The Effect of Lemongrass on Aerobic Performance

Overview

The goal of this experimental study is to examine the influence of Lemongrass extract on aerobic training parameters following a 6-week training programme in males. A secondary aim will be to explore the influence on sexual wellness. Participants will attend 23 visits to the laboratory involving: * fitness testing (some to exhaustion). * blood sampling (capillary and venous samples). * a supervised 6 week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programme. * consuming either the lemongrass extract or placebo in the form of tablets, once a day during the 6 week training.

The study is a randomised, parallel (two groups, lemongrass versus placebo), double-blind, placebo-controlled design in males (25-60 years). Visit 1: Pre-screening Participants will receive information on the study, be assessed for contraindications, be familiarised with the requirements for participation, and provide written informed consent. Visit 2: Familiarisation with the dependent measures Study staff will review physical activity questionnaires, and if eligibility criteria are met, participants will enter the trial. Participants will refrain from physical activity and alcohol consumption for 24 hours, and caffeine for 12 hours before each visit. Next, participants will be familiarised with the equipment to be used during the study. Following a resting capillary blood lactate sample, participants will perform an exercise session on a cycle ergometer, beginning with a 5-minute warm-up at a self-paced intensity equating to approximately 10 on the 6-20 Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. The session will then start with the participant cycling at 50 watts (W) for 4 minutes, with an increase of 30 W every 4 minutes, while blood lactate is taken and heart rate recorded in the last 30 seconds of each stage. Once blood lactate has reached the second inflection point, the test will be terminated. Throughout the exercise session, expired air will be measured using online gas analysis. Visit 3: Baseline measures Participants will report to the laboratory in a fed and hydrated state, having avoided strenuous activity for 24 hours, where baseline measurements of all dependent variables will be taken. Participants will complete a food diary for the 24-hour period prior to testing. The diary will be analysed using dietary analysis software, and participants will be instructed to replicate all food and fluid intake prior to the follow-up testing visit. Upon arrival, a venous blood sample will be collected via the antecubital fossa, which will be frozen and stored for subsequent analysis of exercise-affected metabolites. Participants will then complete a sexual wellbeing questionnaire. Following this, participants will repeat the submaximal protocol described in Visit 2. After a rest period of 10 minutes, participants will complete a graded exercise protocol to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak). The test will start at the intensity immediately below the second inflection point identified on the lactate profile. The intensity will increase by 30 W each minute until VO₂peak is achieved, which will be confirmed when at least one of the following criteria is met: * A plateau in VO₂ despite an increase in workload; * A respiratory exchange ratio (RER) higher than 1.15; * Peak heart rate at least equal to 90% of the age-predicted maximum; * RPE greater than 18; * Blood lactate concentration greater than 8 millimoles per litre (mmol·L-¹). Maximum aerobic power will be defined as the final completed work rate. This will be used for subsequent training prescription (125% of maximal aerobic power \[Pmax\]). Upon completion, participants will be supplied with their assigned product (lemongrass or placebo). They will consume one capsule daily, taken with the main meal prior to training sessions, with this timing repeated on non-training days. 6-Week Training Intervention (Visits 4-22) Participants will be required to attend three training sessions per week for a total duration of six weeks. Participants will complete a series of 30-second efforts at 125% of maximum Pmax (determined during the VO₂peak test), followed by 2 minutes of recovery. In weeks 1-5, participants will complete 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 intervals per session, respectively. In week 6, participants will complete 8 intervals per session (to replicate a taper). Each session will begin with a 5-minute, self-paced warm-up. Participants will maintain their habitual physical activity pattern between visits. Any exercise outside of the study will be recorded. Visit 23: Post-training intervention testing Participants will repeat Visit 3 and complete all dependent measures within 48 hours of the final training session. A follow-up communication via telephone will be conducted within 7 days of completion of the final session to ensure there are no adverse effects from participation.