Clinical trial NCT04523675: NAC Supplementation and Soccer Specific Performance
Official title: Effects of NAC Supplementation on Immune Function, Inflammatory and Performance Responses of Elite Soccer Players Participated in Three Repetitive Games.
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Skeletal Muscle Damage
Exercise-induced Aseptic Inflammation
Skeletal Muscle Performance
Antioxidant Status
Lead sponsor: University of Thessaly
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-08-21
Enrollment: 40
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 28
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: In this investigation the investigators utilized NAC supplementation to boost GSH availability during an one-week-microcycle consisting of three soccer games, in order to test the hypotheses that: i) antioxidant supplementation may enhance the recovery of performance and physiological stress variables following multiple match-plays and ii) redox status perturbations are critical in regulating the inflammatory response and repair in skeletal muscle, following repetitive exercise-induced muscle injuries.

Detailed description: After exercise-induced muscle microtrauma the thiol/disulfide couple of reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) is a key regulator of important transcriptional pathways that control the inflammatory response and recovery of skeletal muscle.

The objective was to examine how thiol-based antioxidant supplementation affects the muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammatory and immune responses, as well as the level of post-game fatigue and muscle's recovery kinetics in response to three soccer games within a week. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: i) Experimental-NAC \[EXP-NAC, N=10, participated in daily training sessions and three games and received NAC (20 mg/kg/day)\], ii) Experimental-Placebo (EXP-Pla, N=10, participated in daily training sessions and three games and received Placebo), iii) Control-NAC \[CON-NAC, N=10, participated in daily training sessions only and received NAC(20 mg/kg/day)\] and iv) Control-Placebo (CON-Pla, N=10, participated in daily training sessions only and received Placebo). Blood samples were collected at baseline, post-games and daily during recovery. Performance was assessed at baseline and daily during recovery.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Participation at elite level (top three division leagues) of soccer competition for at least five years
* Abstained from consumption of performance-enhancing supplements, antioxidant supplements and medications (for at least 6 months before and during the study)
* Participation in at least six two-hour training sessions and one match per week
* Non-smokers

Exclusion Criteria:

* A known NAC intolerance or allergy
* A recent febrile illness
* History of muscle lesion
* Lower limb trauma
* Metabolic diseases

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in total antioxidant capacity in serum
timeFrame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
measure: Change in protein carbonyls in serum
timeFrame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
measure: Change in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in serum
timeFrame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
measure: Change in reduced glutathione in red blood cells
timeFrame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
measure: Change in oxidized glutathione in red blood cells
timeFrame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
measure: Change in creatine kinase in activity in plasma
timeFrame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
measure: Change in white blood cell count in blood
timeFrame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
measure: Change in repeated sprint ability
timeFrame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
measure: Change in high intensity running during the game
timeFrame: During games 1, 2 and 3
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in blood lactate concentration during the game
timeFrame: During games 1, 2 and 3
measure: Change in average heart rate during the game
timeFrame: During games 1, 2 and 3
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Tríkala
country: Greece
facility: Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Physical Education & Sports Sciences, University of Thessaly
Study officials:
affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY, SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION & SPORTS SCIENCES
name: IOANNIS G FATOUROS, Ph.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: