Timing of Broccoli Sprout Intake to Improve Exercise Performance (NCT07461194) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Timing of Broccoli Sprout Intake to Improve Exercise Performance
30 participantsStarted 2026-03-31
Plain-language summary
This study examines how the timing of intake of a broccoli sprout-based drink (a natural source of isothiocyanates, ITCs) affects physiological responses, recovery, and performance after a standardized endurance cycling session. Healthy, endurance-trained adults (18-64 years) will complete four laboratory visits at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH): one screening/physiology test visit and three intervention visits in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design. On intervention visits, participants will ingest either an active broccoli sprout drink (50 g sprouts) or a placebo drink based on alfalfa sprouts (50 g sprouts) according to randomization. The drink will be consumed either approximately 16 hours before exercise (the evening before) or approximately 3 hours before exercise (the morning of the test), enabling comparison of timing in relation to a standardized \~2-hour cycling protocol (individualized intensity) followed by a 10 km cycling time trial. Outcomes include measures of performance, heart rate, perceived exertion and recovery, blood glucose and lactate, and metabolic responses. Venous blood samples are collected at multiple time points before and after exercise and during the subsequent laboratory recovery period, and muscle biopsies are obtained at defined time points to assess muscle metabolism and recovery-related markers. Participants return \~24 hours after exercise for follow-up sampling after an overnight fast, including a glucose tolerance test
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 50 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
Healthy, endurance-trained adults aged 18-64 years.
Regular endurance training (e.g., cycling/running) and ability to complete a standardized 2-hour high-intensity cycling session on an ergometer.
Approved health declaration and screening assessment by study staff (including that ergometer testing can be performed safely).
Willing and able to follow the study protocol (diet/fasting instructions, standardized training before visits, attendance at all four laboratory visits).
No known allergy/hypersensitivity to ingredients in the broccoli sprout drink or placebo drink.
Exclusion Criteria:
Does not meet inclusion criteria at screening (e.g., abnormal health declaration or medical findings making intense endurance exercise or muscle biopsy inappropriate).
Known allergy/hypersensitivity to ingredients in the intervention or placebo drink (broccoli/cruciferous vegetables or alfalfa) or other relevant food allergy.
Ongoing illness, fever, or infection at any test occasion, or other acute medical event judged to affect safety or data quality.
Ongoing treatment with medications/supplements judged to affect primary outcomes or increase risk (e.g., anti-inflammatory medication close to test days per study instructions).
Pregnancy (if women are included) or breastfeeding.
Inability to comply with the study protocol (e.g., failure to standardize diet/fasting, deviating training/alcohol intake despite instructions, or repeated missed visits).
Participant w…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Lactate
Timeframe: During exercise and across the 0 to 8 hours recovery period (hourly venous samples), and at the follow-up, approximately 24 hours post-exercise.
2
Glucose
Timeframe: During exercise and across the 0 to 8 hours recovery period (hourly venous samples), and at the follow-up, approximately 24 hours post-exercise.
3
Glycogen
Timeframe: Before exercise, immediately post-exercise, 8 hours post-exercise, and 24 hours post-exercise
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07461194
SponsorThe Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences