The Effect of Water With Anti-Inflammatory Capabilities on the Inflammatory Response to Heavy Resistance Exercise (WAC)

March 2, 2026 updated by: Brendon P. McDermott, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The purpose of this research is to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of berry-flavored water in response to an acute bout of exercise. This investigation is part of a larger collaborative project between the Exercise Science Research Center, the Center for Human Nutrition, and the University of Arkansas Sensory Science Center, which seeks to examine the potential of waters infused with naturally occurring bioactive anti-inflammatory volatile compounds to improve overall health. We expect that this water infused with natural bioactive berry volatile compounds will demonstrate preventive physiological benefits in relation to systemic inflammation, including a decreased level of baseline (resting) inflammation and attenuated post-exercise inflammation.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Participants will be asked to refrain from eating berries for 48 hours, drinking alcohol for 24 hours and consuming caffeine for 12 hours prior to reporting for their baseline test, and all subsequent visits to the lab. This will be confirmed via self-report form. All visits to the lab will be completed between the hours of 0700 and 0900 in order to ensure each participant arrives fasted. For baseline testing, occurring on Day 0, participants will determine their 1 repetition maximum (1RM) back squat using standardized protocols set forth by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Following their 1RM determination, participants will receive a dual energy X-ray absorption scan to determine body composition. On Day 6, 24 hours leading into the next visit, participants will be asked to record food and fluid intake via a standard diet log and collect urine output in a urine collection jug for 24 hours. This visit will require participants to come to the lab to pick up a diet log and urine collection jug. On Day 7, participants will report to the lab and offer a blood sample from an antecubital vein. They will then undergo a standardized warm up, which will consist of 5 minutes at a self-selected pace on a treadmill, followed by two sets of 10 body weight squats, 10 glute bridges, and 10 lunges on each leg. Following the warmup, participants will complete an acute heavy resistance exercise protocol (AHREP), which will consist of 6x10 repetition maximum (10RM) back squat, with two minutes rest between sets. This protocol was chosen due to its effectiveness in eliciting a large inflammatory response in other studies. Working set load will be estimated by taking 75% the 1RM weight, which estimates 10RM. Following each set, participants will be asked to rate their effort on a scale of 6-20. Immediately following completion of the exercise, participants will provide another blood sample, before a standardized cool down where they will be asked to walk at a comfortable pace on a treadmill. On Day 8, approximately 24 hours after completion of AHREP1, participants will return to the lab for another blood draw and complete a muscle soreness questionnaire and a self-reported muscle function questionnaire. Prior to leaving the lab, they will be given 42 bottles containing 16.9ozs of berry-infused water, or plain water, which they will be instructed to drink 2 times per day, starting after they leave the lab. On Day 9, approximately 48 hours after completion of AHREP1, the participants return to the lab for another blood draw and another muscle soreness questionnaire. On Day 27, 24 hours leading into the next visit, participants will be asked to record food and fluid intake via a standard diet log and collect urine output in a urine collection jug for 24 hours. This visit will require participants to come to the lab to pick up a diet log and urine collection jug. On Day 28 of the study, participants will return to the lab as a compliance check. They will receive another 42 drinks, (berry-infused water or plain water) as well as offer a blood sample. They will fill out a Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index form and a Profile of Mood States form. On Day 41, 24 hours leading into the next visit, participants will be asked to record food and fluid intake via a standard diet log and collect urine output in a urine collection jug for 24 hours. This visit will require participants to come to the lab to pick up a diet log and urine collection jug. On Day 42 of the study, participants return to the lab and offer a blood sample. They will then undergo a standardized warm up. Following the warmup, participants will complete a second AHREP. Immediately following completion of the exercise, participants will provide another blood sample, before a standardized cool down where they will be asked to walk at a comfortable pace on a treadmill. On Day 43, approximately 24 hours after completion of AHREP2, participants will return to the lab for another blood draw and complete a muscle soreness questionnaire and a self-perceived function questionnaire. On Day 44, approximately 48 hours after completion of AHREP2, the participants return to the lab for another blood draw and another muscle soreness questionnaire and self-perceived function questionnaire. At this point the participation in the study will be concluded and participants compensated for their efforts.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Arkansas
      • Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States, 72701
        • University of Arkansas Exercise Science Research Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Sedentary to moderately active, as defined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Kidney, liver, cardiac, or immune conditions that may compromise their health Not used to lifting weights more than 1 time per month. Participants identified as being 'high fruit/vegetable consumers' will also be excluded from the study because they habitually consume polyphenols and antioxidants already exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects that would compromise our findings.

A history of fainting from routine blood draws.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Consuming WAC beverage for 6 weeks
Other: We made a water with berry essence volatiles (cranberry, blackberry, and blueberry). This was consumed for 6 weeks.
Participants consumed 1L of special water every day for 6 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Inflammation
Time Frame: Baseline, Post-lifting, day 1 post, day 2 post, 3-week post, baseline 2, post-lifting 2, day1 (2), day 2 (2). All over a 6-wk period
Innflammatory biomarkers
Baseline, Post-lifting, day 1 post, day 2 post, 3-week post, baseline 2, post-lifting 2, day1 (2), day 2 (2). All over a 6-wk period

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 17, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 10, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 2, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2102314312

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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