Soccer Players, Keep Your Head in the Game—Join Our Brain Impact Recovery Study
Kei Kawata
Primary Investigator
Brief description of study
We are conducting a study to see if fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA, can protect soccer players' brains from repetitive head impacts. Our main goal is to determine if these omega-3s can have possible protective effects from repeated repetitive head impacts, which could lead to better brain health strategies for athletes.
Current and former soccer players (with 5+ years of heading experience) who are 18 to 30 years old are invited to participate.
Detailed description of study
If you are eligible and choose to participate, you will be randomly assigned (by chance, like flipping a coin) into one of two groups. The study consists of 9-10 study visits over the course of 10 weeks at the Indiana University-Bloomington School of Public Health Building in Bloomington, IN.
- For the entire length of the study, depending on which group you are randomly assigned to, you will be taking either omega-3 supplementation (DHA+EPA) or placebo pills (an inactive substance that looks like the investigational medicine but does not contain any medicine) on a daily basis.
- We will conduct a 1-min Zoom or FaceTime call each day to monitor when you take the pill.
- Study visits will include the following: completing questionnaires, blood draws, MRI brain imaging, tests to evaluate heart function, and soccer headings (perform 20 soccer headings on a soccer ball projected at a speed of 30 mph—similar to a long-throw in—by the JUGS machine).
- You will receive up to $420 for completing all of the study requirements.
Eligibility of study
You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:
- Conditions: Healthy
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Age: 18 years - 30 years
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Gender: All
Inclusion Criteria:
- Being between 18 to 30 years of age
- Current or former soccer player
- At least 5 years of soccer heading experience
- Participants have cell phone, tablet, or computer with internet access to schedule for follow-up visits via email or text message.
- Participant is willing to commit to avoid any sport activity that purposefully uses one’s head to maneuver during the study period (American football, ice-hockey, rugby, wrestling, and soccer heading).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any head or neck injury within the 6 months before the study
- Implanted metal/magnetic devices (e.g., orthodontic braces)
- Diagnosed autonomic or cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension)
- Consuming oily fish (>2 servings/month: salmon, bluefin, swordfish, anchovies)
- Allergy to fish or shellfish
- consuming omega-3 FA supplements including plant-based (e.g., flaxseed) in the past 3 months.
- Pregnancy
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