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NCT Number: NCT05010057

The Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant (NZBC) Supplementation on Recovery Following Strenuous Exercise

The study aims to examine the effect of a New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) supplement on markers of muscle damage and recovery following strenuous resistance exercise. The investigation will compare responses between an experimental (NZBC capsule, 300 mg/day) and placebo (PLA capsule, 300 mg sugar) group. Participants will attend a screening session where they will consent to the study, complete a pre-activity medical questionnaire and have their height, weight and resting blood pressure measured. If the participants meet the inclusion criteria they will perform a familarisation session on the muscle strength assessment. Participants will be randomized to NZBC or placebo groups, and consume one capsule in the morning (between 6-10 am) for 12 days. This is a double-blinded study, which means that the participant and the study team will not know which group the participants are assigned to until the study is over. On day 8 participants will perform a strenuous bout of upper body resistance exercise on the isokinetic dynamometer (exercise device). Muscle strength and soreness, arm circumference, and elbow range of motion will be measured, and a fasted blood sample will be collected, before and 24, 48, 72 & 96 hours after the muscle fatigue protocol (on days 9, 10, 11 & 12). A marker of muscle damage (creatine kinase [CK] concentration) will be measured in the blood samples. Participants will also be asked to complete a 6-day dietary record, beginning on day 7 and ending on the final day of testing (day 12).

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Key information

Conditions

Muscle Damage

Age range

18 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Surrey Human Performance Institute

Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7AD, United Kingdom

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Males and Females
  • 18 - 45 years old
  • BMI: 19 - 29.9 kg/m2
  • Healthy: no active disease process that could interfere with endpoints measured as determined by medical history

Exclusion criteria

  • Smoking and tobacco use
  • Takes medication [excluding contraception]
  • BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2
  • Hypertensive (diastolic > 90 and/or systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg)
  • History of musculoskeletal upper limb injuries
  • Performs regular resistance exercise (> 2 sessions per week)
  • Uses dietary supplements that could influence muscle recovery or function (e.g. protein supplements, antioxidants etc)

Treatment and study plan

New Zealand blackcurrants (NZBC)

Dietary Supplement

NZBC capsules containing anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract

Other names: NZBC extract supplement (Health Currancy Ltd [UK] / CurraNZ Ltd [NZ])

Placebo (PLA)

Dietary Supplement

Placebo capsules containing microcrystalline cellulose

Other names: Placebo capsules

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in creatine kinase (CK) concentration at 72 hours post-exercise

    Time frame: At baseline (pre-exercise) and 72 hours post-exercise.

    Serum biomarker for muscle damage

  2. Change from baseline in creatine kinase (CK) concentration at 96 hours post-exercise

    Time frame: At baseline (pre-exercise) and 96 hours post-exercise..

    Serum biomarker for muscle damage

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise

    Time frame: At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively).

    Muscle function measure; maximal voluntary isometric contraction (torque, Nm) performed on isokinetic dynamometer

  2. Change in rating of Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness (DOMS) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise

    Time frame: At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively).

    Self-reported perception of muscle soreness using a visual analogue scale (VAS), from 'no soreness' [0 mm] on the left anchor point to 'extremely sore' [100 mm] on the right

  3. Change in joint range of motion (ROM) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise

    Time frame: At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively).

    Elbow ROM measured using a goniometer

  4. Change in mid arm circumference (MAC) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise

    Time frame: At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively).

    Mid-upper arm circumference measured at the midpoint of the distance from the acromion process (acromiale) to the olecranon process (radiale).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Surrey

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant (NZBC) Supplementation on Indices of Muscle Damage Following Strenuous Exercise

Acronym: CurraNZ_MD

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Aug 18, 2021
Registry last updated
Aug 18, 2021

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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