Alpha-GPC and Physical and Cognitive Performances in Volleyball Players. (VolleyAGPC)

Effects of Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine on Physical and Cognitive Performances in Varsity Volleyball Players

In order to attain the elite level on the national scene, volleyball players need several attributes. In addition to mastering technical and tactical skills, great jumping ability is another important asset. Maximal power output needed to achieve height during a jump necessitates coordinated neuromuscular recruitment and muscle mass among others. Interestingly, there are claims that alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (A-GPC) increases acetylcholine synthesis and enhances exercise-induced increases in plasma growth hormone concentrations, two factors that could theoretically be associated neuromuscular transmission and muscle mass.

However, until now only a few studies have investigated the role of A-GPC in human exercise performance. Published results were mixed. One recent study showed that isometric peak force was slightly but significantly increased when subjects had ingested a daily dose of 600 mg of A-GPC over a period of 6 days (Bellar et al., JISSN, 2015).

The objective of our study is to evaluate the longer-term effects (4 weeks) using a higher dose (1000 mg/day) of A-GPC on jumping capabilities in elite male and female volleyball players.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Athletic Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Placebo; Dietary supplement: Experimental

Detailed Description

Our study design will be a placebo controlled, randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Varsity male and female volleyball players (n=28) will each be asked to participate in both arms of the study, i.e. placebo and A-GPC (1000 mg/kg/day). The duration of each arm of the study will be 4 weeks separated by a 7-day washout period. The order of treatment (placebo or A-GPC) will be determined randomly. Athletes will be asked to maintain their training load during the duration of the experiment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 28
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Quebec
    • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3C3J7
      • CEPSUM (Centre d'éducation physique et des sports de l'université de Montréal)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 15 years to 26 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be a competitive varsity volleyball player

Exclusion Criteria:

• Regular consumption of alpha-GPC within the last 4 months
• Receiving drug treatment except 1) contraception (pill), and 2) treatment against asthma

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Maltodextrin tablets (4x per day) 2 x 250 mg in the morning, 2 x 250 mg 60 min before workout, 4 weeks duration	Dietary supplement: Placebo; Monitoring of supplementation (e.g., compliance, subject blindness), diet (to control dietary choline ingestion), training volume and adverse effects will be performed on a weekly basis to ensure maximal control of confounding factors as well as the safety of volunteers during the study.; Other Names: Maltodextrin; Control
Experimental: Alpha-GPC; Alpha-GPC tablets (4x per day) 2 x 250 mg in the morning, 2 x 250 mg 60 min before workout, 4 weeks duration	Dietary supplement: Experimental; Monitoring of supplementation (e.g., compliance, subject blindness), diet (to control dietary choline ingestion), training volume and adverse effects will be performed on a weekly basis to ensure maximal control of confounding factors as well as the safety of volunteers during the study.; Other Names: Alpha-gpc; Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine; Alpha-gpc supplementation; A-GPC

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in countermovement jump performance at 4 weeks	Jump height is calculated using two forces plates which measures the time the feet are off the platform. The athlete stands upright with weight evenly distributed over both feet. Hands are placed on the hips, and stay there throughout the test. When all is ready, the athlete squats down until the knees are bent at 90 degrees, then immediately jumps vertically as high as possible, landing back on the platform on both feet at the same time. Allow a good rest between trials. The take-off must be from both feet, with no initial steps or shuffling. They must also not pause at the base of the squat.	Assessments at week 0 and at week 4 of supplementation or placebo

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in vertical jump - run up at 4 weeks	Record the standing height of the subject by getting then to stand directly below the apparatus with both feet on tip-toes, and then stretch up one arm and reach as high as possible. The subject then stands the appropriate distance from the base of the apparatus (about 15 feet), and when ready take 3 or so steps before leaping off up off both legs as high as possible, using the arms to assist in projecting the body upwards. The subject should aim to take off just short of the apparatus, so that at the peak of the jump they are directly under it.	Assessments at week 0 and at week 4 of supplementation or placebo
Executive function	"Task switching" is a useful tool to investigate executive functions in humans. This task allows investigation of the ability to maintain, select and switch among task sets.	After 4 weeks of supplementation or placebo

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Université de Montréal
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Samuel St-Arnaud, B.Sc, Université de Montréal; Study Director: Raynald Bergeron, Ph.D, Université de Montréal; Study Director: Jonathan Tremblay, Ph.D, Université de Montréal

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bellar D, LeBlanc NR, Campbell B. The effect of 6 days of alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine on isometric strength. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015 Nov 17;12:42. doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0103-x. eCollection 2015.
• Barbagallo Sangiorgi G, Barbagallo M, Giordano M, Meli M, Panzarasa R. alpha-Glycerophosphocholine in the mental recovery of cerebral ischemic attacks. An Italian multicenter clinical trial. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Jun 30;717:253-69. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb12095.x.
• Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Gonzalez A, Beller NA, Hoffman MW, Olson M, Purpura M, Jager R. The effects of acute and prolonged CRAM supplementation on reaction time and subjective measures of focus and alertness in healthy college students. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2010 Dec 15;7:39. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-7-39.
• Kidd PM. Integrated brain restoration after ischemic stroke--medical management, risk factors, nutrients, and other interventions for managing inflammation and enhancing brain plasticity. Altern Med Rev. 2009 Mar;14(1):14-35.
• Parnetti L, Amenta F, Gallai V. Choline alphoscerate in cognitive decline and in acute cerebrovascular disease: an analysis of published clinical data. Mech Ageing Dev. 2001 Nov;122(16):2041-55. doi: 10.1016/s0047-6374(01)00312-8.
• Traini E, Bramanti V, Amenta F. Choline alphoscerate (alpha-glyceryl-phosphoryl-choline) an old choline- containing phospholipid with a still interesting profile as cognition enhancing agent. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2013 Dec;10(10):1070-9. doi: 10.2174/15672050113106660173.
• Zeisel SH. A brief history of choline. Ann Nutr Metab. 2012;61(3):254-8. doi: 10.1159/000343120. Epub 2012 Nov 26.
• Gajewski PD, Wild-Wall N, Schapkin SA, Erdmann U, Freude G, Falkenstein M. Effects of aging and job demands on cognitive flexibility assessed by task switching. Biol Psychol. 2010 Oct;85(2):187-99. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.06.009. Epub 2010 Jul 3.

Helpful Links

• The effects of alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, caffeine or placebo on markers of mood, cognitive function, power, speed, and agility

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 29, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 20, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): December 20, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 26, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): September 1, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 21, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 19, 2017
• Last Verified: April 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Athletes; Volleyball; Executive functions; Vertical jump; Alpha-GPC; Peak power
• Other Study ID Numbers: Montreal

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Yes
• IPD Plan Description: Individual data obtained from vertical jump assessments and during the cognitive switch task will be communicated to each athlete.