Anaerobic PowerNCT07164547
Acute Effects of Tribulus Terrestris on Anaerobic Power and Sprint Performance in Combat Sport Athletes
A study testing Tribulus terrestris extract in people with Anaerobic Power and Sprint Performance, run by Salih ÇABUK at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to investigate the acute effects of Tribulus terrestris supplementation on anaerobic performance and sprint times in trained male combat sport athletes. A total of 28 athletes from kickboxing, Muay Thai, and taekwondo disciplines will participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Anaerobic Power, Sprint Performance
- What is being tested?
- Tribulus terrestris extract
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 28 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 21 Mar 2025to 15 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 to 30 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male athletes aged 18-30 years
- Engaged in combat sports (kickboxing, Muay Thai, or taekwondo)
- Minimum 2 years of continuous training experience
- Training at least 4 sessions per week
- Free from injury or illness at the time of testing
- Provided written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Use of ergogenic supplements, anabolic steroids, or hormonal treatments within the past 3 months
- Consumption of caffeine, alcohol, or performance-enhancing substances within 24 hours before testing
- Current musculoskeletal injury or medical condition that may limit performance
- Any chronic disease or contraindication to high-intensity exercise
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Atatürk University, Sports Science Laboratory
Erzurum, Erzurum, 25240
About this study
Official title: Acute Effects of Tribulus Terrestris Supplementation on Anaerobic Performance and Sprint Times in Combat Sport Athletes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial
This study aims to investigate the acute effects of Tribulus terrestris supplementation on anaerobic performance and sprint times in trained male combat sport athletes. A total of 28 athletes from kickboxing, Muay Thai, and taekwondo disciplines will participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.
Participants will ingest either a single oral dose of 625 mg Tribulus terrestris (40% saponins) or a placebo 60 minutes before performing performance tests. The performance assessments will include a 30-second Wingate anaerobic cycling test and 20 m and 100 m sprint tests using photocell timing gates. After a wash-out period, participants will cross over to the alternate condition.
The primary outcomes are peak power and mean power from the Wingate test and sprint times over 20 m and 100 m.
Read the detailed description
This trial is designed to evaluate the acute ergogenic potential of Tribulus terrestris supplementation in combat sport athletes. Tribulus terrestris has traditionally been marketed as a natural testosterone booster and performance enhancer, yet its acute effects on high-intensity exercise performance remain unclear.
Design and Methods
Participants: 28 trained male athletes (Kickboxing n=12, Muay Thai n=10, Taekwondo n=6), aged 18-30 years, with at least 2 years of competitive training experience.
Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover.
Intervention: A single dose of 625 mg Tribulus terrestris (40% saponins) or matched placebo (cellulose). Supplements will be ingested 60 minutes before testing.
Procedures: After a standardized warm-up, participants will complete a 30-second Wingate test on a Monark cycle ergometer (resistance = 10% body mass) to measure peak power, mean power, and fatigue index. Following 10 minutes of recovery, participants will perform 20 m and 100 m sprint tests using double-beam photocells (Witty timing system). Each participant will perform both supplementation conditions with a ≥72 h wash-out.
Outcomes Primary outcomes: Wingate peak power (W, W/kg), mean power (W, W/kg). Secondary outcomes: 20 m and 100 m sprint times (s).
Ethics: Approved by the Ethics Committee of Atatürk University (Protocol No: E-70400699-000-2500104927). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants.
- Conditions
- Anaerobic Power, Sprint Performance
- Being tested
- Tribulus terrestris extract, Cellulose capsule (placebo)
- Keywords
- Tribulus terrestris, Combat sports, Anaerobic performance, Wingate test, Sprint time, Ergogenic supplementation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tribulus terrestris extractDietary supplement
625 mg oral capsule (40% saponins), single dose
Cellulose capsule (placebo)Other
Oral cellulose capsule, identical in appearance
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Tribulus Terrestris | Experimental | A single oral dose of 625 mg Tribulus terrestris extract (40% saponins) given 60 minutes before exercise testing. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Tribulus terrestris extract |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Visually identical cellulose capsule given 60 minutes before exercise testing. Receives: Other: Cellulose capsule (placebo) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Peak Power Output (W, W/kg) - Wingate Test
Maximum anaerobic power generated during the 30-second Wingate cycling test performed against a resistance equal to 10% of body mass.
Measured: Measured once, 60 minutes after supplementation, during the Wingate test session (single-day assessment).
Secondary outcomes (1)
Mean Power Output (W, W/kg) - Wingate Test
verage anaerobic power calculated across the full 30-second Wingate cycling test.
Measured: Measured once, 60 minutes after supplementation, during the Wingate test session (single-day assessment).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Sep 2025
- Study start21 Mar 2025
- Primary completion21 Jun 2025
- Study completion15 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Anaerobic PowerStudies 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in which all participants received both Tribulus terrestris and placebo supplementation with a wash-out period in between conditions.
