Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Investigation of the Acute Effects of Nepalese Pepper Extract (Zanthoxylum Armatum DC) on Cognitive Function, Mood and Gaming Performance in Young, Healthy, Competitive Gamers

ConditionsCognitionMoodGaming PerformanceFatigue
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age16-34
SponsorNorthumbria University

About this trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a Nepalese Pepper Extract (Zanthoxlum Armatum, ZA) supplement can improve cognitive performance and mental abilities in competitive gamers aged 16 to 34. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does ZA supplement improve cognitive abilities like attention, memory, and decision-making? 2. What is the most effective dose of ZA supplement (300mg vs 150mg)? 3. How do the effects of ZA supplement compare to caffeine?

Researchers will compare four different treatments (high-dose ZA, low-dose ZA, caffeine, and placebo) to see if ZA supplement produces better cognitive performance than placebo and how it compares to caffeine\*\*.

Participants will:

* Complete a screening visit with health checks and training on computer tasks * Attend four testing visits (7-14 days apart) where they receive different treatments * Avoid alcohol and energy drinks for 24 hours before each visit, and caffeine from waking * Take assigned treatment at 11:30am and complete cognitive tests at -1, 1, 3, and 5 hours in relation to dose. * Complete mood questionnaires, sleep assessments, and gaming-specific tasks (aim training, character control) * Wear heart rate monitors during testing * Eat standardized meals provided during visits * Play competitive games at home in the evening and complete performance questionnaires

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Aged 16 to 34 years inclusive

Males and females

Self-report of good health

Usually a regular (at least once per week) player of competitive multiplayer games, (prospective participants will be asked to contact the researchers to discuss their gaming habits if uncertain that they meet the criteria).

Disqualifiers

Have any pre-existing medical condition/illness which will impact taking part in the study (i.e. participants may be allowed to progress to screening if they have a condition/illness which would not interact with the active treatments or impede performance).

Are currently taking prescription medications NOTE: the explicit exceptions to this are contraceptive treatments for female participants, and those taken 'as needed' in the treatment of asthma and hay fever. There may be other instances of medication use which, where no interaction with the active treatments is likely, and which would not be expected to have any impact on brain function, participants may be able to progress to screening.

Have high blood pressure (systolic over 139 mm Hg or diastolic over 89 mm Hg); or have low blood pressure (systolic below 90 mm Hg or diastolic below 60 mm Hg)

Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) outside of the range 18.5-35 kg/m2

Trial design

Design model

Crossover

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Nepalese Pepper (Zanthoxylum Armatum) extract 150mg

    Dietary supplement

    The intervention is a powdered form of Zanthoxylum Armatum (ZA) extract delivered in capsule form. The dosage is 150mg.

  • Nepalese Pepper (Zanthoxylum Armatum) extract 300mg

    Dietary supplement

    The intervention is a powdered form of Zanthoxylum Armatum (ZA) extract delivered in capsule form. The dosage is 300mg.

  • Placebo

    Dietary supplement

    Microcristalline Cellulose MCC

  • Caffeine 75mg

    Dietary supplement

    Caffeine anhydrous Pulver, 75mg

Treatment groups

60 Participants
are divided into 4 treatment groups
Group A: ZA 150mgExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: ZA 300mgExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: CaffeineActive comparator 1 intervention
Group D: PlaceboPlacebo comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Speed of Attention

Score calculated through performance on Rapid Visual Information Processing, Simple Reaction Time and Choice Reaction Time

Time frame
Prior to intervention on each testing visit for each arm, along with post dose 1 hour, post dose 3 hour and post dose 5 hour.
2

Subjective Fatigue

Following completion of Cognitive Demand Battery subjective fatigue will be assessed through self assessment of fatigue levels.

Time frame
Prior to intervention on each testing visit for each arm, along with post dose 1 hour, post dose 3 hour and post dose 5 hour.

Secondary outcomes

1

Accuracy of Attention

Score calculated through combined performance on Rapid Visual Information Processing and Choice Reaction Time tasks

Time frame
Prior to intervention on each testing visit for each arm, along with post dose 1 hour, post dose 3 hour and post dose 5 hour.
2

Speed of Performance

Score calculated through combined performance on Numeric Working Memory, SRT, CRT, RVIP, Stroop, Delayed Picture Recognition, Delayed Word Recognition

Time frame
Prior to intervention on each testing visit for each arm, along with post dose 1 hour, post dose 3 hour and post dose 5 hour.
3

Accuracy of Performance

Score calculated through combined performance on Immediate Word Recall, CRT, Corsi Blocks, RVIP, Stroop, Delayed Word Recall, Delayed Picture Recognition, Delayed Word Recognition

Time frame
Prior to intervention on each testing visit for each arm, along with post dose 1 hour, post dose 3 hour and post dose 5 hour.
4

Working memory

Score calculated through combined performance on Numeric Working Memory, Corsi Blocks

Time frame
Prior to intervention on each testing visit for each arm, along with post dose 1 hour, post dose 3 hour and post dose 5 hour.

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Northumbria University

Lead sponsor

Mibelle Group Biochemistry

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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