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Head InjuryEarly Phase 1NCT06270680

Carotenoids for Collision Athletes

A Early Phase 1 study testing Vision Edge Pro in people with Head Injury and Carotenoids, run by Penn State University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This is a supplement study being conducted to find out if collision sport athletes who are exposed to repetitive head impacts while supplementing with carotenoids will have decreased pro-inflammatory blood biomarkers, increases in macular pigment optical density, improved contrast sensitivity, greater retinal nerve… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Head Injury, Carotenoids
What is being tested?
Vision Edge Pro
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
31 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Aug 2024to 22 Nov 2024
Phase
Early Phase 1
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Collision sport athletes:
  • Penn State student ages 18 and over
  • Any gender
  • Participating in club, or intramural collision-sports and is willing to participate in this study (examples: hockey, lacrosse, soccer, wrestling, rugby, boxing, basketball, cheer).

Who cannot join

  • For all subjects:
  • Subjects with concurrent injury that would impair their ability to perform the assigned procedures will be excluded.
  • Under 18 years of age.
  • Not a Penn State Student
  • Not participating in a collision sport.
  • Diagnosis of a learning disability impacting their capacity to consent.
Show all 9Show fewer
  • History of ocular or neurological disease (glaucoma, macular degeneration, MS, Parkinson's)
  • Concussion diagnosis within the last calendar year.
  • However, if a subject sustains a concussion during the course of the study, they may remain as an active participant if they wish to do so.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • The Pennsylvania State University

    University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Efficacy of Carotenoids on Blood Biomarkers Following A Collision Sport Athletes

This is a supplement study being conducted to find out if collision sport athletes who are exposed to repetitive head impacts while supplementing with carotenoids will have decreased pro-inflammatory blood biomarkers, increases in macular pigment optical density, improved contrast sensitivity, greater retinal nerve fiber thickness, and better overall visual quality of life scores compared to collision athletes taking a placebo.

Read the detailed description

Originally adapted to augment macular pigment for anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, blue light, and visual performance purposes, supplementation with carotenoids has been tested in animal models for protective effects against traumatic brain injury (TBI). Results have been promising, as mice provided with the three main carotenoids (Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin, and Zeaxanthin) following TBI displayed reduced levels of pro-inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, and GFAP) and increased levels of GAP43, NCAM, and BDNF, signaling activation of anti-oxidant systems.

Due to inflammation of the visual system following trauma, immune responses in the eye are for both reparative and protective purposes. However, cytokines released by immune cells compromise visual acuity by means of inflammation and fibrosis (scarring). As such, inflammation to the visual system (including visual processing structures in the brain) carries the danger of visual impairment. Research examining chronic inflammatory responses in the optic tract and subsequent visual dysfunction found mTBI in rodent models to increase GFAP, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and degeneration of axons up to 3.5 months post-injury. As such, inflammation of the visual system is a measurable phenomenon in rodent models, conveying the need for human subjects research. The nutrients found in the proposed test supplement, lutein, zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, along with the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, are deposited in the brain regions that are often found to be affected by a collision-related head injury. Thus, an exploratory study of this topic is proposed, utilizing the three main carotenoids in the form of a MacuHealth supplement.

Optical Coherence Tomography has become a critical clinical tool when discovering and diagnosing disease and neurological disorders of the eyes. It works to map the retina in order to give ophthalmologists precise measurements of the tissues which make up this important part of human anatomy and helps medical experts to diagnosis diseases of the eye such as Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration. In terms of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL), a study found Olympic boxers to have thinner RNFL compared to controls. Another study found RNFL thickness as a significant predictor of athlete vs control status, with 4.8-um of thinning seen on average in athletes (boxing, football) when compared to controls.

Although vision disorders are so common, VQOL - to our knowledge - is not specifically addressed following exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI), concussion, or during return-to-play protocol. In sports such as football, hockey, and boxing where participants are exposed to RHI, participation while experiencing decreased VQOL or visual functionality could prove costly to the health of those athletes. Poor visual acuity and photophobia following concussion have been cited as indicators of poor VQOL. As such, use of the VFQ-25 and the 10-Item Supplement may be important additions to current clinical practice when evaluating the baseline health status of athletes, and following the completion of a collision-sport season.

Being tested
Vision Edge Pro, Placebo
Keywords
Carotenoids, Brain injury, Head impacts, Vision
Medical subject headings
Craniocerebral Trauma, Brain Injuries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Vision Edge ProDrug

    Also called Carotenoid supplement

    Each dose will consist of one supplement capsule containing 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin, 10 mg mesozeaxanthin, 50mg EPA, 250mg DHA. Capsules are to be taken orally, once daily with a meal. Duration of supplementation will last approximately 2 - 5 months, depending on the length of the athletic seasons for the sports recruited.

  • PlaceboOther

    A sunflower oil placebo containing 380 mg of sunflower oil

Study groups in NCT06270680
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Supplement GroupExperimentalThe group receiving the carotenoid supplement.
Receives: Drug: Vision Edge Pro
Placebo GroupPlacebo comparatorThe group receiving the placebo.
Receives: Other: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Blood and saliva biomarkers via venous blood draw and spitting into sterile cup.

