Effects of Short- Term Intermittent Fasting Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity (Performance)

Effects of Short- Term Intermittent Fasting on Neuromuscular Performance, Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity

The therapeutic use of caloric restriction and intermittent fasting (IF) protocols improves life span and health related quality of life. The effects of fasting protocols on athletic performance and training adaptations have been primarily studied in athletes undergoing the Ramadan IF protocol or in athletes willing to decrease body fat, while maintaining or increasing lean body mass. Data from these studies are somewhat conflicting and unclear. Moreover, the effects of IF on muscular strength, as well as in aerobic and anaerobic capacity remain largely unknown. Anecdotal evidence from experienced participants in strength, power and endurance training or sports, indicates an increased ability to acutely display higher levels of work capacity in the fasted vs. fed state. The goal of this project is to determine the effects of 4 wks of IF on neuromuscular performance, aerobic and anaerobic capacity of well-trained young adults.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Healthy Males; Men
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Experimental Group

Detailed Description

This 3-year project will include two groups of participants: 1) young men accustomed to resistance training (study #1) and 2) young men accustomed to endurance training (study #2). Inclusion will be limited to healthy participants (i.e. nonsmokers, normotensive with systolic and diastolic values <135/85 mmHg, non-obese, non-medicated, and free of any known disease as assessed by medical history) (Pickering, Hall et al. 2005). Month 1-3 will focus on literature review and month 4 to 8 will address experimental settings preparation and selection of participants to include in each study. Testing and data collection will be scheduled for months 9-14 and 13-18 (study # 1 and 2 related testing, respectively). Data processing, analysis and presentation will occur from month 21 to 33. All participants will read and sign an informed consent document with the description of the testing procedures. The Faculty's ethical committee will be asked to approve this document before testing. All studies will follow a randomized crossover design, with measures taken before and after the defined IF periods and participants of each group serving as their own controls. Two groups of participants will be included in this project: 1) group #1: resistance trained group (tested for neuromuscular function, anaerobic capacity and body composition); 2) group #2: endurance trained group (tested for aerobic and anaerobic capacity and body composition). In a randomized, counterbalanced manner, all participants will be tested in two different conditions: control condition (pre- and post4 wks of normal diet) vs. experimental condition (pre- and post-4 wks of IF). A 2-wk washout period will separate both conditions. Measurements will be taken during the morning period (between 07:00 and 11:00 am) in the fasted state. Neuromuscular function and anaerobic capacity will be assessed on separate days (with at least a 48- hour interval) to ensure full recovery.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Joana M. Correia, Master; Phone Number: 911197842; Email: joanacorreia-19@live.com.pt

Study Locations

• Portugal
  • Lisboa, Portugal, 1499-002
    • Recruiting
    • Joana Correia
    • Contact: Joana Correia; Phone Number: 911197842; Email: joanacorreia-19@live.com.pt

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Inclusion will be limited to young, healthy men with aged 20- 30 years. All participants will exhibit > 3 years of continued experience and current participation in strength and power sports/training (training frequency of at least 3 times/wk). As importantly, the following criteria will also be determinant for inclusion: 1) bench press one-repetition maximum/bodyweight ratio > 1.26 (i.e. above the 80 percentile for 20 to 29-year-old males) (ACSM 2013) and 2) leg press one-repetition maximum /bodyweight ratio > 2.08 (i.e. above the 80 percentile for 20 to 29-year-old males) (ACSM 2013). Finally, for inclusion, all participants will have to follow the nutritional and training recommendations at pre-testing time point.
• For study 2, as for study 1, Inclusion will be limited to young, healthy men with aged 20- 30 yrs. All participants will exhibit > 3 yrs of continued experience and current participation in endurance based sports/training (training frequency of at least 3 times/wk). We will only include participants with VO2peak values > 49 mL.kg-1.min-1(i.e. above the 80 percentile for 20 to 29-year-old males) (ACSM 2013). Finally, for inclusion, all participants will have to follow the nutritional and training recommendations at pre-testing time point.

Exclusion Criteria:

• All participants who do not meet the inclusion criteria mentioned above.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group; Measures taken before and after the defined IF periods. Two groups of participants will be included in this project: 1) resistance trained group (tested for neuromuscular function, anaerobic capacity and body composition); 2) endurance trained group (tested for aerobic and anaerobic capacity and body composition). Experimental condition: pre- and post-4 weeks of IF. Measurements will be taken during the morning period (between 07:00 and 11:00 am) in the fasted state. Neuromuscular function and anaerobic capacity will be assessed on separate days (with at least a 48- hour interval) to ensure full recovery.	Other: Experimental Group; This 3-year project will include two groups of participants: 1) young men accustomed to resistance training (study #1) and 2) young men accustomed to endurance training (study #2). Inclusion will be limited to healthy participants (i.e. nonsmokers, normotensive with systolic and diastolic values <135/85 mmHg, non-obese, non-medicated, and free of any known disease as assessed by medical history) (Pickering, Hall et al. 2005). Month 1-3 will focus on literature review and month 4 to 8 will address experimental settings preparation and selection of participants to include in each study. Testing and data collection will be scheduled for months 9-14 and 13-18 (study # 1 and 2 related testing, respectively). Data processing, analysis and presentation will occur from month 21 to 33. All participants will read and sign an informed consent document with the description of the testing procedures. The Faculty's ethical committee will be asked to approve this document before testing.; Other Names: Aerobic capacity; Anaerobic capacity; Neuromuscular performance
Other: Control Group; Participants of each group serving as their own controls. Control condition: pre- and post4 weeks of normal diet. Measurements will be taken during the morning period (between 07:00 and 11:00 am) in the fasted state. Neuromuscular function and anaerobic capacity will be assessed on separate days (with at least a 48-hour interval) to ensure full recovery.	Other: Experimental Group; This 3-year project will include two groups of participants: 1) young men accustomed to resistance training (study #1) and 2) young men accustomed to endurance training (study #2). Inclusion will be limited to healthy participants (i.e. nonsmokers, normotensive with systolic and diastolic values <135/85 mmHg, non-obese, non-medicated, and free of any known disease as assessed by medical history) (Pickering, Hall et al. 2005). Month 1-3 will focus on literature review and month 4 to 8 will address experimental settings preparation and selection of participants to include in each study. Testing and data collection will be scheduled for months 9-14 and 13-18 (study # 1 and 2 related testing, respectively). Data processing, analysis and presentation will occur from month 21 to 33. All participants will read and sign an informed consent document with the description of the testing procedures. The Faculty's ethical committee will be asked to approve this document before testing.; Other Names: Aerobic capacity; Anaerobic capacity; Neuromuscular performance

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline Performance at 4 weeks	Neuromuscular performance, aerobic and anaerobic capacity	4weeks (experiemental) + 4weeks (control)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline Body Composition at 4 weeks	Fat Free Mass (kilograms), Fat Mass (kilograms), Body Mass Index (kg/m^2), Body Weight (kilograms)	4weeks (experiemental) + 4weeks (control)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Faculdade de Motricidade Humana
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joana M. Correia, Master, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 22, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 12, 2021
• Study Completion (Anticipated): February 5, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): February 16, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 26, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 25, 2022
• Last Verified: July 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: aerobic capacity; Intermittent fasting; neuromuscular performance; anaerobic capacity
• Other Study ID Numbers: joana_correia

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Public articles with no reference to participants
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: The data will be stored in an SPSS and excel database, on the server of the Faculty of Human Motricity assigned to the Motor Behavior Laboratory. Paper-based documents will be destroyed after the data processing matrix is built.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Public articles with no reference to participants
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No