Effects of Epicatechin-rich Cocoa on Collagen Synthesis (coca-dose)

University of California (UC) Davis

Status: Completed

Conditions: Collagen Synthesis

Treatments: Other: Epicatechin-rich cocoa dose response; Other: Epicatechin-rich cocoa vs placebo on performance

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03214133

1020494

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of epicatechin-rich cocoa in humans on collagen synthesis and power-based performance outcomes (rate of force development).

Full description

The investigators have recently completed a study looking at the expression of the collagens following consumption of increasing doses of epicatechin in rats . This data clearly shows that increasing doses of epicatechin, either 0.5 mg.kg-1 delivered once, twice, or three times a day, or 2 mg.kg-1 once a day, results in increasing expression of the fibrillar collagens (I, III, and V). This preliminary data suggests that epicatechin-rich chocolate supplementation can increase collagen expression in humans and that this may improve force transfer. From this background, the hypothesis proposed is that supplementation with epicatechin-rich chocolate will increase rate of force development and performance in athletes. Therefore, this simple nutrition intervention has the potential to simultaneously improve performance, decrease injuries and accelerate return to competition through improved collagen synthesis.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Collegiate level male athletes between the ages of 18¬-25 years of age, currently participating in sport, will be recruited to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• History of more than 3 musculoskeletal injuries within the past 12 months.
• Health and dietary restriction (e.g. lactose intolerance) that would be affected by the supplementation protocol.
• The initial phase will be performed in males since collagen synthesis varies significantly throughout the menstrual cycle in females. Since collagen synthesis is the main outcome measure for the study this would confound the initial phase of the work. Provided this work proves successful then the investigators will aim to proceed with similar research in females.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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12 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Epicatechin Dose Response

Experimental group

Description:

This arm will investigate varying doses of epicatechin on procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP) at varying doses CON, 1, 2, 3 mg/kg body mass.

Treatment:

Other: Epicatechin-rich cocoa dose response

Epicatechin-rich cocoa on performance

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Athletes will ingest the optimized dose of epicatechin-rich cocoa vs placebo alongside maximum power training to determine if this nutritional intervention results in a greater increase in RFD and performance than maximum power training alone.

Treatment:

Other: Epicatechin-rich cocoa vs placebo on performance