The Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant (NZBC) Supplementation on Recovery Following Strenuous Exercise

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study aims to examine the effect of a New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) supplement on markers of muscle damage and recovery following strenuous resistance exercise. The investigation will compare responses between an experimental (NZBC capsule, 300 mg/day) and placebo (PLA capsule, 300 mg sugar) group. Participants will attend a screening session where they will consent to the study, complete a pre-activity medical questionnaire and have their height, weight and resting blood pressure measured. If the participants meet the inclusion criteria they will perform a familarisation session on the muscle strength assessment. Participants will be randomized to NZBC or placebo groups, and consume one capsule in the morning (between 6-10 am) for 12 days. This is a double-blinded study, which means that the participant and the study team will not know which group the participants are assigned to until the study is over. On day 8 participants will perform a strenuous bout of upper body resistance exercise on the isokinetic dynamometer (exercise device). Muscle strength and soreness, arm circumference, and elbow range of motion will be measured, and a fasted blood sample will be collected, before and 24, 48, 72 & 96 hours after the muscle fatigue protocol (on days 9, 10, 11 & 12). A marker of muscle damage (creatine kinase [CK] concentration) will be measured in the blood samples. Participants will also be asked to complete a 6-day dietary record, beginning on day 7 and ending on the final day of testing (day 12).

Official Title
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The Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant (NZBC) Supplementation on Indices of Muscle Damage Following Strenuous Exercise

Conditions
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Muscle Damage

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: New Zealand blackcurrants (NZBC)
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo (PLA)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Males and Females 18 - 45 years old BMI: 19 - 29.9 kg/m2 Healthy: no active disease process that could interfere with endpoints measured as determined by medical history Exclusion Criteria: Smoking and tobacco use Takes medication [excluding contraception] BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 Hypertensive (diastolic > 90 and/or systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg) History of musculoskeletal upper limb injuries Performs regular resistance exercise (> 2 sessions per week) Uses dietary supplements that could influence muscle recovery or function (e.g. protein supplements, antioxidants etc)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Randomised, parallel design.
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: New Zealand blackcurrants (NZBC)<br>1 NZBC capsule (containing 300 mg active cassis containing 105 mg of anthocyanins, i.e. 35-50 % delphinidin-3-rutinoside, 5-20 % delphinidin-3-glucoside, 30-45 % cyanidin-3-rutinoside, 3-10 % cyanidin-3-glucoside), consumed in the morning, for 12 days. | Dietary Supplement: New Zealand blackcurrants (NZBC)<br>* NZBC capsules containing anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract<br>* Other names: NZBC extract supplement (Health Currancy Ltd [UK] / CurraNZ Ltd [NZ]);|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo (PLA)<br>1 placebo capsule (containing 300 mg microcrystalline cellulose M102), consumed in the morning, for 12 days. | Dietary Supplement: Placebo (PLA)<br>* Placebo capsules containing microcrystalline cellulose<br>* Other names: Placebo capsules;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in creatine kinase (CK) concentration at 72 hours post-exercise | Serum biomarker for muscle damage | At baseline (pre-exercise) and 72 hours post-exercise. | 
| Change from baseline in creatine kinase (CK) concentration at 96 hours post-exercise | Serum biomarker for muscle damage | At baseline (pre-exercise) and 96 hours post-exercise.. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise | Muscle function measure; maximal voluntary isometric contraction (torque, Nm) performed on isokinetic dynamometer | At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively). | 
| Change in rating of Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness (DOMS) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise | Self-reported perception of muscle soreness using a visual analogue scale (VAS), from 'no soreness' [0 mm] on the left anchor point to 'extremely sore' [100 mm] on the right | At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively). | 
| Change in joint range of motion (ROM) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise | Elbow ROM measured using a goniometer | At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively). | 
| Change in mid arm circumference (MAC) from baseline to 96 hours post-exercise | Mid-upper arm circumference measured at the midpoint of the distance from the acromion process (acromiale) to the olecranon process (radiale). | At baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise time points (at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively). | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Exercise-induced muscle damage, Recovery, Supplementation, Oxidative stress, Anthocyanin, New Zealand blackcurrant