The Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant (NZBC) Supplementation on Recovery Following Strenuous Exercise

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Muscle Damage
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: New Zealand blackcurrants (NZBC); Dietary Supplement: Placebo (PLA)

• Registration Number: NCT05010057
• Lead Sponsor: University of Surrey

Brief Summary

The study aims to examine the effect of a New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) supplement on markers of muscle damage and recovery following strenuous resistance exercise. The investigation will compare responses between an experimental (NZBC capsule, 300 mg/day) and placebo (PLA capsule, 300 mg sugar) group. Participants will attend a screening session where they will consent to the study, complete a pre-activity medical questionnaire and have their height, weight and resting blood pressure measured. If the participants meet the inclusion criteria they will perform a familarisation session on the muscle strength assessment. Participants will be randomized to NZBC or placebo groups, and consume one capsule in the morning (between 6-10 am) for 12 days. This is a double-blinded study, which means that the participant and the study team will not know which group the participants are assigned to until the study is over. On day 8 participants will perform a strenuous bout of upper body resistance exercise on the isokinetic dynamometer (exercise device). Muscle strength and soreness, arm circumference, and elbow range of motion will be measured, and a fasted blood sample will be collected, before and 24, 48, 72 \& 96 hours after the muscle fatigue protocol (on days 9, 10, 11 \& 12). A marker of muscle damage (creatine kinase \[CK\] concentration) will be measured in the blood samples. Participants will also be asked to complete a 6-day dietary record, beginning on day 7 and ending on the final day of testing (day 12).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-06-10
• Primary Completion: 2018-09-01
• Study Completion: 2018-09-01
• Status Verified: 2021-08
• Study First Submitted: 2021-08-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-08-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-08-17
• Study First Posted: 2021-08-18
• Last Update Posted: 2021-08-18

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 27

Inclusion Criteria

• Males and Females
• 18 - 45 years old
• BMI: 19 - 29.9 kg/m2
• Healthy: no active disease process that could interfere with endpoints measured as determined by medical history

Exclusion Criteria

• Smoking and tobacco use
• Takes medication [excluding contraception]
• BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2
• Hypertensive (diastolic > 90 and/or systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg)
• History of musculoskeletal upper limb injuries
• Performs regular resistance exercise (> 2 sessions per week)
• Uses dietary supplements that could influence muscle recovery or function (e.g. protein supplements, antioxidants etc)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
New Zealand blackcurrants (NZBC)	New Zealand blackcurrants (NZBC)	1 NZBC capsule (containing 300 mg active cassis containing 105 mg of anthocyanins, i.e. 35-50 % delphinidin-3-rutinoside, 5-20 % delphinidin-3-glucoside, 30-45 % cyanidin-3-rutinoside, 3-10 % cyanidin-3-glucoside), consumed in the morning, for 12 days.
Placebo (PLA)	Placebo (PLA)	1 placebo capsule (containing 300 mg microcrystalline cellulose M102), consumed in the morning, for 12 days.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in creatine kinase (CK) concentration at 72 hours post-exercise	At baseline (pre-exercise) and 72 hours post-exercise.	Serum biomarker for muscle damage
Change from baseline in creatine kinase (CK) concentration at 96 hours post-exercise	At baseline (pre-exercise) and 96 hours post-exercise..	Serum biomarker for muscle damage

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in joint range of motion (ROM) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise	At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively).	Elbow ROM measured using a goniometer
Change in maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise	At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively).	Muscle function measure; maximal voluntary isometric contraction (torque, Nm) performed on isokinetic dynamometer
Change in rating of Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness (DOMS) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise	At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively).	Self-reported perception of muscle soreness using a visual analogue scale (VAS), from 'no soreness' \[0 mm\] on the left anchor point to 'extremely sore' \[100 mm\] on the right
Change in mid arm circumference (MAC) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise	At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively).	Mid-upper arm circumference measured at the midpoint of the distance from the acromion process (acromiale) to the olecranon process (radiale).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Surrey Human Performance Institute; 🇬🇧 Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom