Can Rhodiola Crenulata Intake Improve Oxygen Saturation and Decrease the Incidence of Acute Mountain Sickness

NCT ID: NCT01536288

Last Updated: 2012-02-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

125 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2010-10-31

Study Completion Date

2011-05-31

Brief Summary

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Traditional folk medicine in the Arctic and Himalayan areas used Rhodiola species to enhance physical endurance, prevent aging, resist acute mountain sickness (AMS), and to treat fatigue, depression, anemia, impotence and respiratory infections. Rhodiola crenulata are widely used to prevent AMS in Himalayan areas and Lhasa in Tibet but none was examined by human study. The investigators conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study to investigate the efficacy of Rhodiola crenulata in preventing AMS.

Detailed Description

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The number of people traveling to altitude for work or for recreation is rising, and increased media attention towards these activities has also raised the profile of altitude related illness. The most effective preventive measure for acute mountain sickness (AMS)-gradual ascent-is frequently difficult or impractical for modern international travel to locations such as Lhasa in Tibet (3650 m) and La Paz in Bolivia (3740 m). In order to solve this problem, prophylactic acetazolamide was most commonly used. But prescription needed and side effects such as paresthesia and nausea are the disadvantage of using acetazolamide. Some over-the-counter herbal supplements with essentially no adverse effect were widely used, such as Rhodiola species. Rhodiola crenulata are widely used to prevent AMS in Himalayan areas and Lhasa in Tibet but none was examined by human study. The investigators conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study to investigate the efficacy of Rhodiola crenulata in preventing AMS.

Conditions

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Acute Mountain Sickness Environmental Illness

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Rhodiola crenulata-placebo sequence

Rhodiola crenulata for the first treatment period and placebo for the second treatment period, with a washout period of 4 months. Overall study population were 120 subjects, who were randomised and allocated into 2 sequences.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Rhodiola crenulata

Intervention Type DRUG

Rhodiola crenulata:capsules, 800 mg daily for 7 days before ascent and 2 days during mountaineering

placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo:capsules, 800 mg daily for 7 days before ascent and 2 days during mountaineering

Placebo-Rhodiola crenulata sequence

Placebo for the first treatment period and Rhodiola crenulata for the second treatment period, with a washout period of 4 months. Overall study population were 120 subjects, who were randomised and allocated into 2 sequences.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Rhodiola crenulata

Intervention Type DRUG

Rhodiola crenulata:capsules, 800 mg daily for 7 days before ascent and 2 days during mountaineering

placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo:capsules, 800 mg daily for 7 days before ascent and 2 days during mountaineering

Interventions

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Rhodiola crenulata

Rhodiola crenulata:capsules, 800 mg daily for 7 days before ascent and 2 days during mountaineering

Intervention Type DRUG

placebo

Placebo:capsules, 800 mg daily for 7 days before ascent and 2 days during mountaineering

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Rhodiola Golden root Hong Jing Tian Starch

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* age between 20 and 55 years.
* able to complete the study protocol of 9-day study regimens and mountain climbing twice.
* no prophylactic medication or herb one month before ascent.
* maintaining the same living conditions and habits four months before the first mountain climbing and four months between two mountaineering.

* living in the same altitude or within a difference of 200 meters.
* no additional physical training.
* no plan to gain or loss weight.
* no altitude exposure above 2500m.

Exclusion Criteria

* any history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, cerebral neoplasm, mania, renal or hepatic insufficiency.
* women in pregnancy or intending of pregnancy during the 4-month study period.
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

55 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Te-Fa Chiu, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Locations

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Dept of Emergency medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Site Status

Countries

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Taiwan

References

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Related Links

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http://www.ismmed.org/

International society of mountain medicine

http://www.acep.org/

American college emergency physicians

http://www.wilderness-medicine.com/

wilderness medicine, medicine and the spirit of adventure

Other Identifiers

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NSC 99-3114-B-182A-002

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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