Effects of Epicatechin-rich Cocoa on Collagen Synthesis

University of California, Davis12 enrolled

Overview

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).

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Collagen Synthesis

Interventions

Epicatechin-rich cocoa dose responseOTHER

Subjects consume randomized doses of 0, 1, 2, 3 mg epicatechin/kg from epicatechin-rich cocoa. The optimal dose of epicatechin-rich chocolate will be the dose which have the greatest increase PNIP levels.

Epicatechin-rich cocoa vs placebo on performanceOTHER

An optimized dose of epicatechin-rich cocoa or placebo will be given for 3 weeks alongside a prescribed power-based training program. In a randomized parallel design the effect of the optimal dose of epicatechin-rich chocolate, compared to placebo, on maximal isometric squat force, RFD, and jump testing will be quantified.

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 25 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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.

Locations (1)

Neurobiology, Physiology & Behaviour

Davis, California, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Epicatechin-rich cocoa dose response

investigating effects doses of 0, 1, 2, 3 mg epicatechin/kg/day procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP) in the blood after 5 days of supplementation with 2-day wash out between.

Time frame: ~26 days

Effect of the optimized dose of epicatechin-rich cocoa on performance

Performance measures (of rate of force development) will be quantified for 3 weeks alongside the ingestion of an optimized dose of epicatechin-rich cocoa vs placebo.

Time frame: ~22 days

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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