Does Biological Sex Influence the Cardiac Output Response to Sprint Interval Exercise Training in Humans?

Sprint interval exercise training refers to brief repeated bouts of vigorous effort that are separated by short periods of recovery. Cardiac output refers to the amount of blood that is pumped out of the heart each minute. Research has shown that sprint interval exercise training can increase peak cardiac output - or the highest cardiac output that is achieved during strenuous exercise - but this response may be influenced by biological sex. The primary goal of this study is to determine whether the peak cardiac output response to 12 weeks of sprint interval exercise training differs between males and females. Cardiac output will be estimated using a non-invasive technique that involves breathing in a mixture of standardized gases. This research will help to determine whether biological sex influences the response of the heart to brief vigorous cycle exercise training.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Exercise
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Sprint interval exercise training

Detailed Description

The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether biological sex influences the peak cardiac output response to 12 weeks of sprint interval exercise training. Peak cardiac output will be determined non-invasively using an inert gas rebreathing technique. Each session of sprint interval exercise training will involve a 10-minute period of cycling on a stationary ergometer. The protocol will consist of a two-minute warm-up; three, 20-second 'all out' efforts that are separated by two minutes of recovery; and a three-minute cool down. Three sessions of training will be performed each week for a total of 12 weeks. Groups of male and female participants will be recruited and tested using best practice guidelines for sex-based comparisons of exercise responses. The study will advance knowledge regarding the potential for biological sex to influence the cardiovascular response to brief vigorous cycle exercise training.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 21
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S4K1
      • McMaster University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being untrained based on a self-report of engaging in < 1 h of weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity based on the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Get Active Questionnaire.
• Having an estimated cardiorespiratory fitness in the lower 50% of adults in the specified age range based on the online fitness calculator available at: www.worldfitnesslevel.org.
• Females who are naturally cycling (i.e., not using any form of hormonal contraceptive) or are using a 2nd generation oral contraceptive.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Experiencing a condition that might preclude safe participation in physical activity and exercise, as determined by answering "Yes" to any question on Page 1 of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Get Active Questionnaire.
• Females with a positive pregnancy test.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Females; Female participant group	Other: Sprint interval exercise training; A 10-minute sprint interval exercise training protocol that is performed three times per week for a total of 12 weeks.
Experimental: Males; Male participant group	Other: Sprint interval exercise training; A 10-minute sprint interval exercise training protocol that is performed three times per week for a total of 12 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Peak cardiac output	Peak cardiac output measured during exercise	Change from baseline after 12 weeks of sprint interval exercise training

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Peak oxygen uptake	Peak oxygen uptake measured during exercise	Change from baseline after 12 weeks of sprint interval exercise training
Flow mediated dilation	Brachial artery flow mediated dilation	Change from baseline after 4 and 12 weeks of sprint interval exercise training
Pulse wave velocity	Central and peripheral pulse wave velocity	Change from baseline after 4 and 12 weeks of sprint interval exercise training

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: McMaster University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 25, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 28, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): February 28, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 23, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 11, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): January 25, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 6, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 4, 2023
• Last Verified: April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cardiac output
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14279

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No