SarcopeniaKAMMNCT06296875
The Krill Ageing Muscle Mechanisms (KAMM) Study
A study testing Vegetable oil and Krill oil in people with Sarcopenia, run by University of Glasgow at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
This study aims to determine the mechanisms via which krill oil supplementation increases muscle strength and whether this translates to improvements in gait and functional characteristics in older adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 to 90 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sarcopenia
- What is being tested?
- Vegetable oil and Krill oil
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2024to Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 65 to 90 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- body mass index (BMI) </= 30 kg/m2
- Age >/= 65 years
- Capacity to consent
- Living within the Glasgow area
Who cannot join
- Diabetes mellitus
- Severe cardiovascular disease
- Seizure disorders
- Uncontrolled hypertension (>150/90mmHg)
- Active cancer or cancer that has been in remission <5 years
- Participation in any resistance exercise training within the last 6 months
Show all 13Show fewer
- Impairments which may limit ability to perform assessments of muscle function
- Dementia
- Fish/shellfish allergy
- Taking medication known to affect muscle (e.g. steroids, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin)
- Taking omega-3 supplements in the last 3 months
- Regularly consuming 1 or more portions of oily fish per week
- Not able to understand English
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United Kingdom1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Glasgow
Glasgow
Stuart R Gray, PhD, 01413302569, stuart.gray@glasgow.ac.uk
About this study
Official title: Uncovering the Mechanisms Through Which Krill Oil Increases Muscle Function in Older Adults.
This study aims to determine the mechanisms via which krill oil supplementation increases muscle strength and whether this translates to improvements in gait and functional characteristics in older adults. The studies we will carry out will establish, in healthy older adults, the effects of 6 months of supplementation with krill oil
Objective 1) Muscle structure and function Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will increase muscle size and strength alongside positive changes in muscle architecture (pennation angle and fascicle length).
Read more
Objective 2) Neuromuscular control and central nervous system (CNS) function Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will improve Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) transmission stability and increase central drive and intramuscular coherence, as a measure of muscle synergy.
Objective 3) Gait and functional characteristics Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will improve gait and functional characteristics.
- Conditions
- Sarcopenia
- Being tested
- Vegetable oil, Krill oil
- Keywords
- Krill oil, Muscle Strength, Neuromuscular function, Physical function
- Medical subject headings
- Sarcopenia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Vegetable oilDietary supplement
mixed vegetable oil
Krill oilDietary supplement
Also called (SuperbaBoost)
Krill oil
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable oil | Placebo comparator | 4g/day vegetable oil for 24 weeks Receives: Dietary Supplement: Vegetable oil |
| Krill oil | Active comparator | 4/g/day krill oil for 24 weeks Receives: Dietary Supplement: Krill oil |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Grip strength
We will measure grip strength using a handgrip dynamometer, making 3 maximal contractions in each hand, with the dominant hand recorded. The highest grip strength will be used in analysis.
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Neuromuscular junction transmission instability
We will assess peripheral motor unit (MU) characteristics in the vastus lateralis muscle using intramuscular electromyography
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Gait speed
We will measure gait speed using a gaitrite connected mat during a 4 m walk test and the timed up and go test at usual speed.
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Secondary outcomes (16)
Knee extensor maximal torque
We will measure the muscle strength of the knee extensor muscles during a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis muscle cross sectional area
We will measure this using ultrasound
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis pennation angle
We will measure this using ultrasound
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis fascicle length
We will measure this using ultrasound
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Erythrocyte fatty acid composition
Blood samples (15 ml each visit) will be collected
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Knee extensor force steadiness
During the contractions to measure NMJ transmission instability we will also calculate force steadiness, as a measure of neuromuscular control
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis motor unit conduction velocity
will be measured using High Density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) during submaximal (10%, 30%, 50% and 70% of MVC) and during the MVC
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis and vastus medialis intramuscular coherence
Motor unit spike train will be measured using the surface electromyography (sEMG) electrodes while participants exert 20% of maximum voluntary contraction
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Hand flexor muscles intermuscular coherence
Intermuscular coherence will be measured for 1 min on 20% of MVC using sEMG electrodes.
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Cortico-muscular coherence between sensory motor cortex and hand extensor muscles
Cortico-muscular coherence is a derived measure, based on measurement of the electroencephalography (EEG) and motor unit spikes. EEG electrodes will be placed over the motor area of hands and worn during hand contractions
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Femoral Nerve Stimulation
Single stimuli will be delivered to the muscle while participants maintain a 20% MVC isometric contraction, and the intensity of stimulation was increased until a plateau in twitch amplitude and rectus femoris M-wave (Mmax) occurs. Supramaximal stimulation will then be delivered by increasing the final stimulator output intensity by a further 30%.
