Alpha-GPC and Physical and Cognitive Performances in Volleyball Players.

NCT02886130 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Montreal
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 28
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In order to attain the elite level on the national scene, volleyball players need several attributes. In addition to mastering technical and tactical skills, great jumping ability is another important asset. Maximal power output needed to achieve height during a jump necessitates coordinated neuromuscular recruitment and muscle mass among others. Interestingly, there are claims that alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (A-GPC) increases acetylcholine synthesis and enhances exercise-induced increases in plasma growth hormone concentrations, two factors that could theoretically be associated neuromuscular transmission and muscle mass. However, until now only a few studies have investigated the role of A-GPC in human exercise performance. Published results were mixed. One recent study showed that isometric peak force was slightly but significantly increased when subjects had ingested a daily dose of 600 mg of A-GPC over a period of 6 days (Bellar et al., JISSN, 2015). The objective of our study is to evaluate the longer-term effects (4 weeks) using a higher dose (1000 mg/day) of A-GPC on jumping capabilities in elite male and female volleyball players.

Conditions

Athletic Performance

Keywords

Alpha-GPC; Volleyball; Athletes; Executive functions; Vertical jump; Peak power

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in countermovement jump performance at 4 weeks

  Jump height is calculated using two forces plates which measures the time the feet are off the platform. The athlete stands upright with weight evenly distributed over both feet. Hands are placed on the hips, and stay there throughout the test. When all is ready, the athlete squats down until the knees are bent at 90 degrees, then immediately jumps vertically as high as possible, landing back on the platform on both feet at the same time. Allow a good rest between trials. The take-off must be from both feet, with no initial steps or shuffling. They must also not pause at the base of the squat.

  Assessments at week 0 and at week 4 of supplementation or placebo

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in vertical jump - run up at 4 weeks

  Assessments at week 0 and at week 4 of supplementation or placebo

• Executive function

  After 4 weeks of supplementation or placebo

Study Arms (2)

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Maltodextrin tablets (4x per day) 2 x 250 mg in the morning, 2 x 250 mg 60 min before workout, 4 weeks duration

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Alpha-GPC

EXPERIMENTAL

Alpha-GPC tablets (4x per day) 2 x 250 mg in the morning, 2 x 250 mg 60 min before workout, 4 weeks duration

Dietary Supplement: Experimental

Interventions

Placebo DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Monitoring of supplementation (e.g., compliance, subject blindness), diet (to control dietary choline ingestion), training volume and adverse effects will be performed on a weekly basis to ensure maximal control of confounding factors as well as the safety of volunteers during the study.

Also known as: Maltodextrin, Control

Placebo

Experimental DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Monitoring of supplementation (e.g., compliance, subject blindness), diet (to control dietary choline ingestion), training volume and adverse effects will be performed on a weekly basis to ensure maximal control of confounding factors as well as the safety of volunteers during the study.

Also known as: Alpha-gpc, Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, Alpha-gpc supplementation, A-GPC

Alpha-GPC

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Be a competitive varsity volleyball player

You may not qualify if:

• Regular consumption of alpha-GPC within the last 4 months
• Receiving drug treatment except 1) contraception (pill), and 2) treatment against asthma

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Université de Montréal: lead

Study Sites (1)

CEPSUM (Centre d'éducation physique et des sports de l'université de Montréal)

Montreal, Quebec, H3C3J7, Canada

Location

Related Publications (8)

• Bellar D, LeBlanc NR, Campbell B. The effect of 6 days of alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine on isometric strength. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015 Nov 17;12:42. doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0103-x. eCollection 2015.

  PMID: 26582972 BACKGROUND

• Barbagallo Sangiorgi G, Barbagallo M, Giordano M, Meli M, Panzarasa R. alpha-Glycerophosphocholine in the mental recovery of cerebral ischemic attacks. An Italian multicenter clinical trial. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Jun 30;717:253-69. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb12095.x.

  PMID: 8030842 BACKGROUND

• Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Gonzalez A, Beller NA, Hoffman MW, Olson M, Purpura M, Jager R. The effects of acute and prolonged CRAM supplementation on reaction time and subjective measures of focus and alertness in healthy college students. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2010 Dec 15;7:39. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-7-39.

  PMID: 21156078 BACKGROUND

• Kidd PM. Integrated brain restoration after ischemic stroke--medical management, risk factors, nutrients, and other interventions for managing inflammation and enhancing brain plasticity. Altern Med Rev. 2009 Mar;14(1):14-35.

  PMID: 19364191 BACKGROUND

• Parnetti L, Amenta F, Gallai V. Choline alphoscerate in cognitive decline and in acute cerebrovascular disease: an analysis of published clinical data. Mech Ageing Dev. 2001 Nov;122(16):2041-55. doi: 10.1016/s0047-6374(01)00312-8.

  PMID: 11589921 BACKGROUND

• Traini E, Bramanti V, Amenta F. Choline alphoscerate (alpha-glyceryl-phosphoryl-choline) an old choline- containing phospholipid with a still interesting profile as cognition enhancing agent. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2013 Dec;10(10):1070-9. doi: 10.2174/15672050113106660173.

  PMID: 24156263 BACKGROUND

• Zeisel SH. A brief history of choline. Ann Nutr Metab. 2012;61(3):254-8. doi: 10.1159/000343120. Epub 2012 Nov 26.

  PMID: 23183298 BACKGROUND

• Gajewski PD, Wild-Wall N, Schapkin SA, Erdmann U, Freude G, Falkenstein M. Effects of aging and job demands on cognitive flexibility assessed by task switching. Biol Psychol. 2010 Oct;85(2):187-99. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.06.009. Epub 2010 Jul 3.

  PMID: 20599468 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• The effects of alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, caffeine or placebo on markers of mood, cognitive function, power, speed, and agility

MeSH Terms

Interventions

maltodextrin; Glycerylphosphorylcholine

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Glycerophosphates; Triose Sugar Alcohols; Sugar Alcohols; Alcohols; Organic Chemicals; Carbohydrates; Glycerophospholipids; Phosphatidic Acids; Phospholipids; Membrane Lipids; Lipids; Lecithins; Phosphatidylcholines

Study Officials

• Samuel St-Arnaud, B.Sc

  Université de Montréal

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Raynald Bergeron, Ph.D

  Université de Montréal

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Jonathan Tremblay, Ph.D

  Université de Montréal

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2016
• First Posted: September 1, 2016
• Study Start: August 29, 2016
• Primary Completion: December 20, 2016
• Study Completion: December 20, 2016
• Last Updated: April 21, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

CA (1)