Acute Effects of Herbal Dietary Supplements on Aerobic Performance

NCT ID: NCT06184061

Last Updated: 2025-08-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 42 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-11-30
• Study Completion Date: 2024-10-30

Brief Summary

Positive effects of herbal supplements such as red berries, ginseng, ashwagandha on athletic performance have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a herbal dietary supplement prepared from a mixture of red berries, ginseng and ashwagandha on aerobic performance of recreational athletes.

Detailed Description

In the beginning of the study anthropometric measurements (weight (kg), height (cm), BMI, waist circumference (cm), body fat percentage, lean body mass, skeletal muscle mass) will be taken from the participants who accepted to participate in the study.

During the study, participants will be restricted from consuming alcohol, caffeine, red fruit, ginseng and ashwagandha.

First, Yoyo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 performance test (The Yo-Yo test is a maximal aerobic endurance fitness test, involving running between markers placed 20 meters apart, at increasing speeds, until exhaustion) will be done to all participants In this step, participants will not drink anything. Then there will be a 2-week break.

At the end of the 3-week break, the participants will be divided into two groups by block randomization method and one group will receive a herbal nutritional supplement mixture (100 ml 30 minutes before training). The other group will drink a placebo prepared with the same texture and consistency as our main mixture, containing an equal amount of carbohydrates (100 ml 30 minutes before training). Then the same performance test will be repeated. At the end of the test also 1 and 2 minutes after end of the test, the participants' heart rate measurement will be taken with a finger-type pulse oximeter and recorded . At the end of the test, perceived exertion levels will be questioned using the Borg scale.

Conditions

Diet, Healthy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Control Group

Placebo will be given to this group (100ml, contain same carbohydrate amount as herbal supplement)

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventional Group

Herbal Supplement will be given to this group (100ml, Herbal Supplement)

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Herbal Supplement

Intervention Type: COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Herbal supplement will be the mixture of strawberry, black mulberry, blueberry, raspberry, ginseng, ashwagandha, honey, water

Interventions

Herbal Supplement

Herbal supplement will be the mixture of strawberry, black mulberry, blueberry, raspberry, ginseng, ashwagandha, honey, water

Intervention Type: COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Being a student in the Exercise and Sports sciences department
• Not using any supplement
• Not being in a period that will affect sleep patterns (midterm/finals week, holiday, etc.)
• Doing regular exercise

Exclusion Criteria

• Having a known food allergy
• Using any supplement
• Being a professional athlete
• Drinking alcohol regularly

• Minimum Eligible Age: 19 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 23 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Eastern Mediterranean University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Nezire İnce

Asst. Prof.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Nezire Ince

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Eastern Mediterranean University

Locations

Nezire

Famagusta, , Cyprus

Countries

Cyprus

Other Identifiers

ETK00-2023-0207

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id