Effect of Acute Phenylcapsaicin Intake on Trained Cross-Training Athletes (CROSSCAPS)

Effect of Acute Phenylcapsaicin Intake on Trained Cross-Training Athletes: a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of acute phenylcapsaicin intake during a cross-training session on perceived exertion, performance, and recovery in cross-training athletes.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Placebo; Dietary supplement: Phenylcapsaicin

Detailed Description

Capsaicin appears to enhance athletic performance by reducing perceived effort, increasing mechanical performance (e.g., total volume load), and decreasing muscle damage. Given the close relationship between the metabolic and physiological responses of cross-training and supplementation with Phenylcapsaicin (PC), it could be expected that consuming capsaicin during cross-training would have a favorable impact on perceived effort, recovery, and performance.

25 women and 24 men trained in CrossFit consumed either Phenylcapsaicin (PC) or a placebo during a CrossFit class, which consisted of a 16-minute weightlifting segment and a 15-minute WOD. Both the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and the Perceived Recovery Status scale (RPS) were administered at the beginning of the session and at the end of each segment of the CrossFit session. DOMS was assessed using a visual analog scale at 24 and 48 hours after the CrossFit session.

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

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Tenerife, Spain
    • Universidad de la Laguna

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18-35 years.
• Body mass index: 18.5-30 kg/m2.
• Ability to understand the instructions, objectives, and study protocol.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in crosstraining, with at least 6 hours of weekly training over the past 3 months.
• Resident on the island of Tenerife.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of a significant adverse cardiovascular event, renal insufficiency, cirrhosis, eating disorder, weight control surgical intervention, or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• Any chronic pathology in which the intake of nutritional supplements, especially pungent components, is not recommended.
• Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would impair the ability to participate in the study or represent a personal risk to the participant.
• Use of medications that may affect the study results.
• Unstable body weight for 3 months prior to the start of the study (> 4 kg loss or gain in weight).
• Active tobacco abuse or illicit drug use, or history of treatment for alcohol abuse.
• On a special diet or prescribed for other reasons (e.g., celiac disease).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Phenylcapsaicin; 2.5 mg of Phenylcapsaicin	Dietary supplement: Phenylcapsaicin; 2.5mg of Phenylcapsaicin
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Preparation of colorants, sweeteners, aromas, and acidulants	Dietary supplement: Placebo; Placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Performance	Performance measured through the countermovement jump	60min
Performance	Deep squat test at 70% of repetition maximum	60min

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Heart rate	Heart rate will be measured with the Polar H10 heart rate monitor	60min
Subjective fatigue throughe the RPE scale	Rate of perceived exertion scale	60min
Recovery	Perceived Recovery Status Scale (RPS)	60min
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)	Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) scale (0-10 arbitrary units)	60min
Capillar lactate levels	Capillar lactate levels	60min
Performance: Weight used in the crosstraining session	Weight used in the crosstraining session	60min
Performance: Time performed in the crosstraining session	Time performed in the crosstraining session	60min

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad de Granada
• Collaborators: Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 2, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 14, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 14, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 14, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: nutrition; recovery; performance; concurrent exercise; Phenylcapsaicin
• Other Study ID Numbers: CROSSCAPS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No