Tabata Exercise on Nitric Oxide Synthases and Maresin

Differential Effects of Tabata Exercise on Nitric Oxide Synthases and Maresin in Smokers and Non-Smokers

Smoking causes chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction through alterations in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) pathways. Maresin is an anti-inflammatory pro-resolving lipid mediator that plays important roles in the resolution of inflammatory processes. Tabata exercise is a short-duration, high-intensity exercise modality with beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the effects of tabata exercise on iNOS, eNOS, and Maresin levels, as well as the relationships among these biomarkers, in smokers and non-smokers.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Smoking; Smoking, Cigarette
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Tabata Exercise Protocol

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Yakutiye
    • Erzurum, Yakutiye, Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Ataturk University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 40 years
• No regular participation in structured physical exercise for at least 6 months prior to enrollment
• Absence of any acute or chronic inflammatory disease at baseline
• No history of cardiovascular, metabolic, pulmonary, or neurological disorders
• Ability to comply with the study protocol and complete the tabata exercise program
• Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Initiation or cessation of smoking during the study period
• Use of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, corticosteroid, or vasoactive medications
• Acute infection, surgical intervention, or major trauma within the preceding 3 months
• Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, or chronic pulmonary disease
• History of alcohol or substance abuse
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Musculoskeletal or orthopedic conditions that could limit participation in tabata exercise
• Inability to adhere to the exercise protocol or failure to complete follow-up assessments

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Smoker; Current smokers with a smoking history of at least 2 years; Daily cigarette consumption of ≥10 cigarettes per day	Other: Tabata Exercise Protocol; The Tabata protocol consisted of 20-second high-intensity intervals exceeding 70 % of VO₂max and approaching ~90 % of VO₂max, followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated for 4 minutes per set. Exercises included high knees, froggers, speed skaters, jumping jacks, and mountain climbers. Following the original Tabata design [29], each work-rest cycle was repeated eight times. Each training session began with a 10-15 minute warm-up and concluded with a 10-15 minute cool-down. The total number of sets ranged from 1 to 4, and the number of exercises per session ranged from 4 to 8. Training intensity progressively increased from 30 % to 89 % of maximal effort according to the principle of progressive overload.
Active Comparator: Nonsmoker; Individuals who had never smoked, or; Individuals who had not smoked for at least 5 years, with no history of regular passive smoking exposure	Other: Tabata Exercise Protocol; The Tabata protocol consisted of 20-second high-intensity intervals exceeding 70 % of VO₂max and approaching ~90 % of VO₂max, followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated for 4 minutes per set. Exercises included high knees, froggers, speed skaters, jumping jacks, and mountain climbers. Following the original Tabata design [29], each work-rest cycle was repeated eight times. Each training session began with a 10-15 minute warm-up and concluded with a 10-15 minute cool-down. The total number of sets ranged from 1 to 4, and the number of exercises per session ranged from 4 to 8. Training intensity progressively increased from 30 % to 89 % of maximal effort according to the principle of progressive overload.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
serum inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) level	iNOS level were quantified using immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, according to the manufacturers' instructions.	6 week after exercise
serum inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) level	iNOS level were quantified using immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, according to the manufacturers' instructions.	12 week after exercise
serum endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) synthase level	eNOS level were quantified using immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, according to the manufacturers' instructions.	6 week after exercise
serum endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) synthase level	eNOS level were quantified using immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, according to the manufacturers' instructions.	12 week after exercise

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
serum maresin level	Maresin level were quantified using immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, according to the manufacturers' instructions.	6 week after exercise
serum maresin level	Maresin level were quantified using immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, according to the manufacturers' instructions.	12 week after exercise

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ataturk University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Ding N, Sang Y, Chen J, Ballew SH, Kalbaugh CA, Salameh MJ, Blaha MJ, Allison M, Heiss G, Selvin E, Coresh J, Matsushita K. Cigarette Smoking, Smoking Cessation, and Long-Term Risk of 3 Major Atherosclerotic Diseases. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Jul 30;74(4):498-507. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.05.049.
• Fysikopoulos A, Seimetz M, Hadzic S, Knoepp F, Wu CY, Malkmus K, Wilhelm J, Pichl A, Bednorz M, Tadele Roxlau E, Ghofrani HA, Sommer N, Gierhardt M, Schermuly RT, Seeger W, Grimminger F, Weissmann N, Kraut S. Amelioration of elastase-induced lung emphysema and reversal of pulmonary hypertension by pharmacological iNOS inhibition in mice. Br J Pharmacol. 2021 Jan;178(1):152-171. doi: 10.1111/bph.15057. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 24, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 16, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): January 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 9, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 9, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 9, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: smoker; nitric oxide synthase; Tabata Exercise; Maresin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Tobacco Smoking; Tobacco Use; Smoking; Cigarette Smoking
• Other Study ID Numbers: ATAUNISPORT1

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