None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Regular and appropriate exercise is a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle. It is associated with increased physical and mental acuity and the prevention of age-related chronic health problems like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. An individual's motivation or desire to maintain a regular exercise regime is crucial to gaining these health benefits. Moreover, several human and animal studies have shown that motivation to maintain regular physical activity involves dopaminergic and noradrenergic nerve pathways in the brain that regulate the generation and metabolism of the neurotransmitters dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline and serotonin. There is very limited information available on how a nutritional intervention may improve motivation to exercise. Over recent years, only one publication has reported the effects of a dietary intervention on exercise motivation, with caffeine consumption linked to increase enjoyment from exercise. In a recent clinical trial, we have demonstrated that the consumption of a single dose of blackcurrant juice had an acute, reversible modulatory effect of neurotransmitter oxidation in healthy individuals in vivo. Given the known interaction between brain neurotransmitters and physical exercise and motivation, it is feasible that the consumption of blackcurrants may improve physical activity in humans through their modulatory effects on exercise-related brain neurotransmitters. In this study, we aim to subjectively measure our participants' motivation to maintain a prescribed moderate intensity exercise following the consumption of blackcurrant juice and how this relates to the regulation of brain neurotransmitters related to motivation. We hypothesise that blackcurrant juice modulates brain neurotransmitter levels leading to higher concentrations of neurotransmitters related to motivation which results in a greater desire and willingness to exercise. This study will generate knowledge supporting the implementation of timed nutritional strategies to maintain motivation during exercise, thus assisting in attaining the health benefits associated with regular and appropriate exercise.
Interventions
This is a double-blind, placebo controlled parallel design intervention study that will allow us to test the effect of the consumption of blackcurrant juice on the modulation of dopaminergic/noradrenergic nerve pathways and motivation to maintain a moderate intensity exercise. All prospective participants will be asked to attend a familiarisation session which will take approximately 1 hour. During the familiarisation session, participants will be introduced to the subjective scales and questi
This is a double-blind, placebo controlled parallel design intervention study that will allow us to test the effect of the consumption of blackcurrant juice on the modulation of dopaminergic/noradrenergic nerve pathways and motivation to maintain a moderate intensity exercise. All prospective participants will be asked to attend a familiarisation session which will take approximately 1 hour. During the familiarisation session, participants will be introduced to the subjective scales and questionnaire that they will be asked to respond to during the main trial day. Participants will also be asked to perform a moderate intensity treadmill exercise that will allow us to estimate the intensity of the exercise they will be required to perform on the main trial day that is customised to their fitness level. On the main trial day, participants will be randomised into one of two treatment groups: (1) Blackcurrant group and (2) Placebo group. On the main trial day, participants will be asked to consume 200 mL of blackcurrant (adjusted to a dose of 500 mg polyphenol per 60 kg body weight) or placebo drink within 2 minutes. After consuming the their treatment drink, participants will be asked to sit in the waiting room provided in the facility and refrain from any exercise for 1 hr. Following this, participants will be asked to perform a moderate intensity exercise with their motivation and exertion subjectively measured at regular intervals. We estimate that participants will be required to be on-site for approximately 4-5 hours during the main trial day.
Sponsors
Dr. Jocelyn Eason
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Healthy individuals who are not involved in any regular exercise routine and do not have a high habitual acitivy but can complete the physical requirements of this trial will be selected for this study. Participants will be required to complete a health questionnaire and provide written consent for this study.
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded if they are unwilling or unable to provide informed written consent or comply with the study's procedures. Participants will also be excluded if they (1) have known hypersensitivity or intolerance to blackcurrants or berry fruit-derived products, (2) have health conditions that impair ability to perform a treadmill walking task (e.g. injury, hernia, back or joint pain, cardiovascular and breathing problems), (3) exceed a certain fitness level, assessed by a Baecke questionnaire, or (4) are unable to perform the study walking exercise to the standard required by the trial coordinator in the familiarisation session. In addition, participants will be excluded if they are pregnant, planning to get pregnant in the near future or have any of the following conditions: (i) blood borne diseases (e.g. Hepatitis), (ii) clinically diagnosed high/low blood pressure, (iii) recent bacterial or viral illness, (iv) are taking any mediation that affects the properties of blood (e.g. blood clotting).
Outcome results
None listed