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Exercise can cause muscle damage, leading to a loss in muscle function, increased muscle soreness and inflammation. Evidence supports the use of nutritional strategies to help recovery. Spirulina is a type of algae. It is eaten as a food supplement as it is full of micronutrients, some which provide anti-inflammatory benefits. This work will assess the impact of taking spirulina supplements on recovery from hard exercise. Investigators will measure changes in muscle function, soreness and markers of inflammation.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirulina supplement | Experimental | 3g of spirulina supplement three times daily for 5 days. |
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| Placebo supplement | Placebo Comparator | macronutrient matched placebo supplement three times daily for 5 days. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirulina supplement | Dietary Supplement | Participants consume a 3g spirulina supplement 3 times daily for 5 consecutive days. |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Measure changes in the concentration of blood plasma inflammatory markers via immunoassay. | Blood plasma inflammatory markers will be measured before (baseline) and after eccentric exercise (at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post eccentric exercise) in both the spirulina and placebo group. Inflammatory markers that will be assessed include: interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL) -1β, -4, -6, -10, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) via immunoassay (pg/mL). | Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Measure changes in muscle function of the quadriceps using knee extensor peak isometric torque on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer. | Knee extensor peak isometric torque (three maximal isometric contractions at 75◦ of knee flexion) will be measured before (baseline) and after eccentric exercise (at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post eccentric exercise) in both the spirulina and placebo group to report recovery of peak isometric torque (N). Testing will be performed on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, US). |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Wall, Prof | Contact | +441392724774 | b.t.wall@exeter.ac.uk |
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Exeter | Recruiting | Exeter | United Kingdom |
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| Eccentric exercise | Procedure | On the morning of Day 3 (where Day 1 is when participants start taking supplements), participants perform a single bout of eccentric exercise. The exercise protocol is performed on a single leg and involves 300 (10 sets of 30 repetitions separated by 120 seconds) voluntary maximal, isokinetic, eccentric contractions of the knee extensor. Exercise is performed using a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA), and contractions are performed at 60◦/s over an 80◦ range of motion. |
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| Placebo supplement | Dietary Supplement | Participants consume a macronutrient matched placebo supplement 3 times daily for 5 consecutive days. |
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| Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period. |
| Measure changes in muscle function of the quadriceps using knee extensor total isokinetic work on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer. | Knee extensor total isokinetic work (area under the torque-time curve after 30 maximal, concentric, isokinetic knee extensor contractions performed at 75◦/s through an 80◦ range of motion) will be measured before (baseline) and after eccentric exercise (at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post eccentric exercise) in both the spirulina and placebo group to report recovery of total isokinetic work (N.s). Testing will be performed on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, US). | Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period. |
| Measure changes in perceived lower body muscle soreness via visual analogue scale questionnaire. | Perceived lower body muscle soreness will be measured before (baseline) and after eccentric exercise (at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post eccentric exercise) in both the spirulina and placebo group to report recovery of muscle. Participants will stand from a seated position and rate the corresponding sensation of lower body muscle soreness on a 100-mm visual analogue scale anchored by 'no pain' at 0 mm and 'worst possible pain' at 100 mm. | Measurements take place across a 6 day experimental period. |