    1. To explore the effect of Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin, and Zeaxanthin supplementation on blood and saliva biomarkers following a single competitive season of collegiate collision sport. Specific markers will include GFAP, NF-L, UCH-L1, SBDP, Tau, S100B, BDNF, IL-1B, IL-6.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

  2. Visual Performance: Speed of visual processing

    1. To assess the visual performance parameter of speed of visual processing, measured in hertz (Hz). Measured using a densitometer.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

  3. Visual Performance: Contrast Sensitivity

    1. To assess visual performance parameter of contrast sensitivity, measured by the percentage threshold of contrast reached using M\&S Technologies Smart System Software.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

  4. Skin carotenoid concentration

    1. To measure skin carotenoid concentration to ensure compliance and bioavailability of the test supplement.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

  5. Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness

    1. Utilize Optical Coherence Tomography to examine changes in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) following exposure to repetitive head impacts during a single competitive season of collision sports.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

  6. Macular Pigment Optical Density

    1. To explore the effect of Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin, and Zeaxanthin supplementation on macular pigment optical density (MPOD) following supplementation over the course of a collegiate season. This is the measurement of blue light reduction by macular pigment, related to the amount of macular pigment carotenoids in an individual's body. Measured using densitometer.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

  7. Visual Quality of Life Scores

    1. To explore the effect of Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin, and Zeaxanthin supplementation on self-reported measures of visual quality of life (VQOL) using the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25). Scale title: The National Eye Institute 25-Item Viual Function Questionnaire; minimum value of 0, maximum value of 100; higher score means a better outcome.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

  8. Visual Quality of Life Scores

    1. To explore the effect of Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin, and Zeaxanthin supplementation on self-reported measures of visual quality of life (VQOL) using the 10-Item Neuro-Ophthalmic Supplement (10-Item Supplement). Scale title: Ten Item Neuro-Ophthalmic Supplement; minimum value of 0, maximum value of 100; higher score means a better outcome.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Demographic information

    Secondary endpoints that will be measured are headache or migraine history, history of learning disability, dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, self- and family-history of psychiatric disorder. Recorded with yes or no answers.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

  2. Demographic information

    Secondary endpoints that will be measured are duration of sport participation each week, measured in minutes.

    Measured: Up to 16 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted21 Feb 2024
  2. Study start1 Aug 2024
  3. Primary completion22 Nov 2024
  4. Study completion22 Nov 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator
Enrolment
31 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06270680
Sponsor's protocol ID
STUDY00023019
Status last verified
Mar 2025
First submitted
3 Feb 2024
Last updated
11 Mar 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Stringham JM, Hammond BR. Macular pigment and visual performance under glare conditions. Optom Vis Sci. 2008 Feb;85(2):82-8. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0b013e318162266e.

    PubMed 18296924
  • Stringham JM, Stringham NT, O'Brien KJ. Macular Carotenoid Supplementation Improves Visual Performance, Sleep Quality, and Adverse Physical Symptoms in Those with High Screen Time Exposure. Foods. 2017 Jun 29;6(7):47. doi: 10.3390/foods6070047.

    PubMed 28661438
  • Stringham JM, Johnson EJ, Hammond BR. Lutein across the Lifespan: From Childhood Cognitive Performance to the Aging Eye and Brain. Curr Dev Nutr. 2019 Jun 4;3(7):nzz066. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzz066. eCollection 2019 Jul.

    PubMed 31321376
  • Gunal MY, Sakul AA, Caglayan AB, Erten F, Kursun OED, Kilic E, Sahin K. Protective Effect of Lutein/Zeaxanthin Isomers in Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice. Neurotox Res. 2021 Oct;39(5):1543-1550. doi: 10.1007/s12640-021-00385-3. Epub 2021 Jun 15.

    PubMed 34129176
  • Stepp MA, Menko AS. Immune responses to injury and their links to eye disease. Transl Res. 2021 Oct;236:52-71. doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2021.05.005. Epub 2021 May 27.

    PubMed 34051364
  • Chen JJ, Bhatti MT. Papilledema. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2019 Summer;59(3):3-22. doi: 10.1097/IIO.0000000000000274. No abstract available.

    PubMed 31233413
  • Vishwanathan R, Neuringer M, Snodderly DM, Schalch W, Johnson EJ. Macular lutein and zeaxanthin are related to brain lutein and zeaxanthin in primates. Nutr Neurosci. 2013 Jan;16(1):21-9. doi: 10.1179/1476830512Y.0000000024. Epub 2012 Jul 9.

    PubMed 22780947
  • Strong J. Retinal OCT Imaging - Ophthalmic Photographers' Society. Published 2011. Accessed January 5, 2023. https://www.opsweb.org/page/RetinalOCT

  • Childs C, Barker LA, Gage AM, Loosemore M. Investigating possible retinal biomarkers of head trauma in Olympic boxers using optical coherence tomography. Eye Brain. 2018 Dec 14;10:101-110. doi: 10.2147/EB.S183042. eCollection 2018.

    PubMed 30588143
  • Leong D, Morettin C, Messner LV, Steinmetz RJ, Pang Y, Galetta SL, Balcer LJ. Visual Structure and Function in Collision Sport Athletes. J Neuroophthalmol. 2018 Sep;38(3):285-291. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000572.

    PubMed 28885451
  • Armstrong RA. Visual problems associated with traumatic brain injury. Clin Exp Optom. 2018 Nov;101(6):716-726. doi: 10.1111/cxo.12670. Epub 2018 Feb 28.

    PubMed 29488253

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Early Phase 1 study testing Vision Edge Pro in people with Head Injury and Carotenoids, run by Penn State University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Early Phase 1 (sometimes called Phase 0) studies give a very small amount of a treatment to a few people, mainly to see how the body handles it.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Blood and saliva biomarkers via venous blood draw and spitting into sterile cup. (time frame: Up to 16 weeks). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06270680, which also lists 11 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Mar 2025.

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