Clinical trial NCT02886130: Alpha-GPC and Physical and Cognitive Performances in Volleyball Players.
Official title: Effects of Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine on Physical and Cognitive Performances in Varsity Volleyball Players
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Athletic Performance
Keywords: Alpha-GPC
Volleyball
Athletes
Executive functions
Vertical jump
Peak power
Lead sponsor: Université de Montréal
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2016-09-01
Enrollment: 28
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 19
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: In order to attain the elite level on the national scene, volleyball players need several attributes. In addition to mastering technical and tactical skills, great jumping ability is another important asset. Maximal power output needed to achieve height during a jump necessitates coordinated neuromuscular recruitment and muscle mass among others. Interestingly, there are claims that alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (A-GPC) increases acetylcholine synthesis and enhances exercise-induced increases in plasma growth hormone concentrations, two factors that could theoretically be associated neuromuscular transmission and muscle mass.

However, until now only a few studies have investigated the role of A-GPC in human exercise performance. Published results were mixed. One recent study showed that isometric peak force was slightly but significantly increased when subjects had ingested a daily dose of 600 mg of A-GPC over a period of 6 days (Bellar et al., JISSN, 2015).

The objective of our study is to evaluate the longer-term effects (4 weeks) using a higher dose (1000 mg/day) of A-GPC on jumping capabilities in elite male and female volleyball players.

Detailed description: Our study design will be a placebo controlled, randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Varsity male and female volleyball players (n=28) will each be asked to participate in both arms of the study, i.e. placebo and A-GPC (1000 mg/kg/day). The duration of each arm of the study will be 4 weeks separated by a 7-day washout period. The order of treatment (placebo or A-GPC) will be determined randomly. Athletes will be asked to maintain their training load during the duration of the experiment.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Be a competitive varsity volleyball player

Exclusion Criteria:

* Regular consumption of alpha-GPC within the last 4 months
* Receiving drug treatment except 1) contraception (pill), and 2) treatment against asthma

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in countermovement jump performance at 4 weeks
timeFrame: Assessments at week 0 and at week 4 of supplementation or placebo
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in vertical jump - run up at 4 weeks
timeFrame: Assessments at week 0 and at week 4 of supplementation or placebo
measure: Executive function
timeFrame: After 4 weeks of supplementation or placebo
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Montreal
country: Canada
facility: CEPSUM (Centre d'éducation physique et des sports de l'université de Montréal)
state: Quebec
Study officials:
affiliation: Université de Montréal
name: Samuel St-Arnaud, B.Sc
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Université de Montréal
name: Raynald Bergeron, Ph.D
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
affiliation: Université de Montréal
name: Jonathan Tremblay, Ph.D
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
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