An interventional study of N-acetylcysteine and Placebo in Skeletal Muscle Damage, Exercise-induced Aseptic Inflammation and Skeletal Muscle Performance, sponsored by University of Thessaly. Completed at 1 site in Greece. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 28 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-08-21.
Sponsored by University of Thessaly · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
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.
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.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participated in daily training sessions and three games, and supplemented daily with N-acetylcysteine, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening),for seven consecutive days.
Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine
Participated in daily training sessions and three games, and supplemented daily with Placebo, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Participated in daily training sessions only and supplemented daily with N-acetylcysteine, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening),for seven consecutive days.
Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine
Participated in daily training sessions only and supplemented daily with Placebo, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), at 20 mg/kg/day, for seven consecutive days.
Also known as: NAC
500 mL drink that contained water (375 mL), sugar-free cordial (125 ml), and 2 g of low-calorie glucose/dextrose powder. Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.
Change in total antioxidant capacity in serum
Time frame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
Change in protein carbonyls in serum
Time frame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
Change in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in serum
Time frame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
Change in reduced glutathione in red blood cells
Time frame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
Change in oxidized glutathione in red blood cells
Time frame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
Change in creatine kinase in activity in plasma
Time frame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
Change in white blood cell count in blood
Time frame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
Change in repeated sprint ability
Players' repeated sprint ability was assessed via a repeared sprint test. Each player performed 5 x 30 meters sprints interspersed by 25 seconds of active recovery. Sprint time was recorded by using infrared photoelectrical gates.
Time frame: At baseline and daily throughout the study, up to 11 days
Change in high intensity running during the game
High intensity running (i.e. \> 14km/h) during the games was monitored by utilizing high time-resolution GPS devices.
Time frame: During games 1, 2 and 3
Change in blood lactate concentration during the game
Time frame: During games 1, 2 and 3
Change in average heart rate during the game
Time frame: During games 1, 2 and 3
This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2020. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Thessaly