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) will be elicited in the rectus femoris of the dominant leg via single pulse TMS and assessed using electromyographic (EMG) recordings.
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
TMS Inhibition
corticomotor inhibition during the MVCs a single TMS stimulation will be delivered over the motor cortex.
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
TMS Excitation
For assessment of corticospinal excitability, participants will maintain a 20% MVC isometric contraction while 20 single TMS pulses, separated by 6 s, will be delivered over the motor cortex
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Gait characteristics during 4m walk test and the timed up and go test
The 4 m walk test involves participants walking a 4m distance at a normal walking pace, walking through the 4m line at the end of the gaitrite mat. The Timed Up and Go test (timed version of the Get Up and Go test) involves the participant sitting on a chair getting up, walking 3 meters in front of them across the gaitrite mat, returning to the chair and sitting down. The Theia markerless system will be used to extract Gait parameters
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Gait cycle with leg support parameters
We will also get posture information from the 3D skeleton measurements and balance (pitch and roll) which are important in assessing fall risks and functional gait.
Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Mar 2024
- Study start1 Sep 2024
- Primary completionAug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for SarcopeniaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- 1:1 parallel group design
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Glasgow
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Stuart Gray, University of Glasgow
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06296875
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KAMM
- Acronym
- KAMM
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Feb 2024
- Last updated
- 1 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Uncovering the Mechanisms Through Which Krill Oil Increases Muscle Function in Older Adults.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06296875
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KAMM / KAMM
- Conditions
- Sarcopenia
- Keywords
- Krill oil, Muscle Strength, Neuromuscular function, Physical function
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of GlasgowUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 6 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to determine the mechanisms via which krill oil supplementation increases muscle strength and whether this translates to improvements in gait and functional characteristics in older adults. The studies we will carry out will establish, in healthy older adults, the effects of 6 months of supplementation with krill oil
Objective 1) Muscle structure and function Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will increase muscle size and strength alongside positive changes in muscle architecture (pennation angle and fascicle length).
Objective 2) Neuromuscular control and central nervous system (CNS) function Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will improve Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) transmission stability and increase central drive and intramuscular coherence, as a measure of muscle synergy.
Objective 3) Gait and functional characteristics Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will improve gait and functional characteristics.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- 1:1 parallel group design
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable oil | Placebo comparator | Dietary Supplement: Vegetable oil4g/day vegetable oil for 24 weeks |
| Krill oil | Active comparator | Dietary Supplement: Krill oil4/g/day krill oil for 24 weeks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 to 90 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- body mass index (BMI) </= 30 kg/m2
- Age >/= 65 years
- Capacity to consent
- Living within the Glasgow area
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Severe cardiovascular disease
- Seizure disorders
- Uncontrolled hypertension (>150/90mmHg)
- Active cancer or cancer that has been in remission <5 years
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable oilmixed vegetable oil | Dietary supplement | Vegetable oil |
| Krill oilAlso: (SuperbaBoost)Krill oil | Dietary supplement | Krill oil |
Primary outcome
Grip strength
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
We will measure grip strength using a handgrip dynamometer, making 3 maximal contractions in each hand, with the dominant hand recorded. The highest grip strength will be used in analysis.
Neuromuscular junction transmission instability
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
We will assess peripheral motor unit (MU) characteristics in the vastus lateralis muscle using intramuscular electromyography
Gait speed
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
We will measure gait speed using a gaitrite connected mat during a 4 m walk test and the timed up and go test at usual speed.
16 secondary outcomes
Knee extensor maximal torque
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis muscle cross sectional area
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis pennation angle
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis fascicle length
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Erythrocyte fatty acid composition
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Knee extensor force steadiness
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis motor unit conduction velocity
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Vastus lateralis and vastus medialis intramuscular coherence
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Hand flexor muscles intermuscular coherence
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Cortico-muscular coherence between sensory motor cortex and hand extensor muscles
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Femoral Nerve Stimulation
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
TMS Inhibition
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
TMS Excitation
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Gait characteristics during 4m walk test and the timed up and go test
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Gait cycle with leg support parameters
Time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Vegetable oil and Krill oil in people with Sarcopenia, run by University of Glasgow at 1 site in United Kingdom.
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 13 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 May 2026. 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 Kingdom. 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.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Stuart Gray (+441413302569, stuart.gray@glasgow.ac.uk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Grip strength (time frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 1 May 2026.