Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Spirulina Supplementation In Recovery From Damaging Exercise

ConditionDamage Muscle
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-40
SponsorUniversity of Exeter

About this trial

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.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

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

Disqualifiers

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

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Spirulina supplement

    Dietary supplement

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

  • Eccentric exercise

    Procedure/Surgery

    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

    Dietary supplement

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

Treatment groups

30 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Spirulina supplementExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group B: Placebo supplementPlacebo comparator 2 interventions

Trial outcomes

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).

Time frame
Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.

Secondary outcomes

1

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

Knee extensor peak isometric torque (three maximal isometric contractions at 75◦ of knee flexion) 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 to report recovery of peak isometric torque (N). Testing will be performed on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, US).

Time frame
Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.
2

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

Knee extensor total isokinetic work (area under the torque-time curve after 30 maximal, concentric, isokinetic knee extensor contractions performed at 75◦/s through an 80◦ range of motion) 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 to report recovery of total isokinetic work (N.s). Testing will be performed on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, US).

Time frame
Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.
3

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

Perceived lower body muscle soreness 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 to report recovery of muscle. Participants will stand from a seated position and rate the corresponding sensation of lower body muscle soreness on a 100-mm visual analogue scale anchored by 'no pain' at 0 mm and 'worst possible pain' at 100 mm.

Time frame
Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

University of Exeter

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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