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Effects of Acute Glycerol Ingestion on Performance, Metabolic and Biochemical Markers in International Athletes

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Antioxidative Stress
Lactate Blood Increase
Change, Body Temperature
Change, Body Weight
Thermal Sensation Disorders
Performance Enhancing Product Use
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: GLYCEROL
Other: PLACEBO
Registration Number
NCT05295836
Lead Sponsor
Francisco Javier Martínez Noguera
Brief Summary

This clinical study evaluates the acute effect of glycerol ingestion on performance (power output), weight, urine specific gravity, biochemical (antioxidants and lactate) and metabolic (indirect calorimetry) markers in international athletes in hot conditions. The investigators hypothesized that acute glycerol ingestion can prevent performance loss (power generated at submaximal intensity) in hot conditions. To justify this hypothesis, the investigators will measure the aforementioned markers, which could establish a cause-effect relationship between acute glycerol intake and decreased performance loss in hot conditions.

Detailed Description

All participants will be informed about the procedures and provide signed informed consent. The study will be conducted according to the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration for Human Research and the protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Catholic University of Murcia (Code: CE091802).

Study design

This is a randomized crossover study. There are 3 types of intervention: water intake of 26 mL/kg/weight at 16°C (CON), 26 mL/kg/weight + placebo at 28°C (PLA) and intake of 1.2 g glycerol + 26 mL/kg/weight at 28°C (GLY). In addition, athletes will be instructed to take a individualized diet in relation to macronutrients (verified by dietary record) and they will follow their adjusted training schedule so that there would be no effect on the tests. Participants in both groups will be instructed not to consume supplements 3 weeks prior to the start of the study.

Procedures

Participants will visit the laboratory on five occasions. Visit 1 consists of a medical examination and a blood draw to determine health status. At visit 2, after a dinner the night before and a standard breakfast, an incremental test will be performed to determine the exercise zones in the rectangular test. At visits 3, 4 and 5, a record of the diet (individually set) will be performed regarding the former 7 days, followed by a rectangular treadmill test.

Visit 1:

Health status blood test: A general blood test will be performed. The blood will be drawn through a vein. (Fasting) Medical examination: A medical history of family and personal history, an electrocardiogram (ECG) at rest and a medical examination (auscultation, blood pressure, etc.) will be carried out to certify that the person is healthy and is not at risk to participate in the study. (Fasting)

Visits 2:

Incremental test with final ramp test will be performed on a cycle ergometer using a metabolic cart (Metalyzer 3B. Leipzig, Germany) to determine maximal fat oxidation zone (FatMax), ventilatory thresholds 1 (VT1) and 2 (VT2) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Participants will begin cycling at 35W for 2 min, increasing then by 35W every 2 min until RER\>1.05, initializing then the final ramp (+35W·min-1) until exhaustion.

Visits 3:

The rectangular test will be performed on a treadmill using the speed values obtained in the incremental test (15 sets x 2 min at 95% with 2:30 recovery at 85% of maximum speed between sets). Cardiorespiratory variables (VO2, VCO2, VO2R, VE/VO2, VE/VCO2, VE/VCO2, respiratory coefficient, respiratory frequency, carbohydrate oxidation (CHO), fat oxidation (FAT), running economy and energy expenditure) will be determined in the 1st, 5th, 10th and 15th series.

For power measurement, each participant will wear the Stryd power meter, which is an inertial sensor (9.1 g) mounted on the foot, firmly attached to the shoe and according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The device stores at a sampling rate of 1 Hz the following variables: estimated power (PO), pace, cadence, leg sprint stiffness (LSS), form power, form power ratio, ground contact time (GCT), vertical oscillation, stride length. These variables will then be determined in the 1st, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test. According to information from the Stryd team, the device is operational out of the box and should not require any calibration, accepting a measurement error of 3 percent. Participants will fill in their height and body mass prior to use, which is required for PO estimation. The firmware version that will be used is 2.1.16 (released in August 2020).

For lactate and antioxidant measurements, a Lactate Pro 2 meter and eBQC lab will be used on finger capillary blood at rest, after the 5th, 10th and after completion of the rectangular test.

For body temperature, the investigators will use an infrared thermographic camera (FLIR) to measure heat distribution (head, trunk, lower and upper limbs in both anterior and posterior aspects of the body).

Urine Samples Urine will be collected from the intake of water or water + glycerol or water + placebo until the start of the rectangular test and up to one hour after the rectangular test. The volume of urine excreted pre and post rectangular test will be recorded and the urine specific gravity will be analyzed.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
4
Inclusion Criteria
  • Be an international athlete with the Spanish national athletics team.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Are smokers or regular alcohol drinkers,
  • Have a metabolic, cardiorespiratory or digestive pathology or anomaly,
  • Have an injury in the prior 6 months
  • Are supplementing or medicating in the prior 2 weeks
  • Have non-normal values in the blood analysis parameters.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
GLYCEROL (GLY)GLYCEROLIn this intervention, subjects will perform the rectangular test at 28°C and 25-30% humidity, ingesting 1.2 g + 26 mL/kg/body weight of water one and a half hours before the test.
PLACEBO (PLA)PLACEBOIn this intervention, subjects will perform the rectangular test at 28°C and 25-30% humidity, ingesting 26 mL/kg/body weight of water and placebo one and a half hours before the test.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Body weightThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record body weight before and after the rectangular test

Body temperatureThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record body temperature by thermography of the head, trunk, and lower limbs, anterior and posterior in rest, after 5th and 10th series, and after completion of the rectangular test

Urine specific gravityThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record urine specific gravity by means a digital refractometer (Atago) before and after the rectangular test

Power outputThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record the power produced by means the stryd sensor (shoe) in the 1st, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Measurement of fast- and slow-acting antioxidants (Q1 and Q2) and total antioxidant capacity by a portable analyzer eBQC0101Throughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record the antioxidant markers in rest, after 5th and 10th series, and after completion of the rectangular test

Heart rateThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record the heart rat in rest,1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

VEThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record ventilation (L/min) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

LactateThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record lactate in rest, after 5th and 10th series, and after completion of the rectangular test

FAT oxThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record fat oxidation (g/h) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

VO2/RThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record oxygen consumption relative to weight (mL/min/kg) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

Ground contact timeThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record ground contact time (ms) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

VO2Throughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record the oxygen uptake (L/min) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

RERThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record respiratory exchange ratio in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

HC oxThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record carbohydrate oxidation (g/h) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

EEThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record energy expenditure (kcal/h) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

V'E/V'O2Throughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record ventilatory equivalents for oxygen (L/min) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

Leg spring stiffnessThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record leg spring stiffness (kN/m) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

CO2Throughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record the carbon dioxide exhalation (L/min) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

FRThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record respiratory frequency (breaths/min) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

V'E/V'CO2Throughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide (L/min) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

Form power ratioThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record form power ratio in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

Form powerThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record form power (W) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

Vertical oscillationThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record vertical oscillation (cm) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

CadenceThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record cadence (steps per minute) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

PO/RThroughout study completion, an average of 3 weeks

Record power output relative to weight (W/kg) in 1th, 5th, 10th and 15th series of the rectangular test

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Research Center for High Performance Sport. Catholic University of Murcia

🇪🇸

La Ñora, Murcia, Spain

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