Clinical trial NCT04370353: Impact of Cocoa Flavanols on Pulmonary Oxygen Uptake Kinetics and Exercise Tolerance in Sedentary Middle-aged Adults
Official title: Investigating the Impact of Cocoa Flavanol Supplementation on Pulmonary Oxygen Uptake Kinetics and Exercise Tolerance in Sedentary Middle-aged Adults
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Aging
Sedentary Behavior
Lead sponsor: Liverpool John Moores University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-04-30
Enrollment: 18
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 35
Maximum age (years): 55
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: In recent years, there has been significant interest in dietary flavonoids (biologically active plant-derived compounds) as potential therapeutics. This is due to the capacity of flavonoids to enhance processes related to energy metabolism and cardiovascular health. We are interested in implementing a short-term supplementation regime (daily cocoa-flavanoid ingestion), in order to explore the possible beneficial effects of flavonoid-based interventions on responses to exercise. Hence, the objective of our study is to examine the impact of short term cocoa-flavanoid supplementation on processes related to energy use (oxygen utilisation). Our aim is to develop a novel intervention which improves cardiovascular health and enhances exercise tolerance.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged 35-55 years
* Healthy (no known cardiovascular or metabolic disorders e.g. diabetes)
* Do not engage in regular structured physical training (i.e. less than two sessions for 60 minutes per week, for at least 1 year

Exclusion Criteria:

* Smokers
* Medical history of cardiovascular and/or metabolic disease, including diabetes and abnormal blood pressure
* Family history of cardiovascular disease
* Currently taking any medication
* Asthmatic
* Currently suffering from musculoskeletal injury
* Younger than 35 or older than 55 years old
* Known food allergies or special dietary requirements
* Currently taking any dietary supplements
* Currently engaging in \>2 hours structured training per week

Primary outcomes:
measure: Oxygen uptake kinetics
timeFrame: Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Oxygen uptake measured for 9 minutes continuously during exercise bouts (3 min warm up period and 6 minutes of exercise transition)
measure: Exercise tolerance
timeFrame: Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention).
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Heart rate
timeFrame: Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Measured during the length of each exercise transition (9 minutes for each moderate intensity bout).
measure: Blood pressure
timeFrame: Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Measured over 5 minutes before any exercise testing.
measure: Blood lactate
timeFrame: Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Measured immediately before and after exercise
measure: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour
timeFrame: Over 3 week period (In the 6 days preceding experimental testing)
measure: Perceived workload
timeFrame: Over 3 week period (After 7 days of each intervention). Measured immediately before and after exercise
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Liverpool
country: United Kingdom
facility: Research Institute for Sport & Exercise Sciences
Study officials:
References:
citation: Sadler DG, Draijer R, Stewart CE, Jones H, Marwood S, Thijssen DHJ. Cocoa-flavanols enhance moderate-intensity pulmonary V O 2 kinetics but not exercise tolerance in sedentary middle-aged adults. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021 Aug;121(8):2285-2294. doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04682-9. Epub 2021 May 10.