Physical and Cellular Effects of Ultra-cycling (ULTRABCD)

Effects of a 4400 km Ultra-cycling Non-competitive Race and Related Training on Body Composition and Circulating Progenitors Differentiation

Background: NorthCape4000 (NC4000) is the most participated ultra-endurance cycling race.

Eight healthy male Caucasian amateur cyclists were evaluated: a) before starting the preparation period; b) in the week preceding NC4000 (after the training period); c) after NC4000 race, with the aim to identify the effects of ultra-cycling on body composition, aerobic capacity and biochemical parameters as well as on the differentiation of progenitor cells.

Methods: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) assessed body composition; cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) evaluated aerobic capacity. Differentiation of circulating progenitor cells was evaluated by analyzing the modulation in the expression of relevant transcription factors. In addition, in vitro experiments were performed to investigate the effects of sera of NC4000 participants on adipogenesis and myogenesis. The effects of NC4000 sera on Sestrins and Sirtuin modulation and the promotion of brown adipogenesis in progenitor cells was investigated as well. Two-tailed Student's paired-test was used to perform statistical analyses.

Results: We observed fat mass decrease after training as well as after NC4000 performance; we also recorded that vitamin D and lipid profiles were affected by ultra-cycling. In addition, our findings demonstrated that post-NC4000 participant's pooled sera exerted a positive effect in stimulating myogenesis and in inducing brown adipogenesis in progenitor cells.

Conclusions: The training program and Ultra-cycling lead to beneficial effects on body composition and biochemical lipid parameters, as well as changes in differentiation of progenitor cells , with significant increases in brown adipogenesis and in MYOD levels.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Endurance Training
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: clinical evaluation, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and venipuncture for blood samples collection

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 8

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Verona, Italy, 37134
    • AOUI

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Eight healthy male amateur Caucasian cyclists (47,5±13,5 years) who attended the NC4000 4th edition.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• male amateur Caucasian cyclists who attended the NC4000 4th edition

Exclusion Criteria:

• any condition that might have altered performance or laboratory tests results

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Healthy male amateur Caucasian cyclists; Healthy male amateur Caucasian cyclists who attended the NC4000 4th edition underwent clinical evaluation, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and venipuncture for blood samples collection.

Diagnostic test: clinical evaluation, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and venipuncture for blood samples collection; Total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was taken BN and AN to measure total (FM) and segmental fat (truncal FM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and lean mass (LM). Tetra-polar dual frequency BIA (InBody 120; Cerritos, USA) was used BPP, BN and AN to measure weight and to estimate FM, FFM, and MM. Impedance measurements were performed. CPET was carried out on a cycle ergometer with clip-on pedals. Blood samples were collected in the morning BPP, BN, AN. Biochemical parameters considered in this study were: ALT, AST, creatinine, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides concentrations. We isolated CPCs from heparinized blood, as previously reported (14). After the collection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by a gradient centrifugation. (15). Differentiating Human Skeletal muscle cells were cultured with or without pooled sera of participants at 5% final concentration. 146b and 34a miRNAs were extracted from PBMCs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body composition	Total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was taken BN and AN to measure total (FM) and segmental fat (truncal FM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and lean mass (LM)	DEC 2020-SEP 2021
Cell differentiation	possible association with commitment of circulating progenitors.	DEC 2020-SEP 2021

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona
• Collaborators: Dr. Michele Braggio; Dr.ssa Maria Teresa Valenti; Dr.ssa Arianna Minoia; Dr. Gianluigi Dorelli; Dr. Mattia Cominacini; Prof. Francesco Bertoldo; Dr.ssa Jessica Bertacco; Dr.ssa Tonia De Simone; Prof.ssa Maria Grazia Romanelli; Prof.ssa Monica Mottes; Dr.ssa Lekhana Bhandary

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 21, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 7, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 15, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): June 21, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 21, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 15, 2022
• Last Verified: June 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: body composition; training; ultra-cycling; cell differentiation
• Other Study ID Numbers: ULTRANORD

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