Effects of Meal and Exercise Sequence on Glucose and Blood Pressure Responses

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the sequence meal and exercise (exercise before meal or exercise after meal) affects the postprandial metabolism.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Blood Pressure; Glucose Response
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Meal-Exercise; Behavioral: Exercise-Meal

Detailed Description

Trial days In the 24 h prior to each main trial, participants were asked to refrain from performing any strenuous physical activity and from consuming alcohol/caffeine. Dinner intake was recorded before the first main trial and participants were asked to replicate this diet prior to their second main trial.

On main trial days, participants arrived at the laboratory between 8-9 am following a 10-hour fast. After measuring height, blood pressure, pulse, and obtaining finger-prick blood samples, participants underwent EM or ME intervention.

The entire experiment lasted a total of 150 minutes. During the initial 50 minutes, participants were randomly assigned to either exercise before or after breakfast. Participants were asked to finish their breakfast within approximately 5 minutes. The exercise regimen consisted of brisk walking for 22 minutes at a speed of 6 km/hr on the indoor track. After a 25-minute break, the second meal was provided. Participants then underwent a 75-minute observation period during the postprandial phase. Blood pressure and pulse were assessed with the individual seated in a relaxed, upright position on a chair, with the arm properly positioned. Two measurements of blood pressure and pulse were taken, and these values were averaged to ensure that the two readings were within 5 mmHg of each other. If the two readings differed by more than 5 mmHg, additional readings were taken until the outlying measurement was excluded. The test meal consists of red bean dorayaki (CHUAN LIAN Enterprise Co., Ltd.) and soy milk (I-MEI Foods Co., Ltd.). The breakfast provided contained 348 kcal, with a macronutrient distribution of 60% carbohydrates, 12% protein, and 28% fat. The second meal contained 207 kcal, with a macronutrient distribution of 66% carbohydrates, 6% protein, and 28% fat.

Finger-prick blood samples, blood pressure, and pulse were measured every 25 minutes during the experiment using the Freestyle Optium Neo (Abbott Diabetes Care, Ltd., UK) and the OMRON HEM-7320 blood pressure monitor (OMRON Co., Ltd., Japan). Two measurements of blood pressure and pulse were taken, and these values were averaged to ensure that the two readings were within 5 mmHg of each other. If the two readings differed by more than 5 mmHg, additional readings were taken until the outlying measurement was excluded. Blood pressure and pulse were assessed with the individual seated in a relaxed, upright position on a chair, with the arm properly positioned.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 18
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan
    • National Taiwan Normal University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age between 20 and 45 years
2. Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging from 18.5 to 27 kg/m2
3. No habits of heavy drinking or smoking, or have quit smoking for at least 6 months
4. Absence of diabetes, cardiovascular, or metabolic-related disorders
5. Not currently taking medications, or other supplements that may affect blood sugar, blood pressure, or metabolic changes
6. No current sports injuries or medical advice against exercise
7. No significant weight fluctuations in the past three months (within ±3% of usual body weight)
8. Not experiencing shift work or travel across time zones within the past 6 months
9. No current plans to change lifestyle habits and willing to adhere to the requirements of the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Meal-Exercise; Breakfast intake before 22 minutes of brisk walking	Behavioral: Meal-Exercise; Breakfast intake before 22 minutes of brisk walking, followed by a lunch intake for another 75 minutes of observation period. The entire experiment lasted a total of 150 minutes.
Experimental: Exercise-Meal; 22 minutes of brisk walking before breakfast intake	Behavioral: Exercise-Meal; 22 minutes of brisk walking before breakfast intake, followed by 75 minutes of observational period. The entire experiment lasted a total of 150 minutes

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Postprandial glucose concentrations	Changes in glucose responses during trials	150 minutes
Blood pressure	Changes in blood pressure (e.g., diastolic and systolic blood pressure) during trials	150 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Taiwan Normal University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 24, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 9, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): January 9, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 22, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 29, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 2, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Blood pressure; Post-Exercise Hypotension; Postprandial glucose responses; Fasted-exercise
• Other Study ID Numbers: 202310HM014-1

Drug and device information, study documents

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