Pistachios, Performance, Metabolomics

Appalachian State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Inflammation; Immune Dysfunction; Oxidative Stress

Treatments: Other: Pistachios

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01821820

13-0064

Details and patient eligibility

About

Ingestion of 3 ounces of pistachio nuts per day for two weeks before and the day of cycling intensely for 75 kilometers will support substrate utilization during exercise (as determined through metabolomics) and improve performance compared to water only, and attenuate inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysfunction during 24 hours of recovery.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male endurance cyclists
• Capable of exercising for 2.5 h at a high intensity in the lab
• Ages 18-55
• Agree to train normally and stay weight stable.
• Agree to avoid the use of large dose vitamin/mineral supplements
• Agree to avoid herbs and medications that influence inflammation

Exclusion criteria

• Regularly take supplements or medicines known to effect inflammation.
• At moderate or high risk for cardiovascular disease.
• Younger than 18 or older than 55 years of age.
• No history of competing in cycling races.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Pistachios

Experimental group

Description:

Pistachio treatment (3 oz/d) for two weeks; 3 oz pistachio nuts and water (1.5 oz. before, and 1.5 oz during) cycling 75 km.

Treatment:

Other: Pistachios

No pistachios

No Intervention group

Description:

No pistachios for two weeks, or before and during 75 km cycling.