Carnosine Loading and Periodized Training in MS and HC

The Impact of Carnosine Loading and Rehabilitation Therapy on Exercise Capacity in Multiple Sclerosis.

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03418376

Enrollment

Registered

2018-02-01

Start date

2017-02-01

Completion date

2017-12-30

Last updated

2020-04-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis, Exercise Therapy, Dietary Supplement

Brief summary

Increasing evidence favours exercise therapy as an efficient tool to counteract inactivity related secondary symptoms in MS. Furthermore, exercise therapy may affect MS-associated muscle contractile and energy supply dysfunctions. So far, low to moderate intensity exercise rehabilitation has shown to induce small but consistent improvements in several functional parameters. High intensity exercise training in MS seems to further improve this. However, although results are promising, impairments in both muscle contraction and energy supply probably attenuate therapy outcome. In keeping with the above described physiological role of skeletal muscle carnosine and because muscle carnosine content may be lower in MS, the primary aim of the present project is to investigate whether carnosine loading improves exercise therapy outcome (exercise capacity, body composition) and performance in MS. If the latter hypothesis can be confirmed, muscle carnosine loading could be a novel intervention to improve exercise capacity and muscle function in this population.

Detailed description

Pilot data from the (co-)applicants' laboratories suggest that EAE rats (animal MS model) and MS-patients suffer from significantly reduced muscle carnosine levels compared to healthy counterparts. The potential of β-alanine supplementation to elevate muscle carnosine content has been shown in healthy volunteers. Furthermore, the investigators have recently investigated β-alanine and carnosine supplementation in EAE animals. In MS, this has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the researchers' next step is to investigate the impact of β-alanine intake on exercise performance in MS patients. The investigators hypothesize that oral β-alanine supplementation improves exercise therapy outcomes in MS patients. So far, it is clear that β-alanine intake enhances exercise capacity of untrained, trained and aged individuals by improving contractile properties, maintaining higher intracellular energy levels and optimizing training adaptations. Because early fatigue of contracting musculature during rehabilitation is the predominant cause of exercise cessation, postponing exercise-induced fatigue by β-alanine supplementation will be clinically very relevant (improving exercise therapy efficiency). Consequently, the investigators aim to research the ergogenic potential of β-alanine intake in MS rehabilitation and hypothesize that β-alanine supplementation optimizes exercise therapy outcome (exercise capacity, muscle contractile characteristics) in this population.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTBeta-alanine supplementation

The supplementation protocol of β-alanine (Etixx® Omega Pharma Belgium NV) involves oral intake of 4 x 800mg (3.2g/day29, 43) daily with at least 2h apart of slow-release β-alanine during the first 12 weeks. After this loading period, subjects will receive a maintenance dose of 2 x 800mg (1.6g/day) β-alanine for the remaining study duration.

OTHERExercise intervention

The exercise training program (6 months) involves 3 week cycles (week I-III). During week I, subjects will perform high volume moderate intensity cardiovascular cycle training (3x/week). Twice a week, subjects perform 3h training sessions (70-80% HRmax\*) and once a week a 1.5h session will be executed (80-90% HRmax). During week II, subjects will perform low volume maximum intensity interval cycle training (3/w). High intensity interval cycle training (HIIT) will consist of 3x maximal sprints (90-100% HRmax) of 1.5min, interspersed with 3min rest intervals. A 5min standardized warming up and 5min cooling down will be performed. Week III involves a recovery week where subjects will perform one training session of 1.5h at an exercise intensity of 70-80% HRmax and one session of HIIT.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

OTHER

Masking

QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

All parties are blinded regarding the dietary supplement (beta-alanine) or placebo.

