Echinacea-based Supplement Does Not Improve Markers of Performance in Athletes
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The purpose of this study was three-fold. We wanted to (1) determine if supplementation with
an echinacea-based dietary supplement (ECH) would increase several blood parameters that
could affect oxygen carrying capacity in the body, (2) determine if ECH would increase VO2max
in trained endurance athletes, and (3) examine the effectiveness of two different doses of
the ECH on all outcome variables. We hypothesized that supplementation with ECH would
increase oxygen carrying capacity (as measured by RBCs, EPO, ferritin, hemoglobin (Hb), and
hematocrit (Hct) levels), improve VO2max, and that the maximum dose would be most effective
at increasing these outcomes.