Trial Review

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Trial registered on ANZCTR


Registration number
ACTRN12622000510741
Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
21/03/2022
Date registered
31/03/2022
Date last updated
20/02/2023
Date data sharing statement initially provided
31/03/2022
Type of registration
Prospectively registered

Titles & IDs
Public title
Investigating the effect of French bark extract, Pycnogenol, as a supplement to improve exercise performance in a population of CrossFitters.
Scientific title
Evaluation of the effects of supplementation with Pycnogenol (French Pinus pinaster bark extract) on exercise performance in a population of CrossFitters: A single blind, crossover trial.
Secondary ID [1] 306576 0
Nil Known
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
U1111-1275-2235
Trial acronym
Linked study record

Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
exercise performance
325474 0
Condition category
Condition code
Alternative and Complementary Medicine 322858 322858 0 0
Other alternative and complementary medicine
Musculoskeletal 322859 322859 0 0
Normal musculoskeletal and cartilage development and function

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Interventional
Description of intervention(s) / exposure
A double blind crossover trial, placebo controlled study will be conducted in which male and female subjects who actively participate in CrossFit, will supplement their normal daily lives with either Modex (100ml containing 260mg Pycnogenol, 240mg Papin, 300mg Sodium chloride, 175mg Aloe Vera, 169mg Procyanidins, once daily), or placebo (100ml of Modex formula containing everything but Pycnogenol, once daily), oral drink for 2 weeks. Following a 2-week washout period, participants will repeat this process supplemented with the opposite intervention.

Prior to and after each of the 2-week supplement periods, participants will have a VO2 max test, 1 rep max (1RPM) back squat strength test and an anaerobic capacity Wingate test conducted at La Trobe University strength and conditioning gym (Bundoora campus), supervised by qualified exercise physiologists. These 4 sessions will involve a health screen, and the taking of blood samples. This will require a session time for each participant of 60 min, a total of 4 hours.

To monitor adherence, we will be monitoring returned empty bottle counts.
Intervention code [1] 323011 0
Treatment: Other
Comparator / control treatment
During the placebo/control treatment participants will receive a daily dose of 100ml of Modex, containing 240mg Papin, 300mg Sodium chloride, 175mg Aloe Vera, and 169mg Procyanidins (Modex formula minus Pycnogenol) for 2 weeks.
Control group
Placebo

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 330644 0
Change in muscle strength as determined by weight (kgs) performed on the 1 rep maximum back squat
Timepoint [1] 330644 0
1) Pre-supplement period 1
2) 2 weeks post supplement period 1
3) Pre-supplement period 2 (4 weeks post enrolment)
4) 2 weeks post supplement period 2 (6 weeks post enrolment)
Primary outcome [2] 330647 0
Changes in anaerobic performance as determined by peak power (Watts/kg body weight) performed on the Wingate anaerobic fitness test
Timepoint [2] 330647 0
1) Pre-supplement period 1
2) 2 weeks post supplement period 1
3) Pre-supplement period 2 (4 weeks post enrolment)
4) 2 weeks post supplement period 2 (6 weeks post enrolment)
Primary outcome [3] 330648 0
Changes in the volume of oxygen consumption (ml/kg/min) as determined by a Vo2 max test performed on a cycle ergometer
Timepoint [3] 330648 0
1) Pre-supplement period 1
2) 2 weeks post supplement period 1
3) Pre-supplement period 2 (4 weeks post enrolment)
4) 2 weeks post supplement period 2 (6 weeks post enrolment)
Secondary outcome [1] 407070 0
Changes in C-reactive protein (mg/L) as determine by blood analysis following fitness tests
Timepoint [1] 407070 0
1) Pre-supplement period 1
2) 2 weeks post supplement period 1
3) Pre-supplement period 2 (4 weeks post enrolment)
4) 2 weeks post supplement period 2 (6 weeks post enrolment)

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
1. Adults between the ages of 18-45
2. Actively participate in CrossFit (minimum 2 sessions per work)
Minimum age
18 Years
Maximum age
45 Years
Sex
Both males and females
Can healthy volunteers participate?
Yes
Key exclusion criteria
1) Are pregnant and/or breastfeeding.
2) Present with a history of treatment for metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes or cardiovascular disease).
3) Are currently using any prescription medication which could impact on inflammatory pathways (e.g., Warfarin, aspirin, ibuprofen [nurofen]).
4) Have any medical contraindications to exercise.
5) Are currently injured.

