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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Cornus mas lyophilisate; Dietary supplement: Placebo

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 18
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Lower Silesian Voivodeship
    • Wroclaw, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, 50-376
      • Wroclaw Medical University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: placebo	Dietary supplement: Placebo; Participants receiving a starch- and sugar-based placebo for 4 weeks.
Experimental: Cornus mas lyophilisate	Dietary supplement: Cornus mas lyophilisate; Participants receiving a Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry) lyophilisate for 4 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

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

Secondary Outcome Measures

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

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wroclaw Medical University
• Collaborators: Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 15, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 21, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): April 21, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 18, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 18, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): September 26, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 1, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 26, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: blood pressure; autonomic nervous system; nitric oxide; endothelium; endurance training; Cornus mas L.; systemic vascular resistance; peripheral chemoreflex
• Other Study ID Numbers: DEREN.23.25

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: This is a small trial which includes solely healthy volunteers. Therefore, data will not be shared at this instance.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No