Post-Exercise Hypotension after Exercising in Hypoxia with and Without Tart Cherry Supplementation

Horiuchi, Masahiro, and Samuel J. Oliver. Post-exercise hypotension after exercising in hypoxia with and without tart cherry supplementation. <i>High Alt Med Biol.</i> 26:63-69, 2025. <b><i>Background:</i></b> This study investigated the effects of hypoxic exercise with and without tart cherry (TC) supplementation on post-exercise hypotension (PEH). <b><i>Method:</i></b> In a randomized order, 12 healthy young adults (9 men and 3 women) completed cycle exercise to exhaustion (1) in normoxia without any supplementation (Norm), (2) in hypoxia (13% O₂) with placebo (Hypo), and (3) in hypoxia with TC supplementation (Hypo + TC). Supplements were supplied for 5 days pre-trial (TC was 200 mg anthocyanin per day for 4 days and 100 mg on day 5). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Cycle exercise total energy expenditure was greater in Norm than Hypo and Hypo + TC (<i>p</i> < 0.001) with no difference between Hypo and Hypo + TC (<i>p</i> = 0.41). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased during recovery in all trials (main effect of time, <i>p</i> < 0.001), with no difference in PEH between the trials (<i>p</i> > 0.05, change [Δ] in MAP from pre-exercise at 60 minutes recovery, mean difference, Norm Δ-4.4 mmHg, Hypo Δ-6.1 mmHg, and Hypo + TC Δ-5.2 mmHg). Cardiac baroreflex sensitivity decreased during recovery in all trials (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and was lower in Hypo than Norm and Hypo + TC (main effect of trial, <i>p</i> = 0.02). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> PEH was not increased after exercise in hypoxia, with or without TC supplementation, compared with exercise in normoxia.