RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Spirulina Supplementation In Recovery From Damaging Exercise

Regular exercise can sometimes leave your muscles feeling sore, weak, and inflamed. This happens when muscles are pushed harder than they're used to, causing tiny bits of damage. While this is a normal part of getting stronger, it can be uncomfortable. This study is exploring if a natural supplement called spirulina could help speed up muscle recovery. Spirulina is a type of algae, often used as a food supplement, that's rich in nutrients and has properties that might help reduce inflammation. Researchers want to see if taking spirulina after demanding exercise helps muscles heal faster, reduces soreness, and calms down inflammation. They'll be measuring how well muscles work, how much pain people feel, and looking at signs of inflammation in the body. The goal is to understand if spirulina can be a helpful tool for athletes and active people to recover from intense workouts.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Exeter

Enrolment target

Start

04 Jan 2024

Estimated completion

30 Sep 2024

Damage Muscle

What is this study about?

This study is investigating how our bodies recover after exercise that's a bit more demanding than usual. Sometimes, when we push our muscles hard, they can get a little damaged. This isn't a bad thing in the long run – it's how they get stronger – but it can lead to soreness, make them feel weaker for a bit, and cause some inflammation. We often look for ways to help our bodies bounce back quicker, and nutrition plays a big part in that.

Here, we're focusing on spirulina, which is a type of blue-green algae. You might have heard of it as a healthy food supplement. It's packed with vitamins, minerals, and other helpful compounds, some of which are known to have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is the body's natural response to damage, but sometimes it can be a bit overactive, making recovery slower and more uncomfortable.

We want to find out if taking spirulina supplements can make a real difference to how quickly and effectively your muscles recover after a tough workout. We'll be closely monitoring several things: how well your muscles are working, how much soreness you experience, and we'll also be looking at specific markers in your body that tell us about inflammation levels. By doing this, we hope to understand if spirulina could be a useful natural aid for muscle recovery.

Key takeaways

This study explores spirulina's role in muscle recovery after exercise.
Spirulina is a nutrient-rich algae with potential anti-inflammatory properties.
Participation involves specific exercise, taking supplements (spirulina or placebo), and assessments.
It aims to measure changes in muscle function, soreness, and inflammation.
Healthy, active adults aged 18-40 who don't do structured heavy resistance training are eligible.
The study helps provide scientific evidence for natural recovery methods.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 40. You should exercise or play sport for more than two hours each week, but you shouldn't regularly do structured heavy weight training. It's important that you don't have any serious health problems or injuries, and you shouldn't be a smoker.

We also need to make sure that taking part won't cause any problems with other medications you might be on. So, you shouldn't be taking any regular medicines, including anti-inflammatory drugs, that could affect the study's results. It's also important that you don't have any known allergies to algae, as spirulina is made from algae.

To join, you must be able to travel to St Luke's Campus in Exeter for your appointments. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) should also be between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2, which is typically considered a healthy weight range.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 40 years old?
Do you exercise or play sport for over 2 hours per week, but don't regularly lift heavy weights?
Are you generally healthy, without any serious medical conditions or injuries?
Do you not smoke?
Are you not taking any regular medications (including anti-inflammatories) and have no known allergy to algae?
Can you travel to St Luke's Campus in Exeter for study appointments?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join the study, you'll need to attend St Luke's Campus in Exeter for several visits. During these visits, we'll ask you to do some specific exercises designed to challenge your muscles, and we'll then track your recovery. You'll either receive a spirulina supplement or a placebo (a dummy pill that looks like the supplement but has no active ingredients). You won't know which one you're taking, and neither will the researchers, to ensure fair results. We'll assess your muscle strength and function, ask about any soreness you feel, and take samples (like blood) to measure inflammation. The total duration of your involvement in the study, including all visits and follow-ups, will be explained in detail when you consider joining.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer a potential benefit if spirulina helps with muscle recovery, though this isn't guaranteed and we are researching this exact question. You'll also contribute to valuable scientific knowledge about exercise recovery. Potential risks are generally low, mainly related to mild muscle soreness from the exercise challenges, which is a normal part of working out. There's also a small chance of allergic reaction if you're unknowingly allergic to algae. You have the full right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University of Exeter
Verified postcode
Exeter, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is spirulina?

Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae, known for being a nutrient-rich food supplement with potential health benefits.

Why is this study important?

It helps us understand if natural supplements like spirulina can assist your body in recovering from intense exercise, potentially reducing soreness and inflammation.

Will I know if I'm taking spirulina or a placebo?

No, you won't. This is called 'blinding' and it helps ensure the study results are fair and unbiased.

What kind of exercise will I need to do?

You'll perform specific exercises designed to put some healthy stress on your muscles, like when you do a tough workout at the gym.

What if I feel unwell during the study?

You can withdraw from the study at any time if you feel unwell or for any other reason, and your medical care will not be affected.

How to find out more

Benjamin Wall, Prof

b.t.wall@exeter.ac.uk +441392724774 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.