Effects of two weeks of daily consumption of (poly)phenol-rich red berry fruit juice, with and without high-intensity physical training, on health outcomes in individuals with pre-diabetes mellitus.

Background and aims: The combination of the consumption of so-called superfoods and regular exercise is a promising approach for the prevention of chronic diseases. This study investigates the effects of two weeks of daily consumption of a red berry fruit juice (containing a high content of chokeberries), with or without high-intensity concurrent strength and endurance training, on body weight and composition, glucose metabolism, oxidative stress, pulse wave velocity, and peripheral resistance in individuals with pre-diabetes mellitus.

Methods and results: Ten subjects participated in two crossover trials, each for 2 × 14 days: A): juice versus placebo, both without exercise, and B) juice versus placebo, both with concurrent strength and endurance training. Daily consumption of red berry fruit juice led to improvements in peripheral resistance, while no significant changes were observed in the placebo group (ANOVA: time x group, p ≤ 0.05). Participants in the juice + training group maintained their relative muscle mass, while those in the placebo + training group experienced a slight decline in their relative muscle mass (ANOVA: time x group, p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion: Short-term repeated consumption of a (poly)phenol-rich red berry fruit juice (in combination with physical training) presents an easy-to-apply strategy to improve health outcomes and may particularly be beneficial for vascular health and muscle mass in individuals with pre-diabetes.

Registration number: DRKS00024969.