amateur Long-Distance Runners

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT07194720

Enrollment

Registered

2025-09-26

Start date

2021-09-15

Completion date

2022-04-21

Last updated

2025-10-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

Cornus mas L., systemic vascular resistance, peripheral chemoreflex, endurance training, nitric oxide, endothelium, autonomic nervous system, blood pressure

Brief summary

Growing body of evidence indicates favorable effects of Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry) supplements on cardiometabolic risk, including the improvement of HDL and glycemic indices, in line with vascular benefits. Experimental data feature bioactives from Cornelian cherry as potential modulators of vascular function and blood pressure, plausibly via endothelial nitric oxide-related pathways, with possible downstream effects on autonomic reflex control; nevertheless, such links in humans remain poorly explored to date, especially in terms of endurance training and hypoxia tolerance. In this cross-over, placebo-controlled study, a group of healthy amateur long-distance runners underwent two stages of a four-week dietary intervention (separated by four weeks of washout period), receiving Cornelian cherry lyophilisate or placebo. Each supplementation stage was accompanied by the comprehensive evaluation of the cardio-respiratory parameters and endothelial function.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTCornus mas lyophilisate

Participants receiving a Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry) lyophilisate for 4 weeks.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo

Participants receiving a starch- and sugar-based placebo for 4 weeks.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

MALE

Age

45 Years to 75 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* age above 45 years

Exclusion criteria

* chronic disease of the nervous, cardiovascular or respiratory system * disease of the digestive system, including history of the intestinal surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, lactose intolerance and other malabsorption disorders * blood pressure-lowering treatment within the past year * tobacco smoking within the past year * antibiotic/probiotic treatment and laxative/prokinetic usage in three months preceding the anticipated enrollment

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Systemic vascular resistance	From the beginning to the end of a supplementation period at 4 weeks.	Resting systemic vascular resistance, evaluated non-invasively with a finger cuff-based device.
Office blood pressure values (mean, systolic, diastolic)	From the beginning to the end of a supplementation period at 4 weeks.	Resting arterial blood pressure values (mean, systolic, diastolic), measured continuously with a non-invasive, finger cuff-based device.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity	From the beginning to the end of a supplementation period at 4 weeks.	Peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity, measured with the transient hypoxia test.
eNOS expression	From the beginning to the end of a supplementation period at 4 weeks.	Endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression, evaluated in the peripheral blood samples.

Countries

Poland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026