An interventional study of Rooibos tea and Control in Inflammation, Muscle Recovery and Muscle Soreness, sponsored by Hasselt University. Completed at 1 site in Belgium. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 30 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-08-20.
Sponsored by Hasselt University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Exercise has been found to exert beneficial effect on overall health. However, it also induces muscle damage at the same time. This then leads to muscle pain, temporary inflammation and reduced muscle function. These symptoms can persist for up to 72 hours after physical exertion and thus have a negative impact on a speedy recovery. Research has previously shown that antioxidants play an important role in muscle recovery after physical exertion. For example, antioxidants are known to have a positive effect on muscle damage and muscle soreness, and they also provide an anti-inflammatory effect. An important group of antioxidants are the flavonoids, which are abundantly present in rooibos (aspalathus linearis) tea. Previous research has shown that rooibos tea has a performance-enhancing effect during physical exertion. Despite these positive findings during physical exertion, the effect of rooibos tea on muscle recovery is not yet well known. Moreover, the effects of antioxidants during and after physical exertion have almost only been studied in men. Therefore, the current study will investigate the effects of rooibos tea on inflammation, muscle damage and muscle pain in a female population, and whether the muscle recovery capacity can ultimately be accelerated.
On volunteers initial visit to the lab, they will be screened to assess their inclusion using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Those who qualify for the study will be informed of the detailed procedures of the study. If they still decide to participate, they will be asked to read and sign the informed consent form. They will be asked to avoid taking NSAIDS during the course of the study. Participants will also be asked to refrain from the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods, drinks and supplements for 7 days prior to the test day. During the second visit (test day), baseline data such as body composition, anthropometrical variables, inflammatory markers (creatine kinase, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6), perceived muscle soreness and recover, and the quadriceps muscle functioning will be measured. The test will be done in the morning between 8:00 and 12:00 noon. To standardize the metabolic state of the participant during the testing sessions they will not be required to eat for at least two hours before testing. Moreover, participants will be required not to take caffeinated drinks and alcohol at least 12 hours before testing and not do any vigorous activities that have a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) more than (>) 12 on the Borg scale or any unusual exercise at least 24 hours before testing.
Participants will perform an 8 min warm-up of brisk walking on a treadmill (4-7 kph). They will then be subjected to the BIODEX exercise protocol. The protocol is composed of two exercise bouts (A and B), each of which comprises of 15 series of 12 maximum intermittent knee extensions conducted using the right leg on an isokinetic dynamometer with a 60 min break in between. During the 60 min break, the participants will cycle at 100 W on a bicycle ergometer (Monark) for 15 min in between bouts A and B, and then they rested in a semi-supine position for the next 45 min until bout B began. After completion of the exercise protocol, each participant will be asked to step down a total of four times from a bench 30.45 cm (1 ft.) high, alternating the leading leg between attempts to have each leg lead twice to assess the perceived muscle soreness using a 100-point visual analogue scale (VAS).
Participants will then be randomised into two (2) groups; the Aspalathus linearis group (AG) and the control group (CG). Participants will be asked to return after 24, 48 and 72 hours of the exercise. During each visit, the baseline measurements, perceived muscle soreness and muscle recovery will be repeated.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants in the AG will consume the test drink (12 g per 1200 ml of pure green rooibos tea). Participants will be asked to return after 24, 48 and 72 hours of the exercise. During each visit, the baseline measurements, perceived muscle soreness and muscle recovery will be repeated.
Other: Rooibos tea
Participants in the control group will be asked to drink 1200 ml of water since rooibos has a very unique taste
Other: Control
Participants will be subjected to 12 g of rooibos tea per 1200 ml of freshly boiled water
Participants will be subjected to 12 g per 1200 ml of freshly boiled water which is equivalent to 6 cups of tea
Change in Serum creatine kinase from Baseline to 72 hours
Blood samples will be collected at baseline and 72 hours
Time frame: Baseline and 72 hours
Change in perceived muscle soreness from Baseline to 72 hours
A 10 point analogue scale will be used to assess the muscle soreness. The ratings on the scale are 0 = "no soreness or pain", 2 = "mild annoying pain", 4 = "Nagging, uncomfortable troublesome pain", 6 = "Distressing, miserable pain", 8 = "Intense, dreadful pain", and 10 = "the worst possible, unbearable, excruciating pain"
Time frame: Baseline and 72 hours
Change in perceived muscle recovery from Baseline to 72 hours
The perceived exercise recovery will be assessed using the Perceived recovery status (PRS) scale. The PRS scale rates recovery from exercise from 1 to 10 with 1-3 representing poor recovery and anticipating poor performance, 4-6 consisting of moderate recovery and expecting normal performance, and 7-10 representing high recovery and expecting increased performance
Time frame: Baseline and 72 hours
Change in Tumor Necrosis Factor -alpha (TNF-α) from Baseline to 72 hours
Blood samples will be collected at Baseline and 72 hours
Time frame: Baseline and 72 hours
Change in interleukin-6 (IL-6) from Baseline to 72 hours
Blood samples will be collected at Baseline and 72 hours
Time frame: Baseline and 72 Hours
Change in swelling at the quadriceps muscle from Baseline to 72 hours
Quadriceps muscle swelling will be assessed using the thigh circumference measurement. The thigh circumference measurement will be done using the tape measure and performed to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. Two measurements within two millimeters of each other will be completed and averaged at each time point
Time frame: Baseline and 72 hours
Change in quadriceps contractile muscle functioning from Baseline to 72 hours
Quadriceps contractile muscle functioning will be assessed using vertical jump test. Squat jumps will be executed with both hands clasped together firmly behind the back to minimize arm assistance for uniformity after warming up with 12 squat jumps of rising height. The participants will be told to keep their trunks as erect as they could
Time frame: Baseline and 72 hours
Plan to share: Yes — All Individual Participant Data (IPD) that will be published will be shared
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf
This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Hasselt University