Intervention model description

Twenty multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and twenty healthy controls (HC), aged \>18y will be included following written informed consent. Subjects will be excluded if they experience contraindications to participate in moderate to high intensity exercise or have an EDSS score \>3. First, exercise capacity (maximal graded exercise test) will be evaluated. Heart function will be assessed by an experienced medical doctor, followed by measurement of body composition (DEXA). Maximal strength of the back- and abdominal muscles will be assessed to evaluate core stability. MS patients and HC will be randomly allocated to one of four intervention groups following 6 months of moderate-to-high-intensity cardiovascular exercise therapy with (MSβ, n=10; HCβ, n=10) or without (MSpla, n=10; HCplac, n=10) β-alanine supplementation. Groups not receiving β-alanine supplements, will receive placebo tablets. Following 6 months of exercise training (POST) measurements will be performed similar to baseline.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 75 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis Multiple Sclerosis. Healthy control. Aged \>18y. Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Contraindications to perform moderate to high intensity exercise. Participation in another study. Experienced acute MS related exacerbation \<6 months prior to start of the study EDSS score \> 3.5

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
VO2max	Before and after 6 months training (pre vs post)	Exercise capacity will be assessed using a maximal (12-lead ECG) graded cardiopulmonary exercise test (♂: 30W+15W/min, ♀: 20W+10W/min, GE eBike Basic®) with pulmonary gas exchange analysis (Jaeger Oxycon®). VO2max (maximal oxygen uptake) will be monitored. This test will be performed at least 48 hours separated from the muscle strength test, to prevent interference of muscle fatigue. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) values will be evaluated to verify if the test was performed maximally (RER \>1.1).
Serum Lactate	Before and after 6 months training (pre vs post)	During the exercise test, 2min capillary blood samples will be obtained to analyse blood lactate concentrations (Analox®) and determine the anaerobic threshold before, during and after exercise. Lactate max levels are the maximal concentrations measured during the test, whilst peak Lactate are the lactate concentrations following 2 minutes of rest after cessation of the maximal exercise test.
Body Composition	Before and after 6 months training (pre vs post)	Whole body fat and lean tissue mass will be obtained using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scan (DEXA) (Hologic Series Delphi-A Fan Beam X-ray Bone Densitometer, Vilvoorde, Belgium). A calibrated analogue weight balance (Seca®) will be used to measure total body mass.
Strength Assessment Core Musculature	Before and after 6 months training (pre vs post)	Back- and abdominal muscle strength will be assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer (System 3, Biodex, ENRAF-NONIUS, New York, USA). After adequate warming-up and movement familiarization, subjects will perform 3 maximal isometric contractions of back- and abdominal muscles for 4-5sec. The peak value of the 3 maximal contractions will be reported (peak back, and peak abdominal muscles).
Workload	Before and after 6 months training (pre vs post)	Exercise capacity will be assessed using a maximal (12-lead ECG) graded cardiopulmonary exercise test (♂: 30W+15W/min, ♀: 20W+10W/min, GE eBike Basic®) with pulmonary gas exchange analysis (Jaeger Oxycon®). VO2max (maximal oxygen uptake) will be monitored. This test will be performed at least 48 hours separated from the muscle strength test, to prevent interference of muscle fatigue. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) values will be evaluated to verify if the test was performed maximally (RER \>1.1).

