Effect of a Nutritional Supplement on Muscle Recovery (RECOVER)

The Role of a Nutritional Formulation Containing Caprylic Acid and Omega 3 Fatty Acids in Promoting Skeletal Muscle Function Recovery to Damaging Exercise in Healthy, Young Volunteers

The aim is to develop a food supplement drink that supports muscle health by combining specific fatty acids, which can positively affect metabolic and inflammation processes that are important for muscle health.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Vegan supplement containing caprylic acid and omega-3 fatty acids; Dietary supplement: Control drink

Detailed Description

This study will assess the effects of a vegan nutritional formulation containing caprylic acid and omega-3 fatty acids on recovery from muscle-damaging exercise. The goal is to determine whether this supplement can mitigate muscle damage, reduce inflammation, and accelerate functional recovery, thereby supporting long-term muscle health and functional independence. This research has the potential to reveal a novel approach to muscle health management, contributing to the development of safe and effective nutritional strategies that support healthy aging.

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

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Silvie Timmers, PhD; Phone Number: +31 317-484 136; Email: silvie.timmers@wur.nl

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Gelderland
    • Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands, 6708WD
      • Recruiting
      • Wageningen University and Research
      • Contact: Human and Animal Physiology; Phone Number: +31317484136; Email: office.hap@wur.nl

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Young (≥18 and ≤35 years)
• Male sex
• Non-obese (≥18.5 and ≤27.5 kg/m2)
• Recreationally active (performing non-competitive exercise at least one time a week for minimally 30 minutes)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoking
• Participation in structural exercise with a major eccentric component (e.g. soccer, basketball, trail running, etc…)
• Chronic use of any prescribed over the counter pharmaceuticals
• Any history of medical or surgical events that may effect the study outcomes
• Following a specific diet (e.g. weight loss, ketogenic, vegan)
• Taking protein supplements

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Testdrink; Drink containing caprylic acid and omega-3 fatty acids	Dietary supplement: Vegan supplement containing caprylic acid and omega-3 fatty acids; Seven day supplementation with a muscle damaging exercise performed on day four
Placebo Comparator: Control drink; Control drink that differs in fatty acid composition	Dietary supplement: Control drink; Seven day supplementation with a muscle damaging exercise performed on day four

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in isometric muscle strength of the vastus lateralis muscle on a muscle dynamometer before and 72h after damaging exercise	The main study endpoint is the change in skeletal muscle function recovery from a single bout of damaging eccentric exercise between an emulsion containing caprylic acid and omega 3 fatty acids, compared to a control emulsion, from before exercise (t=0) to 72 hours post-exercise. Skeletal muscle function will be measured as maximal voluntary isometric muscle strength of the vastus lateralis muscle on a muscle dynamometer. The maximal voluntary strength is expressed as maximal voluntary contraction (Newtons).	The change in muscle strength will be measured at time points 0 hours (before exercise), and post exercise, and at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours post exercise.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in muscle fatigue from before until 72 hours after damaging exercise measured with electrical stimulation on a muscle dynamometer	The change in muscle fatigue recovery from a single bout of damaging eccentric exercise between an emulsion containing caprylic acid and omega 3 fatty acids compared to a control emulsion will be examined by means of a two-minute fatigue inducing protocol on a skeletal muscle dynamometer. Every other second during two minutes, electrically induced muscle contractions will be evoked on the vastus lateralis muscle at 40% of the maximal voluntary muscle strength. The percental decline in muscle force (N) generating capacity will be monitored as indicator of fatigue resistance.	The change in fatigue resistance will be measured at time points 0 hours (before exercise), and post exercise, and at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours post exercise.
Change in muscle soreness from before until up to 72 hours after a damaging exercise using a VAS-Scale and soreness questionnaire	The change in muscle soreness from a single bout of eccentric exercise between an emulsion containing caprylic acid and omega 3 fatty acids, compared to a control emulsion will be measured by means of a VAS-Scale, measuring current muscle soreness, as well as a retrospective pain questionnaire, measuring muscle soreness over the preceding 24 hours.	The change in muscle soreness will be measured at time points 0 hours (before exercise), and post exercise, and at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours post exercise.
Plasma creatine kinase concentrations before and up to 72 hours after damaging exercise in blood	The change in creatine kinase concentrations from a single bout of eccentric exercise between an emulsion containing caprylic acid and omega 3 fatty acids, compared to a control emulsion, will be measured using commercially available kits.	The change in plasma creatine kinase will be measured at time points 0 hours (before exercise), and post exercise, and at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours post exercise.
Plasma cholesterol concentrations before and up to 72 hours after damaging exercise in blood	The change in plasma cholesterol concentrations from a single bout of eccentric exercise between an emulsion containing caprylic acid and omega 3 fatty acids, compared to a control emulsion, will be measured using commercially available kits	The change in plasma cholesterol concentrations will be measured at time points 0 hours (before exercise), and post exercise, and at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours post exercise.
Plasma triglyceride concentrations before and up to 72 hours after damaging exercise in blood	The change in plasma triglyceride concentrations from a single bout of eccentric exercise between an emulsion containing caprylic acid and omega 3 fatty acids, compared to a control emulsion, will be measured using commercially available kits.	The change in plasma triglycerides will be measured at time points 0 hours (before exercise), and post exercise, and at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours post exercise.
Plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations before and up to 72 hours after damaging exercise in blood	The change in plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations from a single bout of eccentric exercise between an emulsion containing caprylic acid and omega 3 fatty acids, compared to a control emulsion, will be measured using commercially available kits.	The change in plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate will be measured at time points 0 hours (before exercise), and post exercise, and at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours post exercise.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wageningen University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 26, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 21, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 14, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Fatty Acids; Lipids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Oils; Dietary Fats; Fats; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Fish Oils; Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Other Study ID Numbers: NL88300.028.24

Drug and device information, study documents

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