Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Acute Taurine Supplementation, and Isolated Muscular Endurance and Fatigue Resistance in Young Healthy Adults

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the association between near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity of the vastus lateralis muscles, and both local muscular endurance capacity and local muscular fatigability of the thigh muscles in young adults. Additionally, this trial aims to determine the effect of acute taurine supplementation on local muscular endurance capacity and local muscular fatigability when compared to a placebo condition. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Will there be a positive correlation between NIRS rate constant (a marker of mitochondrial function) and local muscular endurance capacity, along with a negative correlation between NIRS rate constant and local muscular fatigability?
2. Will acute taurine supplementation lead to improvements in local muscular endurance capacity and local muscular fatigability when compared to a placebo condition?

Participants will:

1. Complete a NIRS assessment to non-invasively assess the mitochondrial capacity of both vastus lateralis muscles
2. Complete two acute supplementation assessment visits (separated by 7-10 days) which involve small blood collections before and after taurine or placebo supplementation
3. Perform a single-leg extension time-to-exhaustion test to measure local muscular endurance capacity on one leg, along with a repeated maximal voluntary isometric contraction fatigue index test to measure local muscular fatigability on the opposite leg, during each acute supplementation assessment visit.

Conditions

• Local Muscular Endurance and Fatigue
• NIRS Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Capacity
• Acute Taurine Supplementation

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Acute Taurine Supplementation

Participants will ingest six taurine capsules (6 grams of taurine) following a baseline blood collection to determine baseline plasma taurine levels. 60 minutes following ingestion, there will be an additional blood collection to determine post-supplementation plasma taurine levels. Participants will then perform exercise assessments. The order of taurine supplementation relative to placebo supplementation will be randomized in a double-blind crossover with 7-10 days separating each condition.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Acute Placebo Supplementation

Participants will ingest six placebo capsules (1.2 grams of microcrystalline cellulose) following a baseline blood collection to determine baseline plasma taurine levels. 60 minutes following ingestion, there will be an additional blood collection to determine post-supplementation plasma taurine levels. Participants will then perform exercise assessments. The order of placebo supplementation relative to taurine supplementation will be randomized in a double-blind crossover with 7-10 days separating each condition.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Louisiana State University and A&M College

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Alex Cohen, PhD · Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-07-15

Primary Completion

2027-01-15

Completion

2027-01-15

Countries

• United States

Study Locations