Investigation on the Chronic Effects of Nepalese Pepper (Zanthoxylum Armatum DC) on Cognitive Function, Mood and Gaming Performance in Young, Healthy, Action Video Gamers

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if daily supplementation with a Nepalese Pepper Extract (Zanthoxylum Armatum, ZA) can improve cognitive performance and gaming performance in action video gamers aged 16 to 39, when taken over an extended period. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does chronic (42-day) daily ZA supplementation improve speed of cognitive performance and reduce subjective mental fatigue? Do these effects translate into objective and self-reported improvements in gaming performance? Are there additional acute (within-session) effects at the end of a chronic supplementation period, on top of any chronic effect?

Researchers will compare 275mg daily ZA supplementation to placebo to see if chronic ZA produces better cognitive performance and lower fatigue than placebo. Participants will:

Complete a screening call and a training visit on the computerised cognitive tasks and gaming tasks Take a daily capsule (either ZA or placebo, depending on treatment order) each morning with food for 42 days, then switch to the other treatment for a further 42 days after a 2-week washout Attend four testing visits at the research centre: a baseline and an endpoint visit for each 42-day treatment period Avoid alcohol and energy drinks for 24 hours before each testing visit, and caffeine from waking Complete cognitive tests before dosing and 1 hour after dosing at each testing visit Complete mood and sleep questionnaires Wear a heart rate monitor at rest on arrival at each visit Complete gaming-specific tasks (aim training, MOBA character control, multi-tasking, finger tapping, Fitts' Law, multiple object tracking, collision prediction) Play their action video game of choice at home throughout each 42-day period and complete performance questionnaires

Conditions

• Cognition
• Mood
• Gaming Performance
• Fatigue

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Nepalese Pepper (Zanthoxylum Armatum DC) extract 275mg

The intervention is a powdered form of Zanthoxylum Armatum (ZA) extract (SaraPepp™ Nu) delivered in capsule form, taken once daily with food for a 42-day supplementation period. The dosage is 275mg.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo

Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC), delivered in capsule form, taken once daily for a 42-day supplementation period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Solabia Biochemistry AG

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Northumbria University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

39 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-20

Primary Completion

2027-05-01

Completion

2027-09-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations