Exercise for Kidney Blood Flow in Healthy Older Adults

Overseen By Rachel C Drew, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Boston

Must not be taking: Cardiovascular, Antihypertensive, Renal

Disqualifiers: Hispanic, Pregnant, Cardiovascular, Hypertension, Diabetes, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

12 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how exercise affects kidney blood flow in healthy older adults. Researchers aim to determine if African American adults experience different changes compared to White adults during physical and mental stress. Participants will engage in activities such as cycling (acute exercise), a cold hand test (cold pressor test), and a mental math challenge (mental stress test). The trial is suitable for those who are recreationally active, identify as African American or White, and have no major health conditions like hypertension or diabetes. The study seeks to understand why African American adults might face more heart and kidney issues, paving the way for future research on prevention. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research that could improve health outcomes for diverse populations.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are taking prescribed medications for heart, blood pressure, or kidney issues, you cannot participate in this trial.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that moderate exercise is safe for the kidneys. One study found that a single session of moderate exercise does not harm the kidneys and maintains steady blood flow. Other research indicates that short aerobic exercises, whether low, moderate, or vigorous, do not negatively impact kidney function. This suggests exercise is generally safe, even for those concerned about kidney health. Therefore, for this study involving exercise, existing research suggests promising safety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how acute exercise might influence kidney blood flow in healthy older adults, which is not a focus of traditional treatments. Unlike standard care options that might involve medications or dietary changes to support kidney function, this approach investigates the immediate physiological effects of physical activity. By measuring renal blood flow velocity and other cardiovascular metrics during exercise, the trial aims to uncover new insights into how exercise can directly benefit kidney health, potentially offering a non-invasive, natural method to enhance kidney function.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for kidney blood flow in healthy older adults?

Research has shown that exercise benefits kidney health. Specifically, aerobic exercise helps maintain kidney function by slowing the decline in eGFR, a measure of how well the kidneys filter blood. One study found that regular exercise improved kidney function in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, short bursts of exercise at varying intensities do not significantly impact kidney filtration rates immediately. This trial will explore how different groups, specifically African American and White adults, respond to acute exercise, a cold pressor test, and a mental stress test. Understanding these responses could help address health issues in specific populations. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Rachel C Drew, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Massachusetts, Boston

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy older African American adults who are interested in participating in a study to compare their kidney blood flow during exercise and stress with that of White adults. Specific eligibility criteria details are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Born in United States

Both biological parents identify as same racial identity as participant

Fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria

I am not pregnant or breastfeeding.

Hispanic or Latino

I have heart or kidney disease.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Single Visit Assessment

Participants perform cycling exercise, a cold hand test, and a mental math test while renal blood flow and other physiological parameters are recorded.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any immediate adverse effects following the tests.

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Acute exercise
• Cold pressor test
• Mental stress test

Trial Overview The study tests how kidney blood flow changes in older African American adults during three activities: cycling exercise while lying down, a cold hand test, and a mental math test. It aims to understand racial differences in physiological responses to stress.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: White Adults Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

White adults will undergo the interventions of acute exercise, a cold pressor test, and a mental stress test while beat-to-beat renal blood flow velocity, mean arterial blood pressure, and heart rate are recorded.

Group II: African American Adults Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

African American adults will undergo the interventions of acute exercise, a cold pressor test, and a mental stress test while beat-to-beat renal blood flow velocity, mean arterial blood pressure, and heart rate are recorded.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Boston

Lead Sponsor

Trials

42

Recruited

17,800+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11507922/

Acute Effect of Three Aerobic Exercise Intensities on ... These two latest studies indicate the possibility that high-intensity acute exercise may promote kidney damage in adults with CKD, exacerbated when exercise is ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12465243/

The Aging Kidney and Exercise Training Study: protocol for a ... The secondary outcomes include alterations in renal hemodynamics and oxygenation assessed using Doppler ultrasound imaging and MRI, glomerular ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246802492401862X

Review of Exercise Interventions to Improve Clinical ... This analysis found that a 2-year exercise intervention led to approximately 0.5 ml/min per 1.73 m2 per year slower decline in eGFR compared to health education ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.901164/full

The effect of regular aerobic exercise on renal function in ... In conclusion, aerobic exercise can play an effective role in improving all the indicators of renal function in the blood of CKD patients.

5. preprints.org preprints.org/manuscript/202409.1031/v1

Acute Effect of Three Aerobic Exercise Intensities on ... The results of this study indicate that short-time exercise at low, moderate, and vigorous intensity does not significantly impact eGFR and is ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9081410/

Potential implications of blood flow restriction exercise on ... Current literature suggests that BFR training displays similar positive health benefits to exercise training alone for CKD patients.

7. physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.14814/phy2.15420

The moderate‐intensity continuous exercise maintains renal ... These findings indicate that a single bout of moderate-intensity continuous exercise maintains RBF and does not induce renal injury.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254624000280

Refining safety considerations for intradialytic blood flow ... This study reinforces that blood flow restriction exercise is safe in this population and provides guidance for future studies to better define patient ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8952011/

Effects of Different Types of Exercise on Kidney Diseases - PMC During exercise, the effective renal blood flow (RBF) decreases, the degree of which is directly related to the intensity of exercise and ...

10. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2079-9721/12/10/249

Acute Effect of Three Aerobic Exercise Intensities on ... Conclusions: Short-duration aerobic exercise of low, moderate, and vigorous intensity did not significantly affect eGFR and is considered safe for kidney ...