Performance, Recovery, Strength, Aerobic Endurance
Conditions
Keywords
ashwagandha, football, strength, recovery
Brief summary
This trial examines if six weeks of taking 450 mg Ashwagandha root extract affects exercise performance and recovery in youth male elite football players. Ashwagandha root extract is increasingly used by athletes, but controlled research in adolescent athletes is limited and the majority of evidence is in an adult population. This study will assess short-term responses in youth players. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either Ashwagandha root extract or a placebo once daily for six weeks. Players will complete training-based tests, provide saliva samples and complete a short, validated questionnaire on perception of wellness. Any adverse events will be documented and reported.
Detailed description
The objective of this trial is to learn whether a short period of taking 450mg of Ashwagandha root extract affects performance, recovery, muscle strength and wellbeing in youth male elite football players. The researchers are studying Ashwagandha root extract as it is increasingly used by athletes and the general population of varying ages for well-being, performance and recovery purposes, despite a lack of controlled research examining its effects in adolescent athletes. Most existing evidence comes from adult populations, and it remains unclear whether similar physiological and perceptual responses occur in adolescents engaged in structured training. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Does taking Ashwagandha root extract change stress levels measured through saliva in youth elite footballers? Does it affect muscle strength, recovery, sleep, or muscle soreness? Participants will be randomly assigned to take either Ashwagandha root extract or a placebo once a day for six weeks. During the study, players will complete strength and fitness tests during usual training time, then provide saliva samples afterwards. Short questionnaires will be solicited the day after about how they feel. Any adverse events that occur during the study will be documented and reported.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTRoot extract Ashwagandha
450 mg Ashwagandha root extract
OTHERCorn Starch
450 mg corn starch
Sponsors
Sports Performance and Applied Research in Trials and Analysis
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)
Intervention model description
Randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
12 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male youth football player * Classified as 'healthy' and 'free of disease' * Actively training with the selected football academy
Exclusion criteria
* Lack of signed consent form * No active use of medication * No active use of ergogenic aids * Allergies to nightshades
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in Salivary Cortisol Concentration from Baseline to 6 Weeks | 6 weeks |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Salivary Alpha Amylase from Baseline to 6 Weeks | 6 weeks | — |
| Change in Handgrip Strength (kg) from Baseline to 6 Weeks | 6 weeks | Hand grip strength using CAMRY dynamometer |
| Change in Countermovement Jump Height (cm) from Baseline to 6 Weeks | 6 weeks | — |
| Change in 1 km Time Trial Completion Time (seconds) from Baseline to 6 Weeks | 6 weeks | Maximal effort run of 1km |
| Perception of stress | Baseline to 6 weeks | Perceived stress will be assessed using the sleep domain of the Hooper Index, which is one of four domains within the questionnaire (fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness and sleep). The stress item is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good and 10 indicates very, very poor. This domain will be analysed independently as a subset of the Hooper Index, rather than as part of the total score. |
| Perception of muscle soreness | Baseline to 6 weeks | Perceived muscle soreness will be assessed using the sleep domain of the Hooper Index, which is one of four domains within the questionnaire (fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness and sleep). The muscle soreness item is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good and 10 indicates very, very poor. This domain will be analysed independently as a subset of the Hooper Index, rather than as part of the total score. |
| Perception of fatigue | Baseline to 6 weeks | Perceived fatigue will be assessed using the sleep domain of the Hooper Index, which is one of four domains within the questionnaire (fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness and sleep). The fatigue item is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good and 10 indicates very, very poor. This domain will be analysed independently as a subset of the Hooper Index, rather than as part of the total score. |
| Perception of sleep quality | Baseline to 6 weeks | Sleep quality will be assessed using the sleep domain of the Hooper Index, which is one of four domains within the questionnaire (fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness, and sleep). The sleep item is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good sleep and 10 indicates very, very poor sleep. This domain will be analysed independently as a subset of the Hooper Index, rather than as part of the total score. |
| Overall Hooper Index Score | Baseline to 6 weeks | Perceived recovery will be assessed using the Hooper Index, which evaluates four domains: fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and sleep quality. Each domain is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good and 10 indicates very, very poor. The total Hooper Index score is calculated by summing the four domains, resulting in a possible range of 4 to 40, with higher scores indicating worse perceived recovery, greater fatigue and stress, and lower scores indicating better recovery. |
Countries
United Kingdom
Contacts
STUDY_DIRECTOROlivia C Coope, PhD
Blanquerna Institute
Outcome results
None listed