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NCT Number: NCT07546513

Effects of Cistanche Supplementation on Anaerobic Exercise Performance and Recovery in Men With Different Athletic Training Levels

This study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to examine whether 8 weeks of Cistanche deserticola supplementation, when combined with a standardized anaerobic training program, can improve anaerobic exercise performance, recovery, and selected body composition outcomes in young adult men with different athletic training levels.

Participants will be assigned to receive either Cistanche deserticola extract or a matched placebo while completing the same supervised anaerobic training program. The study will assess changes in anaerobic performance, including Wingate test outcomes and jump performance, as well as recovery-related indicators such as blood lactate, creatine kinase, malondialdehyde, testosterone, cortisol, and the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio. Body composition outcomes, including body fat percentage and skeletal muscle mass, will also be evaluated.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Cistanche deserticola supplementation provides additional benefits beyond training alone, and whether these effects differ between highly trained and recreationally trained participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Athlete Elite Athlete Exercise Recovery Sport Performance

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Wuhan Sport University

Wuhan, Hubei, 430000, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male, aged 18 to 25 years
  • Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 25.0 kg/m²
  • Able and willing to provide written informed consent
  • Willing to comply with study procedures, supplementation, training, and assessments
  • Belonging to one of the following athletic training strata:
  • High-level elite stratum: Chinese National Level-1 Athlete standard in sprint-related events, regular training in past 12 months and active during study
  • Amateur stratum: regular exercise-training background in past 12 months without National Level-1 status

Exclusion criteria

  • Use of steroids or ergogenic supplements during study
  • Known cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, or other conditions making participation unsafe or affecting outcomes
  • Current use of medications affecting muscle growth, recovery, hormones, or high-intensity performance
  • Current injury or limitation preventing safe participation
  • Known allergy or intolerance to supplement/placebo ingredients
  • Participation in another clinical trial or structured intervention during study period
  • Inability or unwillingness to comply with protocol
  • Any other condition deemed unsuitable by investigators

Treatment and study plan

Cistanche deserticola

Dietary Supplement

Participants receive Cistanche deserticola extract paste at a dose of 5 g/day for 8 weeks. The supplement is administered in two sachets per day, one after breakfast and one after lunch. The product is derived from Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma cultivated in Inner Mongolia and consists primarily of phenylethanoid glycosides. Batch-specific quality-control documentation is provided by the supplier to ensure consistency.

Matched placebo paste

Dietary Supplement

Participants receive a matched placebo for 8 weeks. The placebo is administered in two sachets per day, one after breakfast and one after lunch, following the same schedule as the experimental supplement. It contains maltodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, caramel coloring, and a food-grade bittering agent, and is matched to the active supplement in appearance, weight, texture, and taste.

Standardized anaerobic training program

Behavioral

All participants complete the same supervised standardized anaerobic training program 3 times per week for 8 consecutive weeks. Each session lasts approximately 50 to 65 minutes and includes a dynamic warm-up, repeated sprint training, explosive/strength-support exercises, short-bout high-intensity interval training, and a cool-down. Training load is progressively increased across the intervention period, and attendance as well as session rating of perceived exertion are recorded throughout the study.

Primary outcomes

  1. Peak power during the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Peak power (W) measured during a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test performed on a Monark 894E cycle ergometer. The test is conducted under standardized conditions, and the primary analysis will evaluate the change from baseline to post-intervention and the between-group difference in change after 8 weeks of intervention.

  2. Squat jump height

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Squat jump (SJ) height in centimeters, assessed under standardized testing conditions as a measure of lower-limb explosive performance. Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

  3. Countermovement jump

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Countermovement jump (CMJ) height in centimeters, assessed under standardized testing conditions as a measure of lower-limb explosive performance. Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Average power during the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Average power (W) measured during the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test. Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

  2. Minimum power during the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

  3. Power drop during the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Power drop (%) calculated from the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test as an index of fatigue during maximal anaerobic effort. Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

  4. Post-exercise blood lactate response

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Capillary blood lactate concentration (mmol/L) measured immediately after the Wingate Anaerobic Test and at 3 minutes of recovery as indices of acute metabolic stress and recovery. Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

  5. Serum creatine kinase concentration

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

  6. Serum malondialdehyde concentration

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Serum malondialdehyde (MDA, nmol/mL) measured as a biomarker related to oxidative stress. Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

  7. Serum testosterone concentration

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Fasting serum testosterone concentration (ng/mL) measured from venous blood samples collected under standardized morning conditions.

  8. Body fat percentage

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Body fat percentage measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody 770). Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

  9. Skeletal muscle mass

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Skeletal muscle mass (kg) measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody 770). Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

  10. Serum cortisol concentration

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Fasting serum cortisol concentration (μg/dL) measured from venous blood samples collected under standardized morning conditions.

Other outcomes

  1. Body mass index

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) calculated from measured height and body weight.

  2. Body weight

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Body weight (kg) measured under standardized fasting conditions. Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

  3. Resting blood lactate concentration

    Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)

    Capillary blood lactate concentration (mmol/L) measured before the Wingate Anaerobic Test under resting conditions. Analyses will assess change from baseline to post-intervention and between-group differences in change.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Chang Liu, Doctor

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86 17601060070

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Beijing Sport University

Other

Collaborators

  • Wuhan Sports University

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Cistanche Supplementation on Anaerobic Exercise Performance and Recovery in Men With Different Athletic Training Levels: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 22, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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