Effects of Epicatechin-rich Cocoa on Collagen Synthesis

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Collagen Synthesis
• Interventions: Other: Epicatechin-rich cocoa dose response; Other: Epicatechin-rich cocoa vs placebo on performance

• Registration Number: NCT03214133
• Lead Sponsor: University of California, Davis

Brief Summary

This study will investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of epicatechin-rich cocoa in humans on collagen synthesis and power-based performance outcomes (rate of force development).

Detailed Description

The investigators have recently completed a study looking at the expression of the collagens following consumption of increasing doses of epicatechin in rats . This data clearly shows that increasing doses of epicatechin, either 0.5 mg.kg-1 delivered once, twice, or three times a day, or 2 mg.kg-1 once a day, results in increasing expression of the fibrillar collagens (I, III, and V). This preliminary data suggests that epicatechin-rich chocolate supplementation can increase collagen expression in humans and that this may improve force transfer. From this background, the hypothesis proposed is that supplementation with epicatechin-rich chocolate will increase rate of force development and performance in athletes. Therefore, this simple nutrition intervention has the potential to simultaneously improve performance, decrease injuries and accelerate return to competition through improved collagen synthesis.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-05-23
• Study First Submitted: 2017-07-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-07-07
• Study First Posted: 2017-07-11
• Primary Completion: 2018-08-30
• Study Completion: 2018-08-30
• Status Verified: 2021-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-08-02
• Last Update Posted: 2021-08-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 12

Inclusion Criteria

• Collegiate level male athletes between the ages of 18¬-25 years of age, currently participating in sport, will be recruited to participate in the study.

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Exclusion Criteria

• History of more than 3 musculoskeletal injuries within the past 12 months.
• Health and dietary restriction (e.g. lactose intolerance) that would be affected by the supplementation protocol.
• The initial phase will be performed in males since collagen synthesis varies significantly throughout the menstrual cycle in females. Since collagen synthesis is the main outcome measure for the study this would confound the initial phase of the work. Provided this work proves successful then the investigators will aim to proceed with similar research in females.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Epicatechin Dose Response	Epicatechin-rich cocoa dose response	This arm will investigate varying doses of epicatechin on procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP) at varying doses CON, 1, 2, 3 mg/kg body mass.
Epicatechin-rich cocoa on performance	Epicatechin-rich cocoa vs placebo on performance	Athletes will ingest the optimized dose of epicatechin-rich cocoa vs placebo alongside maximum power training to determine if this nutritional intervention results in a greater increase in RFD and performance than maximum power training alone.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Epicatechin-rich cocoa dose response	~26 days	investigating effects doses of 0, 1, 2, 3 mg epicatechin/kg/day procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP) in the blood after 5 days of supplementation with 2-day wash out between.
Effect of the optimized dose of epicatechin-rich cocoa on performance	~22 days	Performance measures (of rate of force development) will be quantified for 3 weeks alongside the ingestion of an optimized dose of epicatechin-rich cocoa vs placebo.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Neurobiology, Physiology & Behaviour; 🇺🇸 Davis, California, United States