An interventional study of Vegetable oil and Krill oil in Sarcopenia, sponsored by University of Glasgow. Recruiting at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 65 Years to 90 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-01.
Sponsored by University of Glasgow · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
This study aims to determine the mechanisms via which krill oil supplementation increases muscle strength and whether this translates to improvements in gait and functional characteristics in older adults. The studies we will carry out will establish, in healthy older adults, the effects of 6 months of supplementation with krill oil
Objective 1) Muscle structure and function Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will increase muscle size and strength alongside positive changes in muscle architecture (pennation angle and fascicle length).
Objective 2) Neuromuscular control and central nervous system (CNS) function Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will improve Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) transmission stability and increase central drive and intramuscular coherence, as a measure of muscle synergy.
Objective 3) Gait and functional characteristics Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will improve gait and functional characteristics.
1,329 studies on the registry are indexed under Sarcopenia; 420 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 80 is above the median of 60 across 855 interventional studies indexed under Sarcopenia.
Browse Sarcopenia studies →University of Glasgow is the lead sponsor of 145 studies on the registry; 21 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
4g/day vegetable oil for 24 weeks
Dietary Supplement: Vegetable oil
4/g/day krill oil for 24 weeks
Dietary Supplement: Krill oil
mixed vegetable oil
Krill oil
Also known as: (SuperbaBoost)
Grip strength
We will measure grip strength using a handgrip dynamometer, making 3 maximal contractions in each hand, with the dominant hand recorded. The highest grip strength will be used in analysis.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Neuromuscular junction transmission instability
We will assess peripheral motor unit (MU) characteristics in the vastus lateralis muscle using intramuscular electromyography
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Gait speed
We will measure gait speed using a gaitrite connected mat during a 4 m walk test and the timed up and go test at usual speed.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Knee extensor maximal torque
We will measure the muscle strength of the knee extensor muscles during a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis muscle cross sectional area
We will measure this using ultrasound
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis pennation angle
We will measure this using ultrasound
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis fascicle length
We will measure this using ultrasound
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Erythrocyte fatty acid composition
Blood samples (15 ml each visit) will be collected
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Knee extensor force steadiness
During the contractions to measure NMJ transmission instability we will also calculate force steadiness, as a measure of neuromuscular control
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis motor unit conduction velocity
will be measured using High Density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) during submaximal (10%, 30%, 50% and 70% of MVC) and during the MVC
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis and vastus medialis intramuscular coherence
Motor unit spike train will be measured using the surface electromyography (sEMG) electrodes while participants exert 20% of maximum voluntary contraction
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Hand flexor muscles intermuscular coherence
Intermuscular coherence will be measured for 1 min on 20% of MVC using sEMG electrodes.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Cortico-muscular coherence between sensory motor cortex and hand extensor muscles
Cortico-muscular coherence is a derived measure, based on measurement of the electroencephalography (EEG) and motor unit spikes. EEG electrodes will be placed over the motor area of hands and worn during hand contractions
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Femoral Nerve Stimulation
Single stimuli will be delivered to the muscle while participants maintain a 20% MVC isometric contraction, and the intensity of stimulation was increased until a plateau in twitch amplitude and rectus femoris M-wave (Mmax) occurs. Supramaximal stimulation will then be delivered by increasing the final stimulator output intensity by a further 30%.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) will be elicited in the rectus femoris of the dominant leg via single pulse TMS and assessed using electromyographic (EMG) recordings.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
TMS Inhibition
corticomotor inhibition during the MVCs a single TMS stimulation will be delivered over the motor cortex.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
TMS Excitation
For assessment of corticospinal excitability, participants will maintain a 20% MVC isometric contraction while 20 single TMS pulses, separated by 6 s, will be delivered over the motor cortex
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Gait characteristics during 4m walk test and the timed up and go test
The 4 m walk test involves participants walking a 4m distance at a normal walking pace, walking through the 4m line at the end of the gaitrite mat. The Timed Up and Go test (timed version of the Get Up and Go test) involves the participant sitting on a chair getting up, walking 3 meters in front of them across the gaitrite mat, returning to the chair and sitting down. The Theia markerless system will be used to extract Gait parameters
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Gait cycle with leg support parameters
We will also get posture information from the 3D skeleton measurements and balance (pitch and roll) which are important in assessing fall risks and functional gait.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Plan to share: No
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Studies of the drug tested here: Krill oil