Supplementation During Endurance Performance
Conditions
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial (randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study) is to investigate whether supplementation with Ecklonia cava, a natural extract derived from brown seaweed, affects exercise performance and physiological responses in trained cyclists. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does Ecklonia cava supplementation improve cycling performance, including power output during steady-state exercise and short maximal sprints? Does Ecklonia cava supplementation influence physiological responses to exercise, such as blood glucose, blood lactate, heart rate, and oxygen consumption? Researchers will compare Ecklonia cava supplementation to a placebo (a look-alike substance with no active ingredients) to determine whether the supplement has any effect on performance or physiological responses. In this crossover design, all participants will receive both the Ecklonia cava supplement and the placebo on separate occasions, with a washout period between conditions. Participants will: Ingest either Ecklonia cava or a placebo 30 minutes before exercise testing Complete a 60-minute cycling protocol at a moderate intensity Perform repeated short-duration maximal sprint efforts following the steady-state exercise Attend laboratory testing sessions under both supplement and placebo conditions Undergo measurements of physiological responses, including blood glucose, blood lactate, heart rate, oxygen consumption, and respiratory exchange ratio Have exercise performance assessed through measures of power output during cycling
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo
Placebo Supplementation
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTSupplement
Ecklonia Cava Supplementation
Sponsors
University of Exeter
Kingston University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* experienced in cycling (defined as completing at least four hours of cycle training per week with a minimum of two years of experience)
Exclusion criteria
* Smoker * cardiovascular disease * anti-hypertensive medication
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Power Output During Sprint Performance (Watts) | Immediately after the 60-minute submaximal cycling protocol, 30 minutes after supplementation | Peak power output achieved during 20-second maximal sprint efforts performed following a fixed-intensity (55% Wmax) 60-minute cycling protocol |
| Mean Power Output During Sprint Performance (Watts) | Immediately after the 60-minute submaximal cycling protocol, 30 minutes after supplementation | Mean power output recorded during repeated 20-second maximal sprint efforts following steady-state cycling |
| Blood Lactate Concentration During Sprint Cycling (mmol/L) | Repeated sprint cycling (3) completed immediately after the 60-minute submaximal cycling protocol, a blood sample taken 2 minutes after each sprint cycling bout. Following each 30-minute supplementation protocol. | Blood lactate concentration measured following each repeated sprint efforts (3) |
| Blood Glucose Concentration During Sprint Cycling (mmol/L) | Repeated sprint cycling (3) completed immediately after the 60-minute submaximal cycling protocol, a blood sample taken 2 minutes after each sprint cycling bout. Following each 30-minute supplementation protocol. | Blood glucose concentration measured following repeated sprint efforts |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate During Submaximal Cycling (beats per minute) | During the 60-minute submaximal cycling protocol, 30 minutes after supplementation (each condition) | Average heart rate measured during a 60-minute steady-state cycling protocol performed at 55% maximal power output |
| Blood Lactate Concentration During Submaximal Cycling (mmol/L) | Every 20-minutes during the 60-minute submaximal cycling protocol, 30 minutes after supplementation | Blood lactate concentration measured during steady-state cycling at 55% maximal power output |
| Blood Glucose Concentration During Submaximal Cycling (mmol/L) | Every 20-minutes during the 60-minute submaximal cycling protocol, 30 minutes after supplementation | Blood glucose concentration measured during steady-state cycling at 55% maximal power output |
| Oxygen Consumption (VO₂) During Submaximal Cycling (ml/kg/min) | During the 60-minute submaximal cycling protocol, 30 minutes after supplementation | Oxygen consumption measured using indirect calorimetry during steady-state cycling |
| Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) During Submaximal Cycling | During the 60-minute submaximal cycling protocol, 30 minutes after supplementation | Respiratory exchange ratio measured during steady-state cycling using expired gas analysis |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed