High Altitude Muscle Recovery

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: High Altitude

In brief

To understand alterations in glycogen and molecular regulation of skeletal muscle glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, and muscle protein recovery when consuming CHO (glucose) or CHO+PRO (glucose + whey) post-exercise during unacclimatized high altitude exposure, randomized crossover double blinded studies will be conducted in the hypobaric/hypoxic chamber at USARIEM Table 1. Briefly, the study consists of a 2 day baseline period at SL followed by two, 3 day trial periods (with the 3rd day being a testing day) at HA. The baseline is separated from trial 1 for a least a day, and trial 1 \& 2 separated by at least 4 days. Volunteers will consume CHO (glucose) or CHO+PRO (glucose + whey) drinks post-exercise during unacclimatized high altitude exposure during the two trial periods. The order of the drinks will be randomized (using a random number generator such as randomizer.org) and kept by a study staff not directly involved in data collection to maintain blinding.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT06392373
Run by: United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
People needed: 8
Starts: 2023-10-01
Expected to finish: 2023-12-19
Last updated by the study team: 2025-03-20

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 39. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

Men and women aged 18 - 39 years
Physically active (exercise minimum 2-4 days per week)
Have supervisor approval (permanent party military and civilians at NSSC)
Willing to refrain from alcohol, nicotine products and dietary supplement use during the study
Females must have normal menstrual cycles between 26-32 days in duration; 5 menstrual cycles within the past 6 months; or using oral/hormonal contraceptive use which contains low-dose estrogen/progesterone to maintain continuous levels throughout the 28-day cycle (i.e., no placebos)
Only consume caffeine products during the study if provided by study staff

You may not qualify if…

Born at altitudes greater than 2,100 m (Subjects will inform the study team if they were born in Eagar AZ, Mammoth Lakes CA, CO, NM, UT, or WY).
Musculoskeletal injuries that compromise exercise capability
Metabolic or cardiovascular abnormalities, or gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. hypothyroidism, cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease, etc.)
Taking medication that affects macronutrient metabolism and/or the ability to participate in strenuous exercise (e.g. thyroxine, beta blockers, insulin etc.)
Living in areas that are more than 1,200 m, or traveled to areas that are more than 1,200 m for five days or more within 2 months of data collection (e.g. Idaho Falls, ID; Denver, CO; etc.)
Prior diagnosis of high-altitude pulmonary edema or high-altitude cerebral edema
Presence of asthma or respiratory tract infections
Smoking or vaping (other forms of nicotine users, i.e., chewing tobacco will not be excluded; individuals who quit smoking or vaping for more than 90 days may be included)
Taking medications that interfere with oxygen delivery and transport (e.g. albuterol, EPO, etc.)
Hematocrit (HCT) <41% and Hemoglobin (HBG) <13.5 g/dL(Males), HCT <36% and HBG <12.0 g/dL (Females), and Sickle Cell Anemia/Trait
Whole blood donation within 8 weeks of the study
Unwilling or unable to only consume study diets or foods provided due to personal preference, dietary restrictions, and/or food allergies
Unwilling or unable to adhere to study physical restrictions (abstain from exercise or recreational activities i.e., pick-up basketball during the study procedures)
Pregnant, trying to become pregnant, and/or breastfeeding (results of urine pregnancy test or self-report for breastfeeding will be obtained before body composition testing)

Where it is running

USARIEM — Natick, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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