Investigating the Effects of Krill Oil and Krill Protein on Post-exercise Muscle Protein Metabolism

Overview

The aim of the current study is to find out if krill oil can increase muscle building processes in response to resistance (weightlifting) type exercise. Others aim are to determine the effects of krill protein, and the interaction of krill oil and protein, on muscle building processes in response to resistance (weightlifting) type exercise.

Full Title of Study: “Investigating the Effects of Krill Oil and Krill Protein on Post-exercise Muscle Protein Metabolism: a Randomised Controlled Trial”

Study Type

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
• Study Primary Completion Date: December 25, 2024

Interventions

• Dietary Supplement: Krill oil
  • Krill oil will be supplemented to see if they can gain strength and/or muscle mass following supplementation.
• Dietary Supplement: Krill protein
  • Krill protein will be given to the participant following a resistance exercise bout.
• Dietary Supplement: Vegetable oil
  • This will be the control against the Krill oil
• Dietary Supplement: Carbohydrate
  • This will be the control for the Krill protein

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

• Placebo Comparator: Vegetable oil + Carbohydrate
  • The vegetable oil will be a placebo control for the Krill oil (4g/day). The carbohydrate will be a placebo control for the Krill protein (20g)
• Experimental: Vegetable oil + Krill protein
  • The vegetable oil will be a placebo control for the Krill oil (4g/day). Krill protein will be our active intervention (20g)
• Experimental: Krill oil + Carbohydrate
  • The Krill oil will be the active supplement for the intervention (4g/day). The carbohydrate will be a placebo control for the Krill protein (20g)
• Experimental: Krill oil + Krill protein
  • Both the Krill oil (4g/day) and the Krill protein will be the active intervention supplements (20g)

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

• Post-exercise muscle protein synthesis
  • Time Frame: 3-7 hours
  • Muscle protein synthesis measured 3-7h after a single bout of resistance exercise

Secondary Measures

• Change in Muscle thickness
  • Time Frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks
  • Vastus lateralis muscle thickness measured by ultrasound
• Change in grip strength
  • Time Frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks
  • Grip strength measured with a Jamar dynamometer
• Change in fat mass
  • Time Frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks
  • Whole body fat mass measured by BIA
• Change in lean mass
  • Time Frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks
  • Whole body lean mass measured by BIA
• Change in muscle strength
  • Time Frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks
  • Knee extensor muscle strength measured isometrically
• Change in Chair rise time
  • Time Frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks
  • Time taken to get up and down from a chair 5 times
• Change in balance
  • Time Frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks
  • Ability to stand for 10 seconds in full tandem, semi-tandem and feet together
• Change in gait speed
  • Time Frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks
  • Time taken to walk 4 metres at a normal walking pace
• Basal muscle protein synthesis
  • Time Frame: 0-3 hours
  • Muscle protein synthesis measured from 0-3h after an overnight fast
• Change in Erythrocyte fatty acid profile
  • Time Frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks
  • Erythrocyte fatty acid profile

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

• Be 60 years old or older – Have a BMI of less than 35kg/m2 – Be participating in structured exercise for less than 2h per week Exclusion Criteria:

• Diabetes – Severe cardiovascular disease – Seizure disorders, – Uncontrolled hypertension (>150/90mmHg at baseline measurement) – Cancer or cancer that has been in remission <5 years – Ambulatory impairments which would limit ability to perform assessments of muscle function – Dementia – Taking medication known to affect muscle (e.g., steroids) – Have an implanted electronic device (e.g., pacemaker/defibrillator/insulin pump), – Anticoagulant therapy – Allergies to seafood – Regular consumption of more than 1 portion of oily fish per week.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 60 Years

Maximum Age: 90 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

• Lead Sponsor
  • University of Glasgow
• Collaborator
  • Aker BioMarine
• Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
  • Principal Investigator: Stuart Gray, Professor – University of Glasgow