Spirulina Supplementation In Recovery From Damaging Exercise

Damage Muscle Clinical Trial

— SPIRAL  

Official title:

Spirulina Supplementation In Recovery From Damaging Exercise

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06391957
• Other study ID #: 4530276
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 4, 2024
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: June 2024
• Source: University of Exeter
• Contact: Benjamin Wall, Prof
• Phone: +441392724774
• Email: b.t.wall[@]exeter.ac.uk
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Exercise can cause muscle damage, leading to a loss in muscle function, increased muscle soreness and inflammation. Evidence supports the use of nutritional strategies to help recovery. Spirulina is a type of algae. It is eaten as a food supplement as it is full of micronutrients, some which provide anti-inflammatory benefits. This work will assess the impact of taking spirulina supplements on recovery from hard exercise. Investigators will measure changes in muscle function, soreness and markers of inflammation.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 30
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: September 30, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Are available and willing to attend St Luke's Campus, Exeter
• Age 18 - 40
• BMI 18.5 - 30 kg/m2
• The participant exercises / plays sport for > 2 h/week, but doesn't do structured resistance strength training
• Self-reported as healthy (absence of injury or disease)
• Have no known food allergy to algae
• Are not taking any over the counter or prescribed medication that might interfere with study, e.g. anti-inflammatory medication
• Non-smoker

Exclusion Criteria:

• Are unable to attend St Luke's Campus, Exeter
• Are out-with age range 18 - 40
• BMI below 18.5 or above 30 kg/m2
• The participant does not exercise
• The participant does regular structured resistance strength training
• Known injury or disease that might influence study outcomes
• Have a known food allergy to algae
• Are taking over the counter or prescribed medication that might interfere with study, e.g. anti-inflammatory medication
• Smoker

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Damage Muscle

Intervention

Dietary Supplement:
• Spirulina supplement
Participants consume a 3g spirulina supplement 3 times daily for 5 consecutive days.

Procedure:
• Eccentric exercise
On the morning of Day 3 (where Day 1 is when participants start taking supplements), participants perform a single bout of eccentric exercise. The exercise protocol is performed on a single leg and involves 300 (10 sets of 30 repetitions separated by 120 seconds) voluntary maximal, isokinetic, eccentric contractions of the knee extensor. Exercise is performed using a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA), and contractions are performed at 60?/s over an 80? range of motion.

Dietary Supplement:
• Placebo supplement
Participants consume a macronutrient matched placebo supplement 3 times daily for 5 consecutive days.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	University of Exeter	Exeter

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Exeter

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Measure changes in the concentration of blood plasma inflammatory markers via immunoassay.	Blood plasma inflammatory markers will be measured before (baseline) and after eccentric exercise (at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post eccentric exercise) in both the spirulina and placebo group. Inflammatory markers that will be assessed include: interferon ? (IFN-?), interleukin (IL) -1ß, -4, -6, -10, tumour necrosis factor a (TNF-a) via immunoassay (pg/mL).	Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.
Secondary	Measure changes in muscle function of the quadriceps using knee extensor peak isometric torque on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer.	Knee extensor peak isometric torque (three maximal isometric contractions at 75? of knee flexion) will be measured before (baseline) and after eccentric exercise (at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post eccentric exercise) in both the spirulina and placebo group to report recovery of peak isometric torque (N). Testing will be performed on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, US).	Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.
Secondary	Measure changes in muscle function of the quadriceps using knee extensor total isokinetic work on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer.	Knee extensor total isokinetic work (area under the torque-time curve after 30 maximal, concentric, isokinetic knee extensor contractions performed at 75?/s through an 80? range of motion) will be measured before (baseline) and after eccentric exercise (at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post eccentric exercise) in both the spirulina and placebo group to report recovery of total isokinetic work (N.s). Testing will be performed on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, US).	Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.
Secondary	Measure changes in perceived lower body muscle soreness via visual analogue scale questionnaire.	Perceived lower body muscle soreness will be measured before (baseline) and after eccentric exercise (at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post eccentric exercise) in both the spirulina and placebo group to report recovery of muscle. Participants will stand from a seated position and rate the corresponding sensation of lower body muscle soreness on a 100-mm visual analogue scale anchored by 'no pain' at 0 mm and 'worst possible pain' at 100 mm.	Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period.