Efficacy of Tart Cherry Juice in Reducing Muscle Injury and Biomarkers of Muscle Damage Among Healthy Adults

Phase 4

Completed

• Conditions: Pain; Inflammation
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: tart cultivar Montmorency cherry juice; Dietary Supplement: placebo cherry fruit drink

• Registration Number: NCT01547949
• Lead Sponsor: Oregon Health and Science University

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of tart cherry juice to reduce serum biomarkers of inflammation and reduce muscle soreness in healthy adults who undergo a bout of controlled eccentric exercise.

Detailed Description

Numerous antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents have been identified in tart cherries, and a study among healthy, non-exercising individuals demonstrated that tart cherries decreased post-exercise weakness and muscle pain. The purpose of this study is to assess the analgesic and myoprotective effects of tart cherry juice among healthy subjects in a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind, crossover design trial. Fifteen healthy individuals will perform a bout of eccentric elbow flexion contractions (2 x 10 near maximum), and will then ingest 10 fl oz of a cherry juice or a placebo juice twice a day for four days, beginning immediately post exercise. Before and after exercise, and for three days following the eccentric exercise, blood will be drawn to measure serum biomarkers of muscle damage and muscle soreness will be recorded. The protocol will be repeated after a 9-10 day washout period with subjects consuming the alternative juice for the second trial. The opposite arm will perform the eccentric exercise for the second bout to avoid the repeated bout protective effect. The study's outcomes are 1) to assess changes in serum biomarkers of muscle damage, and 2) to assess changes in muscle soreness.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2012-02-24
• Study Start: 2012-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-03-05
• Study First Posted: 2012-03-08
• Primary Completion: 2012-07
• Study Completion: 2012-07
• Status Verified: 2012-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-08-09
• Last Update Posted: 2012-08-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 15

Inclusion Criteria

• no regular upper body strength training
• no elbow flexor pain, no history of elbow or shoulder injury
• ability and willingness not to take any anti-inflammatory or pain relieving drugs during the course of the study, not to seek any other treatment for any symptoms of muscle damage directly resulting from the exercises performed as part of the study, and not to exercise their upper extremities during the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• individuals who have used or are using antiepileptic drugs for pain, acupuncture, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation within 3 weeks before enrollment
• recent use (within 5 half-lives) of topical medications/anesthetics, muscle relaxants, tender point anesthetic injections within 2 months
• systemic steroid use within 3 months
• any investigational drug/device use in the prior 30 days
• individuals who have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes
• individuals who are pregnant

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
tart cherry juice	tart cultivar Montmorency cherry juice	-
cherry flavored fruit drink	placebo cherry fruit drink	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Lactate	duration of intervention, average of 18 days per participant	Primary outcomes include measurement of serum and plasma biomarkers that provide a generalized measurement of inflammatory activity; these include Creatine Kinase (CK), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lactate.
Creatine Kinase	duration of intervention, average of 18 days per participant	Primary outcomes include measurement of serum and plasma biomarkers that provide a generalized measurement of inflammatory activity; these include Creatine Kinase (CK), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lactate.
Aspartate aminotransferase	duration of intervention, average of 18 days per participant	Primary outcomes include measurement of serum and plasma biomarkers that provide a generalized measurement of inflammatory activity; these include Creatine Kinase (CK), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lactate.
Lactate dehydrogenase	duration of intervention, average of 18 days per participant	Primary outcomes include measurement of serum and plasma biomarkers that provide a generalized measurement of inflammatory activity; these include Creatine Kinase (CK), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lactate.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Secondary outcomes includes measurement of physical symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage and soreness as measured by a muscle myometer.	duration of intervention, average of 18 days per participant

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Oregon Health & Science University; 🇺🇸 Portland, Oregon, United States