Clinical trial NCT03929575: Effects of Herbal Supplements on Endurance Exercise Performance
Official title: Effects of Herbal Supplements on Endurance Exercise Performance
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Exercise Performance
Lead sponsor: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-04-29
Enrollment: 13
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: Blocked-randomized, crossover design
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Cordyceps and Rhodiola are two common herbal supplements marketed and consumed as adaptogens to athletes with regard to enhanced performance. The effects of these supplements has been well studied in animals but whether or not the same effects translate to humans is still unclear. Thus, the primary purpose of this study is to determine whether combined supplementation of Rhodiola and Cordyceps, compared to Rhodiola alone and placebo, will demonstrate a greater improvement in oxygen consumption (ie. VO2 max).

Detailed description: Herbal supplements are consumed worldwide with surveys approximating five billion dollars spent annually by consumers in the United States alone. Herbal supplements, such as Rhodiola and Cordyceps, both of which are considered to be adaptogens, remain popular among athletes. These adaptogens act as antioxidants, which have been speculated to confer endurance performance benefits by delaying muscle fatigue via the attenuation of muscle damage accumulation and its related by-products during prolonged or exhaustive exercise. Nevertheless, previous research investigating the individual effects of Rhodiola and Cordyceps on aerobic training performance remain equivocal. Moreover, literature elucidating the potential additive effects of Rhodiola and Cordyceps in human subjects are scarce. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to determine the acute, additive influence of oral Rhodiola and Cordyceps supplementation on VO2 max, with secondary variables of interest being plasma glucose and lactate concentration, and measures of gastrointestinal distress.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Body Mass Index between 18.5 and 35 kg/m\^2
* Non-smoking (assessed by Health History Questionnaire)
* English-speaking
* Regular participation in physical activity (\>4 hours per week)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Medical conditions that prohibit physical activity (assessed by Health History Questionnaire)
* Pregnant women or women expecting/trying to become pregnant
* BMI greater than or equal to 35 kg/m\^2
* Current smoker (assessed by Health History Questionnaire)

Primary outcomes:
measure: VO2 max
timeFrame: 90 minutes after baseline
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Gastrointestinal symptoms questionnaire
timeFrame: Baseline, 90 minutes, 110 minutes
measure: Blood glucose
timeFrame: Baseline, 90 minutes, 110 minutes
measure: Blood lactate
timeFrame: Baseline, 90 minutes, 110 minutes
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: San Luis Obispo
country: United States
facility: California Polytechnic State University
state: California
Study officials:
affiliation: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
name: Todd Hagobian, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: