The Impact of OliPhenolia® Supplementation on Exercise Induced Inflammation and Functional Movement in Humans.

NCT ID: NCT07008586

Last Updated: 2025-09-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 24 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-01-30

Brief Summary

This research proposal follows on from previously undertaken work investigating a commercially available olive derived product (OliPhenolia®) on potential exercise / functional benefits for healthy adults. Previous research investigated a dose response bioavailability of the main polyphenol in OliPhenolia® and related metabolites. Based on this data, the current study will aim to investigate, for the first time, whether the polyphenols in the product can positively influence exercise specific inflammation which may be pertinent to improving exercise recovery and is of current scientific interest. As such this research aims to understand the short term (Phase 1) and longer term (Phase 2) use of OliPhenolia® on acute recovery from a standard exercise bout.

Research questions:

1. Does an acute dose of OliPhenolia® reduce exercise associated inflammation markers and enhance functional recovery in healthy adult humans?

2. Does a consecutive 16 day intake of OliPhenolia® reduce exercise associated inflammation markers and enhance functional recovery in healthy adult humans?

3. Does a continued intake of OliPhenolia® during the recovery period after the exercise bout further amplify functional benefits compared experimental control?

Proposed methodology:

Phase 1 - To answer research question 1, following a randomisation procedure, participants will be allocated product (OliPhenolia®) or colour and taste matched placebo. A single serve of product (no more than 1.5 mg/kg of hydroxytyrosol (HT) via OliPhenolia®) or placebo will be provided ~40 minutes prior to a standardised exercise protocol. Resting wholeblood samples will be collected at 0 (baseline) +1, +24, +48 and +72 hours following the exercise bout to identify the impact of an acute dose of OliPhenolia® has on selected inflammatory biomarkers. This phase will be a placebo-controlled crossover design and therefore after a ≥7 day wash out period, participants will return to the exercise laboratory (Compass House Human Physiology laboratories, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge), supplement the alternate product and repeat the experimental protocol as outlined above.

Phase 2 - To answer research question 2, having completed Phase 1 (and following another ≥7 day wash out period), all participants will continue onto Phase 2, maintaining their previously assigned product, but this time will continue supplementation for 16 consecutive days. Phase 2 is therefore a parallel placebo-controlled design that focusses on a chronic supplementation of OliPhenolia®. Participants will consume one serve of either product or placebo twice daily for 16 days. After 16 days of supplementation participants will return to the exercise laboratory, and in the same manner as Phase 1, consume a single dose of their assigned product or placebo ~ 40 minutes prior to the standardised exercise protocol. Resting wholeblood samples will be collected following exercise at baseline, +1, +24, +48 and +72 hours.

To answer research question 3, all participants will be informed that they may be asked to consume an additional three days supplementation in a random manner (total 19 days). To limit participant burden 50 % of the experimental group (those that have been supplementing OliPhenolia®) and placebo group will continue supplementing two doses daily for the three days following the standardised exercise protocol (the three days where blood samples occur) in order to understand if a sustained course of OliPhenolia® can reduce the time taken for inflammatory mediators to return to baseline values.

Detailed Description

Following the current scientific interest surrounding the application of polyphenols in an exercise domain, the primary objectives of this research will build upon previously published work investigating polyphenol rich olive fruit water by identifying the acute and chronic effect of OliPhenolia® on inflammation and functional mobility following exercise induced inflammation. For the purpose of this research, the impact on inflammation will be investigated via the measurements of biomarkers Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ra, and Transforming growth factor-beta. Additionally, lactate dehydrogenase (a marker of muscle damage) and superoxide dismutase (a marker of oxidative stress) will also be measured to confirm the source and impact of the exercise induced inflammation. Furthermore, for the purpose of this research, a functional movement screen, localised goniometry and algometry will be measured surrounding the standardised exercise protocol to assess the impact of OliPhenolia on functional mobility. Within this study, participants will be required to attend a pre-screening and familiarisation session followed by three separate trials. Each trial, separated by a ~7 day wash out period will consist of four visits. The first visit (estimated duration 3 hours) will include the baseline resting venepuncture blood sample (0), basic physiological, anthropometric and cognitive assessments, standardised exercise protocol, post exercise blood sample (+1 hour) and post exercise physiological assessment. The standardised exercise protocol that will take place 40 minutes after the supplementation of OliPhenolia is as follows: A maximum of six sets of 25 drop jumps wearing a weighted vest (7.5% body mass) from a height of 60 cm with a maximum 10 second interval between jumps and a 1 min passive rest between sets (modified from Kirby et al., 2011). The following three visits (estimated duration 45 minutes) will take place over the following three days and require a resting venepuncture blood sample (+24 hours, +48 hours and +72 hours) and basic physiological assessment only. Prior to each visit, participants will be required to record a three-day habitual food and exercise diary and adhere to a prescribed low polyphenol meal the night before each laboratory visit. These measures are in place to increase the control of the study.

Conditions

Healthy

Study Design

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

Study Groups

OliPhenolia

Commercially available concentrated olive fruit wastewater (OliPhenolia®) will be provided in a dose relative to participant body mass. In this arm, to assess the acute effects, participants will consume an oral bolus of 1.0mg∙kg-1 olive derived hydroxytyrosol via OliPhenolia® ahead of the exercise test. Following a wash out and necessary cross-over, participants will consume two doses of 1.0mg∙kg-1 olive derived hydroxytyrosol via OliPhenolia® daily for 16 days to assess the chronic component of this study..

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

OliPhenolia®

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Olive derived hydroxytyrosol will be ingested via a commercially available olive fruit wastewater (OliPhenolia®) in a dose relative to participant body mass.

Placebo

In this arm, to assess the acute component, participants will consume a single oral bolus of placebo (matched for taste and appearance to OliPhenolia®) ahead of the exercise test. The volume of this will be prepared by an independent researcher to match the specific volume of OliPhenolia® required for each participant. Following a wash out and necessary cross-over, participants will consume two doses placebo (identical volume to the acute component) daily for 16 days to assess the chronic component of this study.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Taste and appearance matched placebo

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Equal parts prune juice (Sunsweet California Prune Juice, Yuba City, CA, USA), diet cola (Tesco Cola, Tesco, UK) and tonic water (Tesco low calorie Indian tonic water, Tesco, UK).

Interventions

OliPhenolia®

Olive derived hydroxytyrosol will be ingested via a commercially available olive fruit wastewater (OliPhenolia®) in a dose relative to participant body mass.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Taste and appearance matched placebo

Equal parts prune juice (Sunsweet California Prune Juice, Yuba City, CA, USA), diet cola (Tesco Cola, Tesco, UK) and tonic water (Tesco low calorie Indian tonic water, Tesco, UK).

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ≥ 21 in line with manufacturer recommendations.
• Written informed consent.
• Willingness and ability to conform to the full protocol (please see full protocol).
• Judged by the investigator to be in good health.
• To have a pre-study health screen signed off by the lead researcher.

Exclusion Criteria

• Current or recent (within the last 4 weeks) engagement with a strict dietary regime i.e., vegetarian / vegan / ketogenic / paleolithic / high protein / weight loss.
• Any known issues with blood taking.
• Any known bleeding disorders.
• Any known allergy to olives, grapes, lemon, coca cola or prunes.
• Average alcohol use of <21 glasses per week for men and <14 glasses per week for women (on average for the last six months).
• Any drug or medicine abuse in the last six months
• Known cardiovascular disease, disease related to the immune system (including HIV and hepatitis) and / or the respiratory system.
• Known Diabetes Mellitus type I or type II.
• Known renal or liver issues or known thyroid dysfunction.
• Currently undertaking regular heavy and / or extreme exercise (please discuss with the lead researcher if you are unsure).
• Current smoker or stopped smoking for <one month prior to the first visit.
• Current participation in any other clinical study within the month previous to the study start date (discuss with the lead researcher if unsure).
• Known pregnancy and / or lactation (women only)
• Uncertainty about the willingness or ability of the subject to comply with the protocol requirements.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Fattoria La Vialla di Gianni, Antonio e Bandino Lo Franco Soc. Agr. Sempl.

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Anglia Ruskin University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Justin Roberts

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Justin D Roberts, Professor

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Anglia Ruskin University

Locations

Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University,

Cambridge, , United Kingdom

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United Kingdom

Central Contacts

Joseph B Lillis

Role: CONTACT

JBL115@pgr.aru.ac.uk

+447713870153

Justin D Roberts, Professor

Role: CONTACT

justin.roberts@aru.ac.uk

07794122020

Facility Contacts

Justin D Roberts, Professor

Role: primary

justin.roberts@aru.ac.uk

07794122020

Joseph B Lillis

Role: backup

JBL115@pgr.aru.ac.uk

07713870153

References

Roberts JD, Lillis JB, Pinto JM, Chichger H, Lopez-Samanes A, Coso JD, Zacca R, Willmott AGB. The Effect of a Hydroxytyrosol-Rich, Olive-Derived Phytocomplex on Aerobic Exercise and Acute Recovery. Nutrients. 2023 Jan 13;15(2):421. doi: 10.3390/nu15020421.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 36678293 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

ETH2425-3172

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id