Effects of Octacosanol During Taekwondo Training

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Taekwondo players undergo rapid reductions of body weight prior to their competition in order to gain a size advantage over the opponent. However, these large weight changes with concomitant high intensity exercise training induce poor lipid profiles and high levels of oxidative stress, which can be detrimental to health and sports performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of the nutritional supplement octacosanol to combat the physiological detriments that can occur from these rapid weight changes paired with high intensity exercise training.

Detailed Description
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Athletes that participate in weight division sports such as taekwondo, boxing, judo, and wrestling regularly reduce their body weight severely prior to competition in order to gain a size advantage over the opponent while simultaneously meeting their weight division requirements. In general, athletes have acute weight loss of 4-7 kg within 3-4 days of competition, while longer periods of more gradual weight loss of 15-22 kg lasting 3-4 weeks. Although this kind of extreme weight loss can induce metabolic dysfunction, it is repeatedly performed by athletes of weight division sports in order to acquire a more advantageous condition for play. Furthermore, athletes participating in matches tend to obtain excessive weights compared to their weight division during the offseason in order to lift heavier weights during training, and then rapidly lose that weight over a short period of time prior to competition, resulting in the deterioration of physiological function and possibly sports performance. Rapid weight loss with high intensity exercise training also increases oxygen free radical production to a point that exceeds the defense mechanism of antioxidant enzymes in the body and ultimately results in damage to the cells, specifically, the lipid peroxidation of cell membranes. Not only does this decrease physiological function, but sports performance can also decrease as oxidative stress increases due to an interference in metabolic activity, a reduction in vascular function and an increase in systemic inflammation. Octacosanol, a straight-chain, high-molecular-weight, primary aliphatic alcohol minimally contained in the germinal disks of rice bran, wheat and sugar cane, may be able to prevent these deteriorations as it has been shown to provide various health benefits. In fact, previous studies reported that pre-exercise octacosanol intake contributed to enhanced muscular strength, muscular endurance and oxygen transport ability. Additionally, octacosanol supplementation has been shown to improve cardiovascular endurance and heart function in patients with peripheral artery disease, improve levels of low-density and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in patients with hypercholesterolemia, and increase glycogen accumulation in mice9. However, the potential beneficial effects of octacosanol intake for reducing free radical production and preventing detrimental physiological function from excessive weight loss with high intensity exercise has not been examined. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of octacosanol supplementation during acute weight loss with high-intensity exercise training on lipid profiles and markers of oxidative stress in taekwondo players.

Official Title
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Octacosanol Supplementation Improves Lipid Profiles and Oxidative Stress During Rapid Weight Loss and High-Intensity Exercise in Taekwondo Athletes

Conditions
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Oxidative Stress, Dyslipidemias

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Octacosanol
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: at least 3 years of experience in national taekwondo competitions abstain from caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and antioxidant supplements during the whole period of the study Exclusion Criteria: no history of chronic use of antioxidants, chronic aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) No cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic or renal diseases no musculoskeletal injuries

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 17 Years
Maximum Age: 19 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Octacosanol<br>Two capsules (20-mg x 2) of 100% refined octacosanol powder from sugar cane (Swanson, Fargo ND, USA) was consumed daily by the octacosanol group for six days, one capsule 30 minutes after morning and afternoon meals. | Dietary Supplement: Octacosanol<br>* One capsules (20-mg) of 100% refined octacosanol powder from sugar cane (Swanson, Fargo ND, USA) was consumed twice a day<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>A placebo pill was taken twice daily in replacement of the octacosanol supplement | Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br>* A placebo pill was taken twice a day in a double-blinded method at the same frequency and time as the octacosanol supplement<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Triglycerides | Plasma triglyceride levels | 6 days | 
| Total Cholesterol | Plasma total cholesterol levels | 6 days | 
| High-density Lipoprotein | Plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein | 6 days | 
| Low-density Lipoprotein | Plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein | 6 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Malondialdehyde | Plasma levels of malondialdehyde | 6 days | 
| Superoxide Dismutase | Plasma levels of superoxide dismutase | 6 days | 
| Glutathione Peroxidase | Plasma levels of glutathione peroxidase | 6 days | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Octacosanol, Taekwondo, Lipid Profiles, Oxidative Stress