Astaxanthin Supplementation in Cyclists

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Athletic Performance
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: astaxanthin; Dietary Supplement: placebo

• Registration Number: NCT01241877
• Lead Sponsor: Maastricht University Medical Center

Brief Summary

Background of the study:

Astaxanthin has been shown to be a powerfull anti-oxidant. Health benefits have been shown in animals and humans. Exercise enhancing effects have been shown in animals via enhancement of fat oxidation. We want to examine the effects of 4 weeks of astaxanthin supplementation on fat oxidation and cycling performance in trained cyclists

Objective of the study:

To test the hypothesis that 4 weeks supplementation with astaxanthin will improve fat oxidation and improve exercise performance in trained cyclists

Study design:

Double blind, placebo controlled study.

Study population:

Well trained cyclists between 18-30 years old

Intervention (if applicable):

astaxanthin (20 mg/day) or placebo for 4 weeks

Primary study parameters/outcome of the study:

performance on a time trial after 90 min steady state exercise.

Secundary study parameters/outcome of the study (if applicable):

substrate use plasma glucose plasma lactate plasma free fatty acid plasma astaxanthin

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness (if applicable):

The risks involved in participating in this experiment are minimal. Astaxanthin has been shown to be safe. Insertion of the catheters in a vein is comparable to a normal blood draw and the only risk is of a small local haematoma.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2010-11
• Study First Submitted: 2010-11-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-11-15
• Study First Posted: 2010-11-16
• Status Verified: 2011-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-04-19
• Last Update Posted: 2011-04-20
• Primary Completion: 2011-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy
• Male
• Age between 18 and 30 years
• Endurance trained (≥3 sessions of endurance exercise per week)
• VO2 max ≥ 50 ml/kg/min
• Training history of more than one year of ≥3 sessions of endurance exercise per week
• BMI <25 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria

• Use of medication
• Smoking

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
astaxanthin	astaxanthin	-
placebo	placebo	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
time trial performance	4 weeks	time trial performance

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
substrate use	4 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Maastricht University; 🇳🇱 Maastricht, LI, Netherlands