Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Acute Taurine Supplementation, and Isolated Muscular Endurance and Fatigue Resistance in Young Healthy Adults

NCT07654946 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: IRBAM-26-0510
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the association between near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity of the vastus lateralis muscles, and both local muscular endurance capacity and local muscular fatiguability of the thigh muscles in young adults. Additionally, this trial aims to determine the effect of acute taurine supplementation on local muscular endurance capacity and local muscular fatiguability when compared to a placebo condition. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.Will there be a positive correlation between NIRS rate constant (a marker of mitochondrial function) and local muscular endurance capacity, along with a negative correlation between NIRS rate constant and local muscular fatiguability?
2. 2.Will acute taurine supplementation lead to improvements in local muscular endurance capacity and local muscular fatiguability when compared to a placebo condition?
3. 3.Complete a NIRS assessment to non-invasively assess the mitochondrial capacity of both vastus lateralis muscles
4. 4.Complete two acute supplementation assessment visits (separated by 7-10 days) which involve small blood collections before and after taurine or placebo supplementation
5. 5.Perform a single-leg extension time-to-exhaustion test to measure local muscular endurance capacity on one leg, along with a repeated maximal voluntary isometric contraction fatigue index test to measure local muscular fatiguability on the opposite leg, during each acute supplementation assessment visit.

Conditions

Local Muscular Endurance and Fatigue; NIRS Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Capacity; Acute Taurine Supplementation

Keywords

NIRS; Near-Infrared Spectroscopy; Muscle Fatigue; Muscular Endurance; Skeletal Muscle; Mitochondrial Function; Taurine Supplementation; Exercise Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Single Leg Extension Time-to-Exhaustion

  Within-participant comparison of single-leg extension time-to-exhaustion (a measure of local quadriceps muscular endurance capacity) when comparing the acute taurine supplementation and acute placebo supplementation conditions

  From Acute Supplementation Assessment Visit 1 to Acute Supplementation Assessment Visit 2, 7-10 days

• Single-Leg Muscular Fatigue Index

  Within-participant comparison of fatigue index during 24 repeated maximal voluntary isometric contractions (a marker of local quadriceps muscular fatiguability) when comparing the acute taurine supplementation and acute placebo supplementation conditions

  From Acute Supplementation Assessment Visit 1 to Acute Supplementation Assessment Visit 2, 7-10 days

• Correlation Between Vastus Lateralis NIRS Rate Constant and Single-Leg Extension Time-to-Exhaustion

  The correlation between the rate constant of the vastus lateralis derived from the NIRS occlusion-based recovery kinetics assessment (a marker of mitochondrial OXPHOS capacity) and single-leg extension time-to-exhaustion (a maker of local quadriceps muscular endurance capacity).

  From the NIRS Assessment Visit to Acute Supplementation Assessment Visit 2, approximately 2-3 weeks

• Correlation Between Vastus Lateralis NIRS Rate Constant and Single-Leg Muscular Fatigue Index

  The correlation between the rate constant of the vastus lateralis derived from the NIRS occlusion-based recovery kinetics assessment (a marker of mitochondrial OXPHOS capacity) and single-leg muscular fatigue index (a maker of local quadriceps muscular fatiguability).

  From the NIRS Assessment Visit to Acute Supplementation Assessment Visit 2, approximately 2-3 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Acute Taurine Supplementation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will ingest six taurine capsules (6 grams of taurine)

Dietary Supplement: Acute Taurine Supplementation

Acute Placebo Supplementation

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants will ingest six placebo capsules (1.2 grams of microcrystalline cellulose)

Dietary Supplement: Acute Placebo Supplementation

Interventions

Acute Taurine Supplementation DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will ingest six taurine capsules (6 grams of taurine) following a baseline blood collection to determine baseline plasma taurine levels. 60 minutes following ingestion, there will be an additional blood collection to determine post-supplementation plasma taurine levels. Participants will then perform exercise assessments. The order of taurine supplementation relative to placebo supplementation will be randomized in a double-blind crossover with 7-10 days separating each condition.

Acute Taurine Supplementation

Acute Placebo Supplementation DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will ingest six placebo capsules (1.2 grams of microcrystalline cellulose) following a baseline blood collection to determine baseline plasma taurine levels. 60 minutes following ingestion, there will be an additional blood collection to determine post-supplementation plasma taurine levels. Participants will then perform exercise assessments. The order of placebo supplementation relative to taurine supplementation will be randomized in a double-blind crossover with 7-10 days separating each condition.

