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CompletedNCT07777510Updated Aug 20, 2026

Black Elderberry Supplementation and Exercise Responses in Young Men

An interventional study of Anthocyanin Group and Placebo Group in Supplement, sponsored by Kocatepe University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 27 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-20.

Sponsored by Kocatepe University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
19
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 27 Years
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

his randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigated whether black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) supplementation affects blood lactate responses, oxidative stress biomarkers, and exercise-related physiological responses in young men who regularly exercise. Participants completed four assessment sessions: a pre-test and three supplementation phases involving a single dose, alternate-day supplementation for 14 days, and daily supplementation for 14 days. The anthocyanin group received black elderberry supplementation, while the control group received an identical placebo. Blood lactate, oxidative stress biomarkers, body composition, and exercise performance were assessed under standardized laboratory conditions across the study phases.

02

Conditions studied

  • Supplement

Keywords

  • Black elderberry
  • Anthocyanin supplementation
  • Blood lactate
  • Oxidative stress
  • Exercise performance
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 27 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Male participants aged 18-27 years.
  • Engaged in regular exercise at least three times per week during the previous three months.
  • No history of cardiovascular, metabolic, or endocrine disease.
  • No use of dietary supplements during the preceding month.
  • Provided written informed consent before participation.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known allergy or intolerance to black elderberry or other berry-based supplements.
  • Serious musculoskeletal injury or surgery within the previous six months.
  • Failure to comply with the study protocol.
  • Development of any health problem that prevented continuation of the exercise protocol.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
19 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Anthocyanin Group

    Participants received black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) supplementation according to the study protocol, including single-dose, alternate-day, and daily supplementation phases.

    Dietary Supplement: Anthocyanin Group

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo Group

    Participants received placebo capsules identical in appearance and administration schedule to the black elderberry capsules.

    Dietary Supplement: Placebo Group

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementAnthocyanin Group

    Participants received 300 mg black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) extract capsules according to the study protocol.

  • Dietary supplementPlacebo Group

    Participants received placebo capsules containing maltodextrin according to the study protocol.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Catalase (CAT) Activity

    Plasma catalase (CAT) activity was assessed at the pre-test and at the end of each supplementation phase. At the pre-test, venous blood was collected before the exercise protocol. During each supplementation phase, venous blood was collected 15 minutes after completion of the exercise protocol. In each supplementation phase, the final dose was administered approximately 2 hours before the exercise test. CAT activity was measured using a commercial ELISA kit (BT-LAB, Bioassay Technology Laboratory, Zhejiang, China) and reported in nmol/min/mL.

    Time frame: Pre-test (before the exercise protocol) and 15 minutes after the exercise protocol at the end of each supplementation phase (single-dose, 14-day alternate-day, and 14-day daily supplementation).

  2. Glutathione (GSH) Level

    Plasma glutathione (GSH) level was assessed at the pre-test and at the end of each supplementation phase. At the pre-test, venous blood was collected before the exercise protocol. During each supplementation phase, venous blood was collected 15 minutes after completion of the exercise protocol. In each supplementation phase, the final dose was administered approximately 2 hours before the exercise test. GSH level was measured using a commercial ELISA kit (BT-LAB, Bioassay Technology Laboratory, Zhejiang, China) and reported in µmol/g

    Time frame: Pre-test (before the exercise protocol) and 15 minutes after the exercise protocol at the end of each supplementation phase (single-dose, 14-day alternate-day, and 14-day daily supplementation).

  3. Malondialdehyde (MDA)

    Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was assessed at the pre-test and at the end of each supplementation phase. At the pre-test, venous blood was collected before the exercise protocol. During each supplementation phase, venous blood was collected 15 minutes after completion of the exercise protocol. In each supplementation phase, the final dose was administered approximately 2 hours before the exercise test. MDA concentration was measured using a commercial ELISA kit (BT-LAB, Bioassay Technology Laboratory, Zhejiang, China) and reported in nmol/mL.

    Time frame: Pre-test (before the exercise protocol) and 15 minutes after the exercise protocol at the end of each supplementation phase (single-dose, 14-day alternate-day, and 14-day daily supplementation).

  4. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity

    Plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was assessed at the pre-test and at the end of each supplementation phase. At the pre-test, venous blood was collected before the exercise protocol. During each supplementation phase, venous blood was collected 15 minutes after completion of the exercise protocol. In each supplementation phase, the final dose was administered approximately 2 hours before the exercise test. SOD activity was measured using a commercial ELISA kit (BT-LAB, Bioassay Technology Laboratory, Zhejiang, China) and reported in U/mL.

    Time frame: Pre-test (before the exercise protocol) and 15 minutes after the exercise protocol at the end of each supplementation phase (single-dose, 14-day alternate-day, and 14-day daily supplementation).

  5. Nitric Oxide (NO)

    Plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentration was assessed at the pre-test and at the end of each supplementation phase. At the pre-test, venous blood was collected before the exercise protocol. During each supplementation phase, venous blood was collected 15 minutes after completion of the exercise protocol. In each supplementation phase, the final dose was administered approximately 2 hours before the exercise test. NO concentration was measured using a commercial ELISA kit (BT-LAB, Bioassay Technology Laboratory, Zhejiang, China) and reported in µmol/L.

    Time frame: Pre-test (before the exercise protocol) and 15 minutes after the exercise protocol at the end of each supplementation phase (single-dose, 14-day alternate-day, and 14-day daily supplementation).

  6. Blood Lactate Concentration

    Blood lactate concentration measured from capillary blood samples using a portable lactate analyzer (EDGE).

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-test), during the 3rd minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 30 minutes post-exercise during recovery; measurements repeated after Baseline (pre-test), single-dose, alternate-day, and daily supplementation phases.

06

Study locations

1 site
  • Kocatepe University
    Afyonkarahisar, Afyonkarahisar 03030, Turkey (Türkiye)
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared with other researchers to protect participants' privacy and confidentiality. The findings of the study will be reported only in aggregated and anonymized form.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07777510
Lead sponsor
Kocatepe University
Collaborators
Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University
Responsible party
Hilal Ertürk Yaşar (Assistant Professor, Kocatepe University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 20, 2026
Start date
May 6, 2024
Primary completion
Jul 27, 2024
Completion
Jul 27, 2024
Last update
Aug 20, 2026

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
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