NAC Supplementation and Soccer Specific Performance

NCT ID: NCT04523675

Last Updated: 2020-08-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-04-30
• Study Completion Date: 2016-12-31

Brief Summary

In this investigation the investigators utilized NAC supplementation to boost GSH availability during an one-week-microcycle consisting of three soccer games, in order to test the hypotheses that: i) antioxidant supplementation may enhance the recovery of performance and physiological stress variables following multiple match-plays and ii) redox status perturbations are critical in regulating the inflammatory response and repair in skeletal muscle, following repetitive exercise-induced muscle injuries.

Detailed Description

After exercise-induced muscle microtrauma the thiol/disulfide couple of reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) is a key regulator of important transcriptional pathways that control the inflammatory response and recovery of skeletal muscle.

The objective was to examine how thiol-based antioxidant supplementation affects the muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammatory and immune responses, as well as the level of post-game fatigue and muscle's recovery kinetics in response to three soccer games within a week. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: i) Experimental-NAC [EXP-NAC, N=10, participated in daily training sessions and three games and received NAC (20 mg/kg/day)], ii) Experimental-Placebo (EXP-Pla, N=10, participated in daily training sessions and three games and received Placebo), iii) Control-NAC [CON-NAC, N=10, participated in daily training sessions only and received NAC(20 mg/kg/day)] and iv) Control-Placebo (CON-Pla, N=10, participated in daily training sessions only and received Placebo). Blood samples were collected at baseline, post-games and daily during recovery. Performance was assessed at baseline and daily during recovery.

Conditions

Skeletal Muscle Damage; Exercise-induced Aseptic Inflammation; Skeletal Muscle Performance; Antioxidant Status

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

EXP-NAC

Participated in daily training sessions and three games, and supplemented daily with N-acetylcysteine, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening),for seven consecutive days.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

N-acetylcysteine

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), at 20 mg/kg/day, for seven consecutive days.

EXP-Pla

Participated in daily training sessions and three games, and supplemented daily with Placebo, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Placebo

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

500 mL drink that contained water (375 mL), sugar-free cordial (125 ml), and 2 g of low-calorie glucose/dextrose powder. Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.

CON-NAC

Participated in daily training sessions only and supplemented daily with N-acetylcysteine, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening),for seven consecutive days.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

N-acetylcysteine

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), at 20 mg/kg/day, for seven consecutive days.

CON-Pla

Participated in daily training sessions only and supplemented daily with Placebo, orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

500 mL drink that contained water (375 mL), sugar-free cordial (125 ml), and 2 g of low-calorie glucose/dextrose powder. Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.

Interventions

N-acetylcysteine

Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), at 20 mg/kg/day, for seven consecutive days.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo

500 mL drink that contained water (375 mL), sugar-free cordial (125 ml), and 2 g of low-calorie glucose/dextrose powder. Orally in three daily dosages (morning-midday-evening), for seven consecutive days.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Other Intervention Names

NAC

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participation at elite level (top three division leagues) of soccer competition for at least five years
• Abstained from consumption of performance-enhancing supplements, antioxidant supplements and medications (for at least 6 months before and during the study)
• Participation in at least six two-hour training sessions and one match per week
• Non-smokers

Exclusion Criteria

• A known NAC intolerance or allergy
• A recent febrile illness
• History of muscle lesion
• Lower limb trauma
• Metabolic diseases

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 28 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Thessaly

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ioannis G. Fatouros

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

IOANNIS G FATOUROS, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY, SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION & SPORTS SCIENCES

Locations

Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Physical Education & Sports Sciences, University of Thessaly

Trikala, , Greece

Countries

Greece

Other Identifiers

NAC-SOCCER-2016

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id