Effects of Vitamin C on Skeletal Muscle

NCT06262711 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 321917
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 16
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

As part of the ageing process muscles become weaker. One of the reasons for this is that mitochondria, the 'engines' that provide energy to fuel muscles, age and work less efficiently. Mitochondria are found in almost all cells in the human body. Mitochondria take in nutrients that are provided from food and break these down to create energy-rich compounds to fuel many different processes in the body. Muscles are loaded with mitochondria because they require a lot of energy. Mitochondria naturally produce small compounds called oxidants that can damage muscle cells and can cause inflammation. The cells in the body have a natural defence system to protect against oxidants, but when mitochondria age and become less efficient, the amount of oxidants that they produce can increase. These oxidants can damage muscles and the mitochondria themselves. Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, may help protect muscles from the damage caused by oxidants, and may help mitochondria work more efficiently. In this study, the investigators will explore whether vitamin C can help mitochondria work more efficiently, which may improve muscle strength, and help older people to remain mobile and independent for longer.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

skeletal muscle; mitochondrial function; muscle strength; physical function; vitamin C

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Difference in skeletal muscle mitochondrial function between vitamin C and placebo groups.

  Comparison of skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity (estimated from 31P MRS measured phosphocreatine recovery half-time) following 6 weeks of vitamin C supplementation or 6 weeks of placebo.

  Week: 6 and 16

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Difference in skeletal muscle phosphomonoester to phosphodiester ratio (PME/PDE) between vitamin C and placebo groups.

  Week: 6 and 16.

• Difference in knee extension strength between vitamin C and placebo groups.

  Week: 6 and 16.

• Difference in hand grip strength between vitamin C and placebo groups.

  Week: 6 and 16.

• Difference in Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score between vitamin C and placebo groups.

  Week: 6 and 16.

• Difference in plasma vitamin C between vitamin C and placebo groups.

  Week: 6 and 16.

Study Arms (2)

Vitamin C, then Placebo

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will first consume one 500mg vitamin C capsule daily for 6 weeks. After a 4-week washout period, participants will crossover and consume one placebo capsule daily for 6 weeks.

Dietary Supplement: Vitamin C; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Placebo, then Vitamin C

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will first consume one placebo capsule daily for 6 weeks. After a 4-week washout period, participants will crossover and consume one 500mg vitamin C capsule daily for 6 weeks.

Dietary Supplement: Vitamin C; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Interventions

Vitamin C DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Vitamin C 500mg hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules (Solgar UK).

Placebo, then Vitamin C; Vitamin C, then Placebo

Placebo DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Vitamin C-matched placebo capsule. Placebo capsules manufactured using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC).

Placebo, then Vitamin C; Vitamin C, then Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: Biological Females
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Female, aged 65 years or over
• Non-smoker (or ex-smoker for at least 1 year).
• Engages in less than 20 minutes of structured physical activity per week, including cycling.
• Able to provide informed consent.
• Able to understand basic instructions in English.
• Willing to take daily vitamin C or placebo capsules.

You may not qualify if:

• Consumes more than 3 fruits and vegetables per day, including fruit and vegetable juices.
• Consumes vitamin C containing supplements, polyphenols, or other antioxidants (e.g. resveratrol or coenzyme q10).
• Regularly takes anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Alcohol intake \>14 units/week.
• Chronic clinical diseases (e.g., coronary artery/peripheral artery/cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, diagnosed low renal function, neurological disorders or diseases that may affect motor/cognitive functions), except hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.
• History of kidney stones within the preceding 12 months.
• Contraindications for undergoing the MRI and exercise study procedures (e.g. major surgery, bilateral hip or knee replacement, non-MRI-compatible pacemaker or metal implants).
• Parallel participation in another research project that involves an intervention.
• Relation to, or co-habitation with, a member of the study team.
• Those who are part of the line manager/supervisory structure of the Chief Investigator.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of East Anglia: lead
• The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: collaborator
• The Quadram Institute Clinical Research Facility: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of East Anglia

Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Ascorbic Acid

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sugar Acids; Acids, Acyclic; Carboxylic Acids; Organic Chemicals; Hydroxy Acids; Carbohydrates

Study Officials

• Dr Max Yates

  Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jamie Scott

CONTACT

01603591074; J.Scott2@uea.ac.uk

Professor Ailsa Welch

CONTACT

A.Welch@uea.ac.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Double blind masking
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Crossover Assignment

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 5, 2024
• First Posted: February 16, 2024
• Study Start: February 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2025
• Study Completion: March 1, 2025
• Last Updated: February 16, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: Data will be made available upon publication of the study results, and will be available for 10 years from the study end date.
• Access Criteria: Data request must be made by a qualified researcher.

Locations

GB (1)