Investigating the Impact of Cocoa Flavanol Supplementation on Pulmonary Oxygen Uptake Kinetics and Exercise Tolerance in Sedentary Middle-aged Adults
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 18
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Exercise tolerance
Study Overview
Brief Summary
In recent years, there has been significant interest in dietary flavonoids (biologically active plant-derived compounds) as potential therapeutics. This is due to the capacity of flavonoids to enhance processes related to energy metabolism and cardiovascular health. We are interested in implementing a short-term supplementation regime (daily cocoa-flavanoid ingestion), in order to explore the possible beneficial effects of flavonoid-based interventions on responses to exercise. Hence, the objective of our study is to examine the impact of short term cocoa-flavanoid supplementation on processes related to energy use (oxygen utilisation). Our aim is to develop a novel intervention which improves cardiovascular health and enhances exercise tolerance.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Other
- Masking
- Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 35 Years to 55 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Aged 35-55 years
- •Healthy (no known cardiovascular or metabolic disorders e.g. diabetes)
- •Do not engage in regular structured physical training (i.e. less than two sessions for 60 minutes per week, for at least 1 year
Exclusion Criteria
- •Medical history of cardiovascular and/or metabolic disease, including diabetes and abnormal blood pressure
- •Family history of cardiovascular disease
- •Currently taking any medication
- •Asthmatic
- •Currently suffering from musculoskeletal injury
- •Younger than 35 or older than 55 years old
- •Known food allergies or special dietary requirements
- •Currently taking any dietary supplements
- •Currently engaging in >2 hours structured training per week
Arms & Interventions
Placebo
Placebo supplement, each capsule containing: 0mg total flavanols, matched for caffeine and theobromine content as experimental supplement (2.9 mg caffeine and 22.5 mg theobromine) and microcrystalline cellulose volume filler. Participants consume 4x capsules daily (2AM & 2PM after mixed meal for 7 days.
Intervention: Placebo supplement (Dietary Supplement)
Cocoa Flavanols
Experimental supplement, each capsule containing: 316 mg CocoActiv (Naturex, Netherlands: 100mg total cocoa flavanols, 2.9 mg caffeine and 22.5 mg theobromine) and microcrystalline cellulose volume filler. Participants consume 4x capsules daily (2AM & 2PM) for 7 days.
Intervention: Cocoa flavanols (Dietary Supplement)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Exercise tolerance
Time Frame: Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention).
Participants capacity to exercise to the limit of tolerance, measured to the nearest second. Participants are instructed to exercise at a severe-intensity exercise load (representative of 60% ∆), on a cycle ergometer until volitional exhaustion.
Oxygen uptake kinetics
Time Frame: Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Oxygen uptake measured for 9 minutes continuously during exercise bouts (3 min warm up period and 6 minutes of exercise transition)
Oxygen uptake kinetics (including time constant, time delay and amplitude of the fundamental oxygen uptake response) will be determined by modelling oxygen uptake during exercise using a mono exponential function. The oxygen uptake data is measured on a breath-by-breath basis during exercise (on a cycle ergometer) using a gas analysis system and face mask. Oxygen kinetics will be measured during three moderate-intensity step exercise tests (at 80% of the gas exchange threshold) and during one severe-intensity (60%∆) step exercise test that is completed to failure.
Secondary Outcomes
- Heart rate(Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Measured during the length of each exercise transition (9 minutes for each moderate intensity bout).)
- Perceived workload(Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Measured immediately before and after exercise)
- Blood pressure(Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Measured over 5 minutes before any exercise testing.)
- Blood lactate(Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Measured immediately before and after exercise)
- Physical activity and sedentary behaviour(Over 3 week period (In the 6 days preceding experimental testing))