Evaluation of Lifestyle Modification on Cardiovascular Risk (GHRexD)

June 27, 2023 updated by: Swansea University

Evaluation of Lifestyle Modification on Cardiovascular Risk in Overweight and Obese Postmenopausal Women: a Ghrelin-mediated Response

This study proposes to examine the independent and combined effects of an 8-week home-based, equipment-free HIIT exercise intervention with/without Mediterranean diet through ghrelin-mediated alteration in overweight and obese metabolic women to improve cardiovascular-risk related markers and metabolic risk factors.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This is a randomised-controlled study investigating the independent and combined effects of a home-based, equipment-free high intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise intervention with/without the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) through ghrelin-mediated alteration on body composition, cardiovascular risk-related markers, metabolic markers and obesity-related hormones in postmenopausal women. The intervention will last for 8-weeks, with three arms comprising of 1) exercise only (Ex); 2) exercise and MedDiet (Ex+MedDiet); 3) control (no intervention).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

45 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female
  • Participants >45-65 years of age
  • Body mass index (BMI) >25.0 - 35.0
  • Postmenopausal (with spontaneous amenorrhea for the last 12 months)
  • Healthy (no known diseases)
  • Physically inactive (IPAQ score - category I and not engaged in at least 60 min/week of structured exercise during the previous 6 months)
  • Generally well enough to exercise.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any inclusion criteria not met
  • Abnormal ECG
  • Current smokers
  • Current or history of substance abuse and/or excess alcohol intake
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Cancer
  • Gastrointestinal disease e.g. inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease
  • Pancreatitis
  • On hormone therapy for <6 months
  • Prescribed anti-hypertensive or beta-blocker medication

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exercise only (Ex only)
Participants in the "Exercise only" group will be performing home-based, equipment-free HIIT exercise for 20 minutes, 3 times a week for the duration of the 8-weeks, achieving ≥80% of predicted heart rate maximum (HRmax; 220-age) during the high-intensity intervals. Participants are also required to exercise at least 17 out of 20 on the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale.
Unsupervised, home-based, equipment-free high-intensity interval training of 20 minutes exercise performed 3 times a week, for a duration of 8-weeks. Participants will perform exercises to their own suitability in a progressive manner throughout the 8-weeks. Exercises will be exerted at least ≥80% of predicted heart rate maximum (HRmax; 220-age) during the high-intensity intervals, as well as at least 17 out of 20 Rate of Perceived Exertion on the Borg Scale.
Experimental: Exercise and Mediterranean Diet (Ex + MedDiet)

Participants in Ex+MedDiet arm will be required to adhere to a non-caloric restrictive Mediterranean diet throughout the 8-weeks according to a Mediterranean diet booklet provided by the researcher. In brief, diet encompasses a focus on minimally processed food, incorporating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes and wholegrains, whilst utilising olive oil as the main source of fat. They will be encouraged to eat more oily and white fish, with moderate consumption of nuts, poultry and dairy products, and low consumption of red/processed meat and alcohol.

Participants in this group will also be performing home-based, equipment-free HIIT exercise for 20 minutes, 3 times a week for the duration of the 8-weeks, achieving ≥80% of predicted heart rate maximum (HRmax; 220-age) during the high-intensity intervals. Participants are also required to exercise at least 17 out of 20 on the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale.

Participants in Ex+MedDiet arm adhere to a non-caloric restrictive Mediterranean diet throughout the 8-weeks comprising of a diet encompassing a focus on minimally processed food, incorporating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes and wholegrains, whilst utilising olive oil as the main source of fat. They will be encouraged to eat more oily and white fish, with moderate consumption of nuts, poultry and dairy products, and low consumption of red/processed meat and alcohol.

Participants will also perform unsupervised, home-based, equipment-free high-intensity interval training of 20 minutes exercise performed 3 times a week, for a duration of 8-weeks. Participants will perform exercises to their own suitability in a progressive manner throughout the 8-weeks. Exercises will be exerted at least ≥80% of predicted heart rate maximum (HRmax; 220-age) during the high-intensity intervals, as well as at least 17 out of 20 Rate of Perceived Exertion on the Borg Scale.

No Intervention: Control
Participants will be asked to maintain their diet and physical activity levels throughout the 8 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visceral adiposity index (VAI)
Time Frame: Baseline to 8 weeks
Assessed at baseline and post-intervention (Week 1 and Week 8). VAI calculated based on their waist circumference, BMI, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels. Waist circumference will be recorded in centimetres. BMI will be combined based on weight (kilograms) and height (metres) as kg/m^2. Triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels will be assessed from fasting blood collected from the antecubital vein via venepuncture. Triglycerides and HDL will be recorded in mmol/L.
Baseline to 8 weeks
Inflammatory markers
Time Frame: Baseline to 8 weeks
Assessed at baseline and post-intervention (Week 1 and Week 8). IL-6, CRP, IL-10, TNF-α will be assessed from fasting blood collected from the antecubital vein via venepuncture.
Baseline to 8 weeks
Blood lipid levels
Time Frame: Baseline to 8 weeks
Assessed at baseline and post-intervention (Week 1 and Week 8). Triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol will be assessed from fasting blood collected from the antecubital vein via venepuncture. All blood lipids will be recorded in mmol/L.
Baseline to 8 weeks
Blood pressure
Time Frame: Baseline to 8 weeks
Assessed at baseline and post-intervention (Week 1 and Week 8). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be obtained from the participant's left arm after resting for at least 10 minutes. Blood pressure will be recorded in mmHg.
Baseline to 8 weeks
Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)
Time Frame: Baseline to 8 weeks
Assessed at baseline and post-intervention (Week 1 and Week 8). Calculated based on blood glucose levels (mmol/L) and insulin (pmol/L) from fasting blood collected from the antecubital vein via venepuncture.
Baseline to 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Circulatory levels of ghrelin
Time Frame: Baseline to 8 weeks
Assessed at baseline and post-intervention (Week 1 and Week 8). Fasting circulatory levels of acyl and des-acyl ghrelin will be assessed from fasting blood collected from the antecubital vein via venepuncture. Acyl and des-acyl ghrelin will be recorded in pg/mL.
Baseline to 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 15, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 15, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 11, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 9, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

June 14, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 28, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 27, 2023

Last Verified

June 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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