This trial examines if six weeks of taking 450 mg Ashwagandha root extract affects exercise performance and recovery in youth male elite football players. Ashwagandha root extract is increasingly used by athletes, but controlled research in adolescent athletes is limited and the majority of evidence is in an adult population. This study will assess short-term responses in youth players. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either Ashwagandha root extract or a placebo once daily for six weeks. Players will complete training-based tests, provide saliva samples and complete a short, validated questionnaire on perception of wellness. Any adverse events will be documented and reported.
The objective of this trial is to learn whether a short period of taking 450mg of Ashwagandha root extract affects performance, recovery, muscle strength and wellbeing in youth male elite football players. The researchers are studying Ashwagandha root extract as it is increasingly used by athletes and the general population of varying ages for well-being, performance and recovery purposes, despite a lack of controlled research examining its effects in adolescent athletes. Most existing evidence comes from adult populations, and it remains unclear whether similar physiological and perceptual responses occur in adolescents engaged in structured training. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Does taking Ashwagandha root extract change stress levels measured through saliva in youth elite footballers? Does it affect muscle strength, recovery, sleep, or muscle soreness? Participants will be randomly assigned to take either Ashwagandha root extract or a placebo once a day for six weeks. During the study, players will complete strength and fitness tests during usual training time, then provide saliva samples afterwards. Short questionnaires will be solicited the day after about how they feel. Any adverse events that occur during the study will be documented and reported.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
62
450 mg Ashwagandha root extract
450 mg corn starch
Fulham Football Club
London, United Kingdom
Change in Salivary Cortisol Concentration from Baseline to 6 Weeks
Time frame: 6 weeks
Change in Salivary Alpha Amylase from Baseline to 6 Weeks
Time frame: 6 weeks
Change in Handgrip Strength (kg) from Baseline to 6 Weeks
Hand grip strength using CAMRY dynamometer
Time frame: 6 weeks
Change in Countermovement Jump Height (cm) from Baseline to 6 Weeks
Time frame: 6 weeks
Change in 1 km Time Trial Completion Time (seconds) from Baseline to 6 Weeks
Maximal effort run of 1km
Time frame: 6 weeks
Perception of sleep quality
Sleep quality will be assessed using the sleep domain of the Hooper Index, which is one of four domains within the questionnaire (fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness, and sleep). The sleep item is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good sleep and 10 indicates very, very poor sleep. This domain will be analysed independently as a subset of the Hooper Index, rather than as part of the total score.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
Perception of stress
Perceived stress will be assessed using the sleep domain of the Hooper Index, which is one of four domains within the questionnaire (fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness and sleep). The stress item is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good and 10 indicates very, very poor. This domain will be analysed independently as a subset of the Hooper Index, rather than as part of the total score.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
Perception of muscle soreness
Perceived muscle soreness will be assessed using the sleep domain of the Hooper Index, which is one of four domains within the questionnaire (fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness and sleep). The muscle soreness item is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good and 10 indicates very, very poor. This domain will be analysed independently as a subset of the Hooper Index, rather than as part of the total score.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
Perception of fatigue
Perceived fatigue will be assessed using the sleep domain of the Hooper Index, which is one of four domains within the questionnaire (fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness and sleep). The fatigue item is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good and 10 indicates very, very poor. This domain will be analysed independently as a subset of the Hooper Index, rather than as part of the total score.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
Overall Hooper Index Score
Perceived recovery will be assessed using the Hooper Index, which evaluates four domains: fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and sleep quality. Each domain is rated on a 10-point scale (1 to 10), where 1 indicates very, very good and 10 indicates very, very poor. The total Hooper Index score is calculated by summing the four domains, resulting in a possible range of 4 to 40, with higher scores indicating worse perceived recovery, greater fatigue and stress, and lower scores indicating better recovery.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
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