Investigating a Novel Multi-strain Probiotic Supplement on Indices of Exercise Performance and Recovery
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Loughborough University
- Enrollment
- 36
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Recovery from Muscle Soreness
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This project will involve administering a multi-strain probiotic supplement to investigate the capacity to improve exercise performance and/or recovery. This will be done by assessing physiological measures (e.g. performance and muscle soreness), biochemical measures (e.g. oxidative stress and inflammation), and microbial diversity (i.e. associations with bacteria present in the gut). Participants will be well-trained, recreational exercisers and will visit the laboratory a total of eight times, including an 8-week probiotic vs placebo supplementation period.
Detailed Description
A total of 36 healthy, and active men and women aged 18-40 years of age will be recruited and allocated randomly into either a probiotic or placebo group, where both the investigator and participants will be blinded to the supplements (double-blind randomised control trial format).
Each participant will be asked to attend the research laboratory on eight separate occasions and to refrain from high-intensity exercise (e.g. long-distance running, competitive sport, weightlifting) in the 48 hours prior to each visit and light exercise (e.g. mild jogging or long walk) the day before each visit. They will also be asked to refrain from alcohol intake for 24 hours before each visit and caffeine intake on the morning of the visit.
Visit 1
Following consent, the participants will complete a ramp incremental exercise test for determination of volume of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and the first abrupt change in the oxygen (VO2) and carbon dioxide (VCO2) concentrations of the expired air known as Gas Exchange Threshold (GET). The data collected during the incremental test will be used to calculate the work rates which will be employed during the subsequent exercise tests. The participant will also be asked to complete a food frequency and exercise questionnaire to understand general dietary and training practices.
Visit2
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Masking
- Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 40 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Age 18-40
- •Involved in regular or structured exercise/sport programmes
Exclusion Criteria
- •Current use or previous use within 3 months of probiotic supplements
- •Current use or previous use within 3 months of antibiotics
- •A recent history of surgery/injury associated with impairment of cycling performance
- •History of chronic disease (excluding mild asthma)
- •Poor tolerance to any component of the supplement
- •Any blood-borne disorder/disease
Arms & Interventions
Placebo capsule
418mg maltodextrin
Intervention: Placebo Capsule (Other)
Probiotic Supplement
1 billion CFU per capsule of a multistrain probiotic formulation including one Bifidobacterium and two Lactobacilli strains with maltodextrin as a carrier
Intervention: Probiotic Supplement (Dietary Supplement)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Recovery from Muscle Soreness
Time Frame: 4 days
Assessment of recovery from muscle damaging exercise through the measurement of pre- and post-damaging exercise testing of muscle soreness using VAS scales and handheld pain threshold algometer
Exercise Performance
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Pre- and post-supplementation levels of exercise performance tested via a cycle ergometer time trial
Functional Exercise Recovery
Time Frame: 4 days
Assessment of recovery from muscle damaging exercise through the measurement of pre- and post-damaging exercise testing of counter movement jump height
Biochemical Recovery from Exercise (Tissue Damage)
Time Frame: 4 days
Assessment of recovery from muscle damaging exercise through the measurement of pre- and post-damaging exercise testing of markers of muscle damage (CK, LDH) by immunoassay
Biochemical Recovery from Exercise (Oxidative Stress)
Time Frame: 4 days
Assessment of recovery from muscle damaging exercise through the measurement of pre- and post-damaging exercise testing of markers of oxidative stress (8-OHDG, MDA) by immunoassay
Biochemical Recovery from Exercise (Inflammation)
Time Frame: 4 days
Assessment of recovery from muscle damaging exercise through the measurement of pre- and post-damaging exercise testing of inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP) by immunoassay
Secondary Outcomes
- Gut Microbial Diversity Testing by 16S Sequencing(8 weeks)
Investigators
Liam Heaney
Senior Lecturer/Principal Investigator
Loughborough University