Resistance Exercise for Metabolism

(TIMER Trial)

Overseen By John McCarthy, Ph.D.

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Yuan Wen

Must not be taking: Aspirin, NSAIDs, Anticoagulants

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular disease, Metabolic syndrome, Neurological, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 1 day

38 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking chronic aspirin or NSAIDs (pain relievers) unless it can be safely stopped before the biopsies. If you are on any anticoagulants (blood thinners) or have a history of bleeding disorders, you may not be eligible to participate.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Acute Resistance Exercise for metabolism?

Research shows that resistance exercise can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, which are important for managing weight and metabolic health. It is also effective in altering body composition by increasing muscle mass and reducing fat, which can help with conditions like obesity and diabetes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is resistance exercise generally safe for humans?

Resistance training is generally safe for adults and has been associated with health benefits like reduced mortality and improved physical functioning. Serious adverse events are not common, although they are not consistently monitored or reported in studies. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

How does the treatment 'Acute Resistance Exercise' differ from other treatments for metabolism?

Acute Resistance Exercise is unique because it focuses on high-intensity, short-duration activities that primarily rely on anaerobic energy systems, unlike aerobic exercises that depend on sustained, lower-intensity efforts. This type of exercise can lead to specific muscle fiber adaptations and may not significantly alter aerobic capacity, making it distinct in its approach to improving metabolism. ^{1 9 10 11 12}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The primary objective of this study is to quantify miR-1 release from muscle in extra-cellular vesicles following an acute resistance exercise bout and potential delivery to subcutaneous adipose tissue in young healthy and obese adults.

Research Team

John McCarthy, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of Kentucky

Yuan Wen, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of Kentucky

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for young adults aged 18-30 who are healthy or obese (BMI <25 or >30), non-smokers, and haven't been exercising regularly. It's not for those taking certain blood thinners, with bleeding disorders, metabolic syndromes like diabetes, heart issues, pregnant women, or anyone with a lidocaine allergy.

Inclusion Criteria

Non-smoker

Your body mass index (BMI) is either below 25 or above 30.

You have not been regularly exercising (at least one day per week) for the past 3 months and are mostly inactive.

Exclusion Criteria

Chronic aspirin or NSAID use (unless it can be safely stopped prior to the biopsies), and any other use of an anticoagulant (e.g., Coumadin) or history of bleeding including history of hypo- or hyper-coagulation disorders

Any other medical condition that would interfere with testing or increase one's risk of complications during exercise, as judged by the study physician

Any other condition or events considered exclusionary by the PI and/or physician, such as non-compliance

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants perform acute resistance exercise including squat, knee extension, leg press, and lat pulldown at 80% of 1-RM

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for miR-1 abundance in exosomal, muscle, and adipose tissue following exercise

90 minutes

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Acute Resistance Exercise

Trial Overview The study looks at how muscle releases tiny vesicles containing miR-1 into the fat tissue after one session of resistance exercise. The focus is on comparing this process between healthy and obese participants.

Participant Groups

Group I: Acute Resistance Exercise Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will perform four exercises: squat, knee extension, leg press, and lat pulldown at 80% of 1-RM determined during a previous visit.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Yuan Wen

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

40+

John McCarthy

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

40+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Findings from Research

A systematic review of 12 studies indicates that while there is some evidence suggesting children and adolescents can gain metabolic health benefits from supervised resistance training, the evidence is limited and not definitive.

The current research has methodological limitations, highlighting the need for better-designed randomized controlled trials to accurately assess the effects of resistance training on metabolic health in young populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of resistance training on metabolic fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review. Benson, AC., Torode, ME., Fiatarone Singh, MA.[2018]

Resistance training (RT) significantly reduces all-cause mortality and the incidence of cardiovascular disease while improving physical functioning in adults, based on an analysis of 11 systematic reviews involving over 382,000 participants.

Although adverse events were not consistently reported, serious adverse events related to RT were uncommon, suggesting that the benefits of resistance training outweigh the potential harms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance training and health in adults: an overview of systematic reviews. El-Kotob, R., Ponzano, M., Chaput, JP., et al.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of aerobic, resistance, and combination training on insulin sensitivity and secretion in overweight adults from STRRIDE AT/RT: a randomized trial. [2022]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Diet, exercise or diet with exercise: comparing the effectiveness of treatment options for weight-loss and changes in fitness for adults (18-65 years old) who are overfat, or obese; systematic review and meta-analysis. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance training in the treatment of diabetes and obesity: mechanisms and outcomes. [2009]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pulmonary oxygen uptake on-kinetics can predict acute physiological responses to resistance exercise training in healthy young men. [2020]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lift weights to fight overweight. [2021]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of short-term, medium-term and long-term resistance exercise training on cardiometabolic health outcomes in adults: systematic review with meta-analysis. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of resistance training on metabolic fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review. [2018]

8. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance training and health in adults: an overview of systematic reviews. [2021]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-resistance training and muscle metabolism during prolonged exercise. [2019]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Metabolic Effects of Exercise. [2022]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Metabolic consequences of resistive-type exercise. [2019]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise intensity: effect on postexercise O2 uptake in trained and untrained women. [2017]