NAC Supplementation and Soccer Specific Performance

NCT04523675 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: NAC-SOCCER-2016
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In this investigation the investigators utilized NAC supplementation to boost GSH availability during an one-week-microcycle consisting of three soccer games, in order to test the hypotheses that: i) antioxidant supplementation may enhance the recovery of performance and physiological stress variables following multiple match-plays and ii) redox status perturbations are critical in regulating the inflammatory response and repair in skeletal muscle, following repetitive exercise-induced muscle injuries.

Conditions

Skeletal Muscle Damage; Exercise-induced Aseptic Inflammation; Skeletal Muscle Performance; Antioxidant Status

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (9)

• Change in total antioxidant capacity in serum

  At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days

• Change in protein carbonyls in serum

  At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days

• Change in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in serum

  At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days

• Change in reduced glutathione in red blood cells

  At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days

• Change in oxidized glutathione in red blood cells

  At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days

• Change in creatine kinase in activity in plasma

  At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days

• Change in white blood cell count in blood

  At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days

• Change in repeated sprint ability

  Players' repeated sprint ability was assessed via a repeared sprint test. Each player performed 5 x 30 meters sprints interspersed by 25 seconds of active recovery. Sprint time was recorded by using infrared photoelectrical gates.

  At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days

• Change in high intensity running during the game

  High intensity running (i.e. \> 14km/h) during the games was monitored by utilizing high time-resolution GPS devices.

  During games 1, 2 and 3

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in blood lactate concentration during the game

  During games 1, 2 and 3

• Change in average heart rate during the game

  During games 1, 2 and 3

Study Arms (4)

EXP-NAC

EXPERIMENTAL

Participated in daily training sessions and three games, and supplemented daily with N-acetylcysteine, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening),for seven consecutive days.

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine

EXP-Pla

EXPERIMENTAL

Participated in daily training sessions and three games, and supplemented daily with Placebo, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

CON-NAC

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participated in daily training sessions only and supplemented daily with N-acetylcysteine, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening),for seven consecutive days.

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine

CON-Pla

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participated in daily training sessions only and supplemented daily with Placebo, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Interventions

N-acetylcysteine DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), at 20 mg/kg/day, for seven consecutive days.

Also known as: NAC

CON-NAC; EXP-NAC

Placebo DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

500 mL drink that contained water (375 mL), sugar-free cordial (125 ml), and 2 g of low-calorie glucose/dextrose powder. Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.

CON-Pla; EXP-Pla

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 28 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Participation at elite level (top three division leagues) of soccer competition for at least five years
• Abstained from consumption of performance-enhancing supplements, antioxidant supplements and medications (for at least 6 months before and during the study)
• Participation in at least six two-hour training sessions and one match per week
• Non-smokers

You may not qualify if:

• A known NAC intolerance or allergy
• A recent febrile illness
• History of muscle lesion
• Lower limb trauma
• Metabolic diseases

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Thessaly: lead

Study Sites (1)

Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Physical Education & Sports Sciences, University of Thessaly

Trikala, 42100, Greece

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Acetylcysteine

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cysteine; Amino Acids, Sulfur; Sulfur Compounds; Organic Chemicals; Amino Acids; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins

Study Officials

• IOANNIS G FATOUROS, Ph.D.

  UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY, SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION & SPORTS SCIENCES

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 22, 2020
• First Posted: August 21, 2020
• Study Start: April 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2016
• Study Completion: December 1, 2016
• Last Updated: August 21, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-08

Locations

GR (1)