An interventional study of Juçara and Placebo group in Juçara Supplementatios After Muscle Damage, sponsored by Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Completed at 1 site in Brazil. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 40 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-13.
Sponsored by Universidade Federal de Santa Maria · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
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The purpose of this study is to find out if taking a natural supplement made from the Juçara fruit (a Brazilian berry rich in antioxidants called anthocyanins) can help the body recover faster after damage caused by exercise. Researchers want to see if Juçara can reduce muscle soreness and help muscles regain their strength and quality more quickly compared to a placebo (a "dummy" pill with no active ingredients).
What happens during the study? The study included 24 healthy, active men. It was a "crossover" study, meaning every participant tried both the Juçara supplement and the placebo at different times.
Supplement Phase: Participants took 12 capsules a day for 7 days.
Muscle Damage Test: To cause temporary muscle damage, participants performed a specific jumping protocol (100 maximal jumps).
Recovery Monitoring: Researchers tracked the participants for 72 hours after the jumps to measure:
How high they could jump (strength/performance).
Muscle soreness (using a pain scale).
Muscle "quality" and stiffness (using ultrasound imaging).
Wait Period: After the first phase, participants waited 14 days (washout) before switching to the other supplement to repeat the process.
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria is the lead sponsor of 37 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
The sample consisted of 24 healthy, physically active men with any kind of experience in any physical exercise modality. Eligibility criteria were as follows: (1) male, aged 18-40 years; (2) physically active, defined as performing at least three exercise sessions per week according to IPAQ questionnaire; (3) no history at lower-limb within the previous six months; (4) no medical restrictions for maximal exercise testing; (5) no allergy to red fruits; (6) no physical, cognitive and/or psychological limitations affecting the execution or understanding of the protocol; (7) no history of lower-limb surgery; (8) no use nutritional supplements within 30 days prior to study initiation; and (9) abstention from caffeine, cacao, yerba mate tea, and soft drinks during the study protocol.
Dietary Supplement: Juçara
The sample consisted of 24 healthy, physically active men with any kind of experience in any physical exercise modality. Eligibility criteria were as follows: (1) male, aged 18-40 years; (2) physically active, defined as performing at least three exercise sessions per week according to IPAQ questionnaire; (3) no history at lower-limb within the previous six months; (4) no medical restrictions for maximal exercise testing; (5) no allergy to red fruits; (6) no physical, cognitive and/or psychological limitations affecting the execution or understanding of the protocol; (7) no history of lower-limb surgery; (8) no use nutritional supplements within 30 days prior to study initiation; and (9) abstention from caffeine, cacao, yerba mate tea, and soft drinks during the study protocol.
Dietary Supplement: Placebo group
Total of 11 separate occasions under the Juçara condition. A familiarization session of CMJ and EIMD protocol (10 sets of CMJ repetitions with 1-minute rest between sets) was performed, followed by a 14-day washout period. During this visit, volunteers' descriptive data were assessed. On day 1 of this condition (72h pre EIMD), body mass was obtained, and participants received the supplementation (Juçara) to be consumed for 7 days (one capsule every 12 h). On day 2, the CSA from QUAD and HAMS, elastography from vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris long head (BFlh) of the dominant limb, and the CMJ performance were assessed. After that, participants performed the EIMD protocol. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 24 h (day 3), 48 h (day 4), and 72 h (day 5) post-EIMD, repeating the same measurements. A 14-day washout period separated the two interventions.
Total of 11 separate occasions under the placebo condition. A familiarization session of CMJ and EIMD protocol (10 sets of CMJ repetitions with 1-minute rest between sets) was performed, followed by a 14-day washout period. During this visit, volunteers' descriptive data were assessed. On day 1 of this condition (72h pre EIMD), body mass was obtained, and participants received the supplementation (placebo) to be consumed for 7 days (one capsule every 12 h). On day 2, the CSA from QUAD and HAMS, elastography from vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris long head (BFlh) of the dominant limb, and the CMJ performance were assessed. After that, participants performed the EIMD protocol. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 24 h (day 3), 48 h (day 4), and 72 h (day 5) post-EIMD, repeating the same measurements. A 14-day washout period separated the two interventions.
Countermovement Jump Height
Countermovement Jump (CMJ) hieght will be measured to assess using two force plates (AMTI OR6-6-2000; 1000 Hz). Measurements will be obtained at Baseline (Pre), and at 24, 48, and 72 hours following the exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) protocol. Data will be expressed in centimeters (cm). Jump height will be calculated using take-off velocity and projectile motion principles.
Time frame: From pre Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol to Post-72h Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol.
Contermovement jump power
Countermovement Jump (CMJ) power will be evaluated using two force plates (AMTI OR6-6-2000; 1000 Hz). Peak power will be calculated based on the jump flight time or force-time curve. Assessments will be performed at Baseline (Pre), 24h, 48h, and 72h post exercise induced muscle damage. Data will be expressed in Watts (W). Power during the concentric phase (i.e., the propulsive phase; interval between the onset of propulsion and take-off) will be calculated by multiplying force by velocity.
Time frame: From pre Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol to Post-72h Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol.
Quadriceps and hamstrings Echointensity
Quadriceps and Hamstrings muscle echointensity will be assessed using ultrasonography to evaluate muscle damage. Images will be analyzed through gray-scale histogram analysis using ImageJ software. Assessments will be performed at Baseline (Pre-exercise), and at 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours following the exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) protocol. Data will be expressed in arbitrary units (AU).
Time frame: From pre Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol to Post-72h Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol.
Quadriceps and Hamstrings Cross-Sectional Area
Muscle Cross-Sectional Area from Quadriceps and Hamstrings will be assessed using an ultrasound with extended field of view mode at 50% of limb length. Quadriceps and Hamstrings Cros-Sectional areas will be expressed in cm².
Time frame: From pre Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol to Post-72h Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol
Vastus Lateralis and Biceps Femoris Long Head stiffness
Vastus Lateralis and Biceps Femoris Long Head muscle stiffness will be assessed using Shear Wave Elastography mode from an ultrasound. Muscle stiffness will be expressed in kilopascal (kPa).
Time frame: From pre Exercise Muscle Damage Protocol to Post-72h Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol.
Quadriceps and Hamstrings muscle soreness
Muscle soreness of the quadriceps will be assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Measurements will be obtained at Baseline (Pre-exercise), Immediately Post-exercise, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours following the Exercise Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD) protocol. Data will be expressed on a scale from 0 (no soreness) to 30 centimeters (worst possible soreness).
Time frame: From pre Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol to Post-72h Exercise Induced Muscle Damage protocol.
Ran from Jun 2024 to primary completion in Oct 2024, 4 months.
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Universidade Federal de Santa Maria