Acute Effects of Organic Guayusa Extract

Nathaniel Jenkins32 enrolled

Overview

Guayusa extract is a caffeinated tea leaf unique blend of antioxidants and caffeine. It is marketed as an ingredient that can help support energy and performance with potential health-related benefits. It has also been indicated as being as safe as any other existing teas (i.e., green tea). However, no studies have previous studied the dose-response effects of guayusa extract for supporting cognitive function, mood, metabolism, nor its effects on resting heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram characteristics.

Guayusa extract is a caffeinated Amazonian 'super-leaf' belonging to the holly species that contains a unique blend of polyphenol antioxidants and caffeine (\~20% caffeine, 30% chlorogenic acids, 5% catechins). It is also remarkably low in tannins which are responsible for the bitter taste found in most teas - giving it a sweet flavor profile. As such, it is marketed as an ingredient that can help support energy and performance (e.g., via caffeine content) with potential health-related benefits due to its antioxidant properties. Indeed, ingredients such as these are often consumed by individuals prior to exercise in order to help improve neurocognitive performance, mood, or otherwise to support health-related goals such as metabolism. Whereas several studies have suggested that caffeine and chlorogenic acid consumption may improve performance, mood, and concentration, and some evidence in animals have linked catechin consumption to improved health outcomes, no studies have previous studied whether guayusa extract supplementation helps to support these, nor has the dose-effectiveness been tested, in humans. In this study, the effects of acute dietary supplementation with two different doses of botanical organic guayusa extract on neurocognitive/motor-cognitive performance, mood, focus, and jitteriness, resting metabolism, and resting heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram characteristics will be examined.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Acute Physiological Effects of Organic Guayusa Extract

Interventions

Acute Moderate-Dose Guayusa Extract SupplementationDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume two vegan capsules with one capsule containing 600 mg AmaTea® and 1 containing 600 mg dextrose.

Acute High-Dose Guayusa Extract SupplementationDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume two vegan capsules with each capsule containing 600 mg AmaTea® (1200 mg total).

PlaceboDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume two vegan capsules with each capsule containing 600 mg dextrose (1200 mg total).

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 45 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 18-45 years, inclusive * Physically active (\>=150 min/wk or \>=75 min/wk Moderate or Vigorous PA) for \>=3 months * BMI \<= 30 kg/m2 * Otherwise healthy * Habitual caffeine consumption \>=200 mg/day OR 1-week washout of current caffeine usage prior to participation Exclusion Criteria: * Current injury or illness that precludes exercise participation * Current nicotine or cannabis use * Use of prescription ADD/ADHD, anti-depressant, or other central acting medication, or previously diagnosed ADD/ADHD, clinically depressed, or generalized anxiety disorder * Current taking prescription stimulants (i.e., Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, etc.) * Participants with a history of metabolic, hepatorenal, musculoskeletal, autoimmune, or neurologic disease; or currently taking thyroid, hormonal, hyperlipidemic, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, or anti-coagulant medications. * Treated for Metabolic Syndrome or having been clinically diagnosed with, or taking medication for a cardiometabolic-disorder (e.g., Pre-diabetes, Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, etc.) * Currently pregnant or lactating * Diagnosed allergy to any ingredient present within the study treatments * Current competitive NCAA athlete * Inability or unwillingness to comply with the controls and conditions of the study

Locations (1)

Integrative Laboratory of Applied Physiology and Lifestyle Medicine

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Mood

Calculated as Total Mood Disturbance (arbitrary units) using the Profile of Mood States Short Form Questionnaire.

Time frame: 90-minutes Post-supplementation

Psychomotor Speed

How well participant perceived, attends, responds to visual-perceptive information, and performs motor speed and fine motor coordination. Calculated as the sum of finger taps in finger tapping test and correct responses in the symbol digit coding test.

Time frame: 60-minutes Post-supplementation

Executive Function

How well participant recognized rules, categories, and manages or navigates rapid decisions making. Calculated as the differences between Shifting Attention Test Correct Responses and Errors.

Time frame: 60-minutes Post-supplementation

Secondary Outcomes

Jitteriness

Participants will describe how jittery they feel after supplemention using a 0-100 mm visual analog scale.

Time frame: 90-minutes Post-supplementation

Focus

Participants will describe how focused they feel after supplemention using a 0-100 mm visual analog scale.

Time frame: 90-minutes Post-supplementation

Energy

Participants will describe how energetic they feel after supplemention using a 0-100 mm visual analog scale.

Time frame: 90-minutes Post-supplementation

Resting Metabolic Rate

Resting metabolic rate (kcal/min) will be quantified from resting, fasted analyses of pulmonary gas exchange.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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