Study design
Purpose of the study
Treatment
Allocation to intervention
Randomised controlled trial
Procedure for enrolling a subject and allocating the treatment (allocation concealment procedures)
Numbers 1-20 will be placed in an envelope. Upon enrolment in the trial, an envelope will be randomly selected and given to the individual. Prior to this, a random sequence of the numbers 1-20 will be generated, with odd numbers (in the sequence) being placebo and even numbers (in the sequence) being Modex
Methods used to generate the sequence in which subjects will be randomised (sequence generation)
Simple randomisation using a randomisation table created by computer software (i.e. https://www.random.org/sequences/)
Masking / blinding
Blinded (masking used)
Who is / are masked / blinded?
The people receiving the treatment/s


The people analysing the results/data
Intervention assignment
Crossover
Other design features
Phase
Not Applicable
Type of endpoint/s
Efficacy
Statistical methods / analysis
A linear mixed model using restricted estimate maximum likelihood estimation (REML) will analyse the effect of the treatment (factor with 2 levels: pycnogenol, placebo) over time (factor with 4 levels: visit 2-4), adjusting for baseline values of the response variable (visit 1: continuous covariate) for potential sequence/carry-over effects (factor with 2 levels: AB/BA).

Recruitment
Recruitment status
Recruiting
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
15/07/2022
Actual
11/09/2022
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
Actual
Sample size
Target
20
Accrual to date
9
Final
Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
VIC

Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1] 310908 0
Commercial sector/Industry
Name [1] 310908 0
Arborvitae Health & Wellbeing Pty Ltd
Country [1] 310908 0
Australia
Primary sponsor type
University
Name
La Trobe University
Address
Plenty Rd & Kingsbury Drive,
Bundoora
Melbourne Victoria 3086
Australia
Country
Australia
Secondary sponsor category [1] 312193 0
Commercial sector/Industry
Name [1] 312193 0
Arborvitae Health & Wellbeing Pty Ltd
Address [1] 312193 0
10 Gordon St, Bankstown, NSW 2200
Country [1] 312193 0
Australia

Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
Ethics committee name [1] 310470 0
La Trobe Unveristy
Ethics committee address [1] 310470 0
Plenty Rd & Kingsbury Drive,
Bundoora
Melbourne Victoria 3086
Australia
Ethics committee country [1] 310470 0
Australia
Date submitted for ethics approval [1] 310470 0
04/04/2022
Approval date [1] 310470 0
07/06/2022
Ethics approval number [1] 310470 0
HEC22087

Summary
Brief summary
Nutritional supplements are routinely ingested throughout a training period to maximise exercise-based adaptations. While the mechanisms for adaptations can be varied and can include increased energy expenditure, reduced catabolism, and increased protein synthesis, the intended outcome is an increase in the intended adaptations to training.

Pycnogenol, a herbal dietary supplement extracted from French maritime pine bark, is widely marketed for its antioxidant effects. Health benefits purported for Pycnogenol include improved cognitive function, endothelial function, and blood pressure regulation. However, the effect of Pycnogenol on exercise performance, or exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses is less clear. Consumption of Pycnogenol has been shown to increase serum NAD+ levels and more recently a study demonstrated that French maritime pine bark extract reduced markers of oxidative stress 48 hours post exercise. Substantially more investigation into the influence of Pycnogenol on exercise performance is required to confirm these results, to examine the optimal timing and dose amount of this supplement, as well as to establish the physiological mechanisms that explain the increased time to exhaustion during intense endurance exercise.

Therefore, we hypothesize that Pycnogenol, could be a supplement that increases endurance and with greater adaptations when consumed in addition to training.

Here we propose a study designed to establish whether Pycnogenol can improve endurance in highly trained CrossFitters.
Trial website
Trial related presentations / publications
Public notes

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 117778 0
Dr Chris van der Poel
Address 117778 0
Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology
Health Sciences 2
La Trobe University
Plenty Rd & Kingsbury Dr,
Bundoora
Melbourne Victoria 3086
Australia
Country 117778 0
Australia
Phone 117778 0
+61 3 9479 5166
Fax 117778 0
Email 117778 0
[email protected]
Contact person for public queries
Name 117779 0
Chris van der Poel
Address 117779 0
Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology
Health Sciences 2
La Trobe University
Plenty Rd & Kingsbury Dr,
Bundoora
Melbourne Victoria 3086
Australia
Country 117779 0
Australia
Phone 117779 0
+61 3 9479 5166
Fax 117779 0
Email 117779 0
[email protected]
Contact person for scientific queries
Name 117780 0
Chris van der Poel
Address 117780 0
Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology
Health Sciences 2
La Trobe University
Plenty Rd & Kingsbury Dr,
Bundoora
Melbourne Victoria 3086
Australia
Country 117780 0
Australia
Phone 117780 0
+61 3 9479 5166
Fax 117780 0
Email 117780 0
[email protected]

Data sharing statement
Will individual participant data (IPD) for this trial be available (including data dictionaries)?
Yes
What data in particular will be shared?
After de-identification, all of the individual participant data collected during the trial will be shared
When will data be available (start and end dates)?
Immediately following publication with no end date
Available to whom?
Case by case basis at the discretion of the primary sponsor
Available for what types of analyses?
any purpose
How or where can data be obtained?
access is subject to approval by principal investigator which can be requested by email ([email protected])


What supporting documents are/will be available?

No Supporting Document Provided



Results publications and other study-related documents

Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.

Documents added automatically
No additional documents have been identified.