Periodized Rehabilitation and Beta-alanine Supplementation in Multiple Sclerosis (MSCAR)

Hasselt University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments: Other: Periodized exercise training; Other: Classic, progressive endurance training; Dietary Supplement: beta-alanine

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03803800

16.111/REVA16.14

Details and patient eligibility

About

Exercise therapy and increased physical activity in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) improves mobility, muscular strength, physical fitness and fatigue without increasing relapse rate. As such, physical activity and more particular exercise therapy have become an important part of MS rehabilitation. Despite the fact that the positive effects of exercise therapy in MS are obvious only 43 percent of the MS community reports to participate in an exercise program4. Therefore, new exercise therapy approaches that further optimize rehabilitation, improve exercise adherence and promote participation in physical exercise in MS are interesting to explore. Therefore, the randomized controlled trial investigates two types of exercise interventions (classic progressive vs periodized) with or without the addition of ergogenic supplements (beta-alanine vs placebo).

Full description

Following inclusion, baseline measurements (PRE) will be performed in MS patients (n=80). First, static(isometric) muscle strength (dynamometry), exercise capacity (maximal graded exercise test) and body composition (DEXA) will be evaluated. After 4 days of recovery, m. vastus lateralis muscle samples (Bergström procedure) will be taken. Hereafter, MS patients will be randomly allocated to one of four intervention groups following either 12 weeks of 'classical' moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise therapy (n=40) or periodized exercise therapy (n=40), with (MSβclassic, n=20; MSβperiod, n=20) or without (MSclassic, n=20; MSperiod, n=20) β-alanine supplementation. Groups not receiving β-alanine supplements, will receive placebo tablets that will be identical in taste and appearance. To evaluate post training fatigue, perceived exertion will be recorded following each training session (6-20 BORG scale). Following 12 weeks of classic or periodized training POST intervention measurements will be performed similar to baseline.

Enrollment: 31 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis Multiple Sclerosis.
• Healthy control.
• Aged >18y.
• Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindications to perform moderate to high intensity exercise.
• Participation in another study.
• Experienced acute MS related exacerbation <6 months prior to start of the study
• EDSS score > 6

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

---

31 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

Classic training & beta-alanine

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects following 12 weeks of classic, progressive endurance training, with the addition of ergogenic supplements (beta-alanine supplementation).

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: beta-alanine

Other: Classic, progressive endurance training

Classic training & placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Subjects following 12 weeks of classic, progressive endurance training, without the addition of ergogenic supplements (placebo supplements).

Treatment:

Other: Classic, progressive endurance training

Periodized training & beta-alanine

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects following 12 weeks of periodized exercise training, with the addition of ergogenic supplements (beta-alanine supplementation).

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: beta-alanine

Other: Periodized exercise training

Periodized training & placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Subjects following 12 weeks of periodized exercise training, without the addition of ergogenic supplements (placebo supplements).

Treatment:

Other: Periodized exercise training