Spirulina Supplementation In Recovery From Damaging Exercise

NCT06391957 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 4530276
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Exercise can cause muscle damage, leading to a loss in muscle function, increased muscle soreness and inflammation. Evidence supports the use of nutritional strategies to help recovery. Spirulina is a type of algae. It is eaten as a food supplement as it is full of micronutrients, some which provide anti-inflammatory benefits. This work will assess the impact of taking spirulina supplements on recovery from hard exercise. Investigators will measure changes in muscle function, soreness and markers of inflammation.

Conditions

Damage Muscle

Keywords

spirulina; exercise recovery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Measure changes in the concentration of blood plasma inflammatory markers via immunoassay.

  Blood plasma inflammatory markers will be measured before (baseline) and after eccentric exercise (at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post eccentric exercise) in both the spirulina and placebo group. Inflammatory markers that will be assessed include: interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL) -1β, -4, -6, -10, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) via immunoassay (pg/mL).

  Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Measure changes in muscle function of the quadriceps using knee extensor peak isometric torque on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer.

  Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.

• Measure changes in muscle function of the quadriceps using knee extensor total isokinetic work on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer.

  Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.

• Measure changes in perceived lower body muscle soreness via visual analogue scale questionnaire.

  Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.

Study Arms (2)

Spirulina supplement

EXPERIMENTAL

3g of spirulina supplement three times daily for 5 days.

Dietary Supplement: Spirulina supplement; Procedure: Eccentric exercise

Placebo supplement

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

macronutrient matched placebo supplement three times daily for 5 days.

Procedure: Eccentric exercise; Dietary Supplement: Placebo supplement

Interventions

Spirulina supplement DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants consume a 3g spirulina supplement 3 times daily for 5 consecutive days.

Spirulina supplement

Eccentric exercise PROCEDURE

On the morning of Day 3 (where Day 1 is when participants start taking supplements), participants perform a single bout of eccentric exercise. The exercise protocol is performed on a single leg and involves 300 (10 sets of 30 repetitions separated by 120 seconds) voluntary maximal, isokinetic, eccentric contractions of the knee extensor. Exercise is performed using a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA), and contractions are performed at 60◦/s over an 80◦ range of motion.

Placebo supplement; Spirulina supplement

Placebo supplement DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants consume a macronutrient matched placebo supplement 3 times daily for 5 consecutive days.

Placebo supplement

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Are available and willing to attend St Luke's Campus, Exeter
• Age 18 - 40
• BMI 18.5 - 30 kg/m2
• The participant exercises / plays sport for \> 2 h/week, but doesn't do structured resistance strength training
• Self-reported as healthy (absence of injury or disease)
• Have no known food allergy to algae
• Are not taking any over the counter or prescribed medication that might interfere with study, e.g. anti-inflammatory medication
• Non-smoker

You may not qualify if:

• Are unable to attend St Luke's Campus, Exeter
• Are out-with age range 18 - 40
• BMI below 18.5 or above 30 kg/m2
• The participant does not exercise
• The participant does regular structured resistance strength training
• Known injury or disease that might influence study outcomes
• Have a known food allergy to algae
• Are taking over the counter or prescribed medication that might interfere with study, e.g. anti-inflammatory medication
• Smoker

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Exeter: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Exeter

Exeter, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Benjamin Wall, Prof

CONTACT

+441392724774; b.t.wall@exeter.ac.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 22, 2024
• First Posted: April 30, 2024
• Study Start: January 4, 2024
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2024
• Study Completion: September 30, 2024
• Last Updated: June 14, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-06

Locations

GB (1)