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 28 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Salih ÇABUK
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Salih ÇABUK, Erzurum Technical University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07164547
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ETU-TRIBULUS-2025
- Other IDs
- E-70400699-050.02.04-250010269
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 31 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 10 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Plan Description: If shared, the de-identified individual participant data (IPD) will include Wingate anaerobic test outcomes and sprint performance times. These data represent the analyzable dataset collected during the study. If data are not shared, this will be due to limitations related to participant confidentiality and data protection. Access Criteria: Data may be made available upon reasonable request from qualified researchers for academic, non-commercial purposes. Requests will be reviewed by the study investigators, and data will only be shared after publication of the primary results.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Acute Effects of Tribulus Terrestris Supplementation on Anaerobic Performance and Sprint Times in Combat Sport Athletes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07164547
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ETU-TRIBULUS-2025
- Conditions
- Anaerobic Power, Sprint Performance
- Keywords
- Tribulus terrestris, Combat sports, Anaerobic performance, Wingate test, Sprint time, Ergogenic supplementation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 28 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Salih ÇABUKUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 21 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Sep 2025 (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 investigate the acute effects of Tribulus terrestris supplementation on anaerobic performance and sprint times in trained male combat sport athletes. A total of 28 athletes from kickboxing, Muay Thai, and taekwondo disciplines will participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.
Participants will ingest either a single oral dose of 625 mg Tribulus terrestris (40% saponins) or a placebo 60 minutes before performing performance tests. The performance assessments will include a 30-second Wingate anaerobic cycling test and 20 m and 100 m sprint tests using photocell timing gates. After a wash-out period, participants will cross over to the alternate condition.
The primary outcomes are peak power and mean power from the Wingate test and sprint times over 20 m and 100 m.
Detailed description
This trial is designed to evaluate the acute ergogenic potential of Tribulus terrestris supplementation in combat sport athletes. Tribulus terrestris has traditionally been marketed as a natural testosterone booster and performance enhancer, yet its acute effects on high-intensity exercise performance remain unclear.
Design and Methods
Participants: 28 trained male athletes (Kickboxing n=12, Muay Thai n=10, Taekwondo n=6), aged 18-30 years, with at least 2 years of competitive training experience.
Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover.
Intervention: A single dose of 625 mg Tribulus terrestris (40% saponins) or matched placebo (cellulose). Supplements will be ingested 60 minutes before testing.
Procedures: After a standardized warm-up, participants will complete a 30-second Wingate test on a Monark cycle ergometer (resistance = 10% body mass) to measure peak power, mean power, and fatigue index. Following 10 minutes of recovery, participants will perform 20 m and 100 m sprint tests using double-beam photocells (Witty timing system). Each participant will perform both supplementation conditions with a ≥72 h wash-out.
Outcomes Primary outcomes: Wingate peak power (W, W/kg), mean power (W, W/kg). Secondary outcomes: 20 m and 100 m sprint times (s).
Ethics: Approved by the Ethics Committee of Atatürk University (Protocol No: E-70400699-000-2500104927). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in which all participants received both Tribulus terrestris and placebo supplementation with a wash-out period in between conditions.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Tribulus Terrestris | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Tribulus terrestris extractA single oral dose of 625 mg Tribulus terrestris extract (40% saponins) given 60 minutes before exercise testing. |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Other: Cellulose capsule (placebo)Visually identical cellulose capsule given 60 minutes before exercise testing. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Male athletes aged 18-30 years
- Engaged in combat sports (kickboxing, Muay Thai, or taekwondo)
- Minimum 2 years of continuous training experience
- Training at least 4 sessions per week
- Free from injury or illness at the time of testing
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Use of ergogenic supplements, anabolic steroids, or hormonal treatments within the past 3 months
- Consumption of caffeine, alcohol, or performance-enhancing substances within 24 hours before testing
- Current musculoskeletal injury or medical condition that may limit performance
- Any chronic disease or contraindication to high-intensity exercise
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tribulus terrestris extract625 mg oral capsule (40% saponins), single dose | Dietary supplement | Tribulus Terrestris |
| Cellulose capsule (placebo)Oral cellulose capsule, identical in appearance | Other | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Peak Power Output (W, W/kg) - Wingate Test
Time frame: Measured once, 60 minutes after supplementation, during the Wingate test session (single-day assessment).
Maximum anaerobic power generated during the 30-second Wingate cycling test performed against a resistance equal to 10% of body mass.
1 secondary outcome
Mean Power Output (W, W/kg) - Wingate Test
Time frame: Measured once, 60 minutes after supplementation, during the Wingate test session (single-day assessment).
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Sep 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Plan Description: If shared, the de-identified individual participant data (IPD) will include Wingate anaerobic test outcomes and sprint performance times. These data represent the analyzable dataset collected during the study. If data are not shared, this will be due to limitations related to participant confidentiality and data protection. Access Criteria: Data may be made available upon reasonable request from qualified researchers for academic, non-commercial purposes. Requests will be reviewed by the study investigators, and data will only be shared after publication of the primary results.
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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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tribulus terrestris extract in people with Anaerobic Power and Sprint Performance, run by Salih ÇABUK at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 6 inclusion and 4 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 10 Sep 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
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?
Peak Power Output (W, W/kg) - Wingate Test (time frame: Measured once, 60 minutes after supplementation, during the Wingate test session (single-day assessment).). 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 10 Sep 2025.