Acute Placebo Supplementation

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Capable and willing to give written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• No medical condition that would limit participation in supervised exercise
• No current prescription medications known to impact mitochondrial function
• Sedentary or recreationally active (self-report average MVPA \<300 mins/week)
• Willing to allow researchers to use data for research purposes
• Self-report history of diabetes mellitus
• Self-report history of cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, cerebral vascular, pulmonary, or renal disease
• Self-report history of uncontrolled hypertension (resting systolic blood pressure \> 180 or diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mmHg)
• Self-report history of blood clotting disorders
• Self-report history of sickle cell trait
• Self-report history of myopathy leading to muscle loss, weakness, severe cramps, or myalgia
• Self-report history of musculoskeletal disorders
• Self-report history of lower limb musculoskeletal injuries that may cause significant differences in the functional capacities of the right and left legs
• Self-report history of neurological disorders
• Active tobacco, E-cigarette, or nicotine use
• Recent (within previous 2 weeks) consumption of energy drinks or supplements containing ≥ 1 gram of taurine on \> 2 days/week

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Louisiana State University and A&M College: lead

Related Publications (8)

• Davis BH, Spielmann G, Johannsen NM, Fairchild V, Allerton TD, Irving BA. Effect of training status on muscle excitation and neuromuscular fatigue with resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction in young men. Physiol Rep. 2025 Mar;13(6):e70274. doi: 10.14814/phy2.70274.

  PMID: 40110914 BACKGROUND

• Tripp TR, McDougall RM, Frankish BP, Wiley JP, Lun V, MacInnis MJ. Contraction intensity affects NIRS-derived skeletal muscle oxidative capacity but not its relationships to mitochondrial protein content or aerobic fitness. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2024 Feb 1;136(2):298-312. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00342.2023. Epub 2023 Dec 7.

  PMID: 38059287 BACKGROUND

• Sumner MD, Beard S, Pryor EK, Das I, McCully KK. Near Infrared Spectroscopy Measurements of Mitochondrial Capacity Using Partial Recovery Curves. Front Physiol. 2020 Feb 14;11:111. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00111. eCollection 2020.

  PMID: 32116804 BACKGROUND

• Hanna R, Gosalia J, Demalis A, Hobson Z, McCully KK, Irving BA, Mookerjee S, Vairo GL, Proctor DN. Bilateral NIRS measurements of muscle mitochondrial capacity: Feasibility and repeatability. Physiol Rep. 2021 Apr;9(8):e14826. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14826.

  PMID: 33945230 BACKGROUND

• Ryan TE, Brizendine JT, McCully KK. A comparison of exercise type and intensity on the noninvasive assessment of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function using near-infrared spectroscopy. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2013 Jan 15;114(2):230-7. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01043.2012. Epub 2012 Nov 15.

  PMID: 23154991 BACKGROUND

• Ryan TE, Erickson ML, Brizendine JT, Young HJ, McCully KK. Noninvasive evaluation of skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity with near-infrared spectroscopy: correcting for blood volume changes. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2012 Jul;113(2):175-83. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00319.2012. Epub 2012 May 10.

  PMID: 22582211 BACKGROUND

• Waldron M, Patterson SD, Tallent J, Jeffries O. The Effects of an Oral Taurine Dose and Supplementation Period on Endurance Exercise Performance in Humans: A Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 2018 May;48(5):1247-1253. doi: 10.1007/s40279-018-0896-2.

  PMID: 29546641 BACKGROUND

• De Luca A, Pierno S, Camerino DC. Taurine: the appeal of a safe amino acid for skeletal muscle disorders. J Transl Med. 2015 Jul 25;13:243. doi: 10.1186/s12967-015-0610-1.

  PMID: 26208967 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Alex Cohen, PhD

  Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Efthymios Papadopoulos, PhD

CONTACT

225-578-0938; epap@lsu.edu

Carlante Emerson, MS

CONTACT

225-733-4693; cemers2@lsu.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 12, 2026
• First Posted: June 17, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): June 22, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2027
• Last Updated: June 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06