Allocation and blinding
muscle soreness, blindness
BLINDNESS
The allocation manager (LLC okutoeru, Tokyo, Japan) assigned participants randomly to two prior test food groups on a 1:1 basis using a computer-generated random number table, stratified by age, muscle strength, the number of squat sets, and the VAS of muscle soreness on the day after the screening test as allocation factors according to a central allocation method. The allocation table with subject ID and test food code was created by the allocation manager, used by the CRO to distribute the test foods to participants and then sealed until the test food representative of the sponsor unblinded the codes after the data fixation at the case conference. Thus, participants and staff of the sponsor, the CRO, the clinic, and the ethics review committee remained blinded to ensure double blindness.