INTRODUCTION: Tart cherry (TC) supplementation has been shown to accelerate post-exercise recovery, enhance endurance performance and improve sleep duration and quality. The efficacy of dietary supplements depends on using an effective supplementation protocol, which may not always be the case in applied practice. Therefore we investigated the use of TC supplementation by sport science practitioners, sub-elite and elite athletes and compared this use to evidence based practice. METHODS: An online survey (Qualtrics, WA, USA) was completed anonymously by sport science practitioners (professionally registered and providing supplementation advice) and athletes competing at various levels . Frequency analysis was conducted for all questions and the results were presented as percentage of responses. Chi squared analysis was used to assess the impact of professional experience on TC recommendations for sport science practitioners and the influence of the competition level on TC supplementation practices for athletes. RESULTS: Thirty-five practitioners completed the survey. TC supplements were recommended to athletes by 46% of the respondents (11% - previously recommended TC supplements; 26% have not previously recommended TC supplements but were planning on doing so in the future). Fifty percent of those recommending TC supplements indicated enhancing exercise recovery as their goal, while 26% indicated improved sleep quality/duration. Acute TC supplementation and daily TC use during multi-day competition with a 2-3 day pre-load were the most recommended protocols (28% and 18%, respectively). Fifty-two percent of respondents were unsure of the optimal daily total polyphenol dose. Professional experience level did not alter TC use recommendations (p>0.05). Eighty athletes (52.5% elite ) completed the survey. Twenty -three percent of the athletes used TC supplements and 13% planned to use them. Improved exercise recovery and sleep duration/quality were the most indicated goals (71% and 32% of the respondents, respectively). Thirty-nine percent of athletes were using TC supplements acutely, 32% were supplementing chronically, with the rest utilising a combination of strategies. One day pre and post-load protocols were common (34% and 42%, respectively). No differences in the TC supplementation practices of sub-elite and elite athletes were identified (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: TC supplements were used by and were of interest to a high proportion of sport science practitioners and to a smaller but nonetheless notable proportion of athletes surveyed. The main goals of the respondents when using TC supplements (enhancing exercise recovery and sleep duration and quality ) only partially matched the current evidence base, with sleep applications being insufficiently evidenced at present. Further, practices of both groups rarely aligned with the protocols found to be effective within the literature in terms of both supplementation duration and polyphenol dose.
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