Research backs “breakthrough” performance enhancement properties of blackcurrant powder

02 Jun 2020 --- The latest research in an international sports nutrition journal has identified the polyphenols in 2before blackcurrant powder as a “breakthrough” natural sports performance enhancer. With this new evidence of performance enhancement, New Zealand’s largest research institute, Plant & Food Research, launched 2before Performance Nutrition, a novel consumer brand subsidiary to sell the performance food system to athletes around the world. 2before has undergone banned substance testing and is Informed Sports certified. The announcement comes during a time where energy-boosting food and beverages have been proliferating on the market.

“2before is at the cutting edge of sports nutrition. The brand represents a shift in approach to performance. Everyone wants to advance their potential, and many are now looking to do so through natural, clean food. This product is made from a natural, non-GMO berry and is a category creator for the food first performance market,” says Brendan Vercoe, CEO of 2before Performance Nutrition.

The meta-analysis published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition confirms that the polyphenol anthocyanins in 2before blackcurrant powder, deliver a significant sports performance improvement (0.45 percent), higher than the common athlete go-to caffeine (0.41 percent). This discovery could be crucially important to elite athletes, considering the average difference between gold and silver at the Rio Olympics was 0.54 percent.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has identified only five legal supplements with evidence for performance enhancement. Some of these can be found occurring naturally (caffeine from coffee beans and nitrates from beetroot), but most are synthetically manufactured (creatine, sodium bicarbonate and beta-alanine).

Conclusions from this meta-analysis show that 2before anthocyanins have a larger performance effect than all other natural performance enhancers. This also puts 2before blackcurrant powder into pole position as one of the most effective legal sports performance enhancers available to elite athletes.

Building on a decade of research
The meta-analysis was undertaken by scientists at the University of Auckland and Plant & Food Research. The publication builds on more than ten years of research conducted by Plant & Food Research and other organizations into the exercise recovery and immunity benefits of Adaptive New Zealand blackcurrants.

The 2before range currently consists of a stable 120 mg dose of 2before anthocyanins in a water-soluble berry juice powder that is easily consumed as a shot, pre-activity. The brand name reflects the bioavailability profile of the product, with 2before anthocyanins peaking in the bloodstream two hours after consumption. It is during this time that the priming mechanism switches on the body's own cellular defense systems, helping athletes to better prepare and adapt for peak performance and recovery.

2before blackcurrant powder allows dietitians to follow food first-principles and would support those athletes following a plant-based diet. 

“We believe we have something really special, and we now have the scientific evidence to create a new pre-performance ritual for athletes,” adds Vercoe. “We know the optimum effective dose and consumption time for peak performance.”

“2before powder also has a unique mechanism of action that is unlike traditional antioxidants, and supports rather than hinders training adaptation. The long-term vision for 2before is to be the best natural sports performance enhancer in the world. We believe we have formulated a great product, and we are investing much more into science to build out the product range,” he concludes.

Among the repercussions of COVID-19, gyms and many sports facilities are off limits until the pandemic is sufficiently under control. This is changing the landscape for performance nutrition, which is still enjoying popularity although the long-term effects of the lockdowns are still unknown.

Edited by Benjamin Ferrer