Countries

Belgium

Participant flow

Participants by arm

Arm	Count
MS Beta-alanine Supplementation Subjects will perform a 6-month intervention and receive beta-alanine supplements. Beta-alanine supplementation: The supplementation protocol of β-alanine (Etixx® Omega Pharma Belgium NV) involves oral intake of 4 x 800mg (3.2g/day29, 43) daily with at least 2h apart of slow-release β-alanine during the first 12 weeks. After this loading period, subjects will receive a maintenance dose of 2 x 800mg (1.6g/day) β-alanine for the remaining study duration. Exercise intervention: The exercise training program (6 months) involves 3 week cycles (week I-III). During week I, subjects will perform high volume moderate intensity cardiovascular cycle training (3x/week). Twice a week, subjects perform 3h training sessions (70-80% HRmax\*) and once a week a 1.5h session will be executed (80-90% HRmax). During week II, subjects will perform low volume maximum intensity interval cycle training (3/w). High intensity interval cycle training (HIIT) will consist of 3x maximal sprints (90-100	11
MS Placebo Group Subjects will perform a 6-month exercise intervention and receive placebo tablets. Exercise intervention: The exercise training program (6 months) involves 3 week cycles (week I-III). During week I, subjects will perform high volume moderate intensity cardiovascular cycle training (3x/week). Twice a week, subjects perform 3h training sessions (70-80% HRmax\*) and once a week a 1.5h session will be executed (80-90% HRmax). During week II, subjects will perform low volume maximum intensity interval cycle training (3/w). High intensity interval cycle training (HIIT) will consist of 3x maximal sprints (90-100% HRmax) of 1.5min, interspersed with 3min rest intervals. A 5min standardized warming up and 5min cooling down will be performed. Week III involves a recovery week where subjects will perform one training session of 1.5h at an exercise intensity of 70-80% HRmax and one session of HIIT.	6
HC Beta-alanine Supplementation Subjects will perform a 6-month intervention and receive beta-alanine supplements. Beta-alanine supplementation: The supplementation protocol of β-alanine (Etixx® Omega Pharma Belgium NV) involves oral intake of 4 x 800mg (3.2g/day29, 43) daily with at least 2h apart of slow-release β-alanine during the first 12 weeks. After this loading period, subjects will receive a maintenance dose of 2 x 800mg (1.6g/day) β-alanine for the remaining study duration. Exercise intervention: The exercise training program (6 months) involves 3 week cycles (week I-III). During week I, subjects will perform high volume moderate intensity cardiovascular cycle training (3x/week). Twice a week, subjects perform 3h training sessions (70-80% HRmax\*) and once a week a 1.5h session will be executed (80-90% HRmax). During week II, subjects will perform low volume maximum intensity interval cycle training (3/w). High intensity interval cycle training (HIIT) will consist of 3x maximal sprints (90-100	8
HC Placebo Group Subjects will perform a 6-month exercise intervention and receive placebo tablets. Exercise intervention: The exercise training program (6 months) involves 3 week cycles (week I-III). During week I, subjects will perform high volume moderate intensity cardiovascular cycle training (3x/week). Twice a week, subjects perform 3h training sessions (70-80% HRmax\*) and once a week a 1.5h session will be executed (80-90% HRmax). During week II, subjects will perform low volume maximum intensity interval cycle training (3/w). High intensity interval cycle training (HIIT) will consist of 3x maximal sprints (90-100% HRmax) of 1.5min, interspersed with 3min rest intervals. A 5min standardized warming up and 5min cooling down will be performed. Week III involves a recovery week where subjects will perform one training session of 1.5h at an exercise intensity of 70-80% HRmax and one session of HIIT.	10
Total	35

Withdrawals & dropouts

Period	Reason	FG000	FG001	FG002	FG003
Overall Study	Exacerbation	0	1	0	0
Overall Study	Musculoskeletal injury	1	2	1	0
Overall Study	Personal reasons	0	2	2	1

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic	MS Beta-alanine Supplementation	Total	HC Placebo Group	HC Beta-alanine Supplementation	MS Placebo Group
Age, Continuous	41.8 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.2	42.5 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.4	41.1 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.7	43.3 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.5	44 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5
Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Asian	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) White	11 Participants	35 Participants	10 Participants	8 Participants	6 Participants
Region of Enrollment Belgium	11 Participants	35 Participants	10 Participants	8 Participants	6 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Female	4 Participants	12 Participants	5 Participants	1 Participants	2 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Male	7 Participants	23 Participants	5 Participants	7 Participants	4 Participants

Adverse events

Event type	EG000 affected / at risk	EG001 affected / at risk	EG002 affected / at risk	EG003 affected / at risk
deaths Total, all-cause mortality	0 / 12	0 / 11	0 / 11	0 / 11
other Total, other adverse events	0 / 12	0 / 11	0 / 11	0 / 11
serious Total, serious adverse events	0 / 12	0 / 11	0 / 11	0 / 11

Outcome results

Primary

Body Composition

Whole body fat and lean tissue mass will be obtained using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scan (DEXA) (Hologic Series Delphi-A Fan Beam X-ray Bone Densitometer, Vilvoorde, Belgium). A calibrated analogue weight balance (Seca®) will be used to measure total body mass.