Effects of Salbutamol in Athletes and Implications for Screening and Sports
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-55
SponsorUniversity of British Columbia
About this trial
β2-Agonists, commonly used to treat asthma, have also been used by athletes to enhance performance, leading to their ban by the International Olympic Committee in 1972. Research has shown non-asthmatics receive no benefit from these drugs at therapeutic dosages; however, many elite athletes still use them, and asthmatic athletes often win more Olympic medals. In some non-asthmatics, β2-agonists may improve breathing limitations during high intensity exercise, which may improve performance. Therefore, we aim to examine if there is a select group of non-asthmatic individuals who experience breathing limitations that may receive benefit from β2-agonists.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) greater than 120% predicted
Body mass index (BMI) > 18 and < 30 kg/m2
Ability to read and understand English
Currently training and/or competing in endurance sports (i.e. running or cycling)
Disqualifiers
Smoking history or currently smoking. Currently smoking is defined as regular use of cigarettes or cannabis at any point in the past year. History of smoking is defined as smoking more than 1 pack year for cigarettes or the equivalent in cannabis use measured as puffs per day / 200 (number of puffs in a pack of cigarettes).
Use of cannabis within the past 30 days or has a smoking history of at least 1 pack year.
Use of vaping devices or e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, or has used them more than 10 times in their lifetime.
History or current symptoms of cardiopulmonary disease (excluding controlled asthma)
Trial design
Design model
Crossover
Treatments tested in this trial
Salbutamol
DrugMeter-dose inhaler of salbutamol performed using large-volume spacer
Placebo
DrugMeter-dose inhaler of placebo performed using large-volume spacer
Treatment groups
64 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Salbutamol inhalerActive comparator 1 intervention
Group B: Placebo inhalerPlacebo comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Difference in time to exhaustion following salbutamol inhalation compared to placebo inhalation.
Exercise duration will be measured during a time to exhaustion cardiopulmonary exercise test on a stationary cycle ergometer or treadmill.
Time frame
Up to 2 weeks2
Sex differences in time to exhaustion following salbutamol inhalation
Exercise duration will be measured during a time to exhaustion cardiopulmonary exercise test on a stationary cycle ergometer or treadmill. Sexes will be compared within modality.
Time frame
Up to 2 weeksSecondary outcomes
1
To examine the effects of salbutamol on expiratory flow limitation in endurance athletes
Expiratory flow limitation will be assessed by placing the tidal flow-volume loop within the maximal flow-volume loop during incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a stationary cycle ergometer or treadmill.
Time frame
Up to 2 weeks2
To explore sex differences in dyspnea following salbutamol inhalation.
Dyspnea will be assessed during and after both incremental and time to exhaustion cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a stationary cycle ergometer or treadmill with salbutamol.
Time frame
Up to 2 weeks3
To examine ventilatory responses of male and female endurance athletes to exercise with salbutamol.
Ventilatory responses will be measured continuously throughout both incremental and time to exhaustion cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a stationary cycle ergometer or treadmill using a metabolic cart.
Time frame
Up to 2 weeks4
To explore the effects of salbutamol on exercise duration and expiratory flow limitation in both asthmatic and non-asthmatic individuals.
A Eucapnic Voluntary Hyperpnea (EVH) test will be performed to assess airway hyperresponsiveness and classify participants as EVH-positive or EVH-negative. All participants will undergo the same cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a stationary cycle ergometer or a treadmill with salbutamol.
Time frame
Up to 2 weeksSponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov