Postprandial Triglyceride Concentrations Across Menstrual Cycle Phases

Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phases on Postprandial Triglyceride Concentrations in Healthy Premenopausal Females: A Crossover Study

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effect of menstrual cycle phases on postprandial triglyceride concentrations in healthy young female adults. The main question it aims to answer is: do postprandial triglyceride concentrations differ between the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle?

Participants will: visit the laboratory for a preliminary screening session to assess eligibility, and undergo two experimental sessions consisting of six hours of seated rest following the consumption of a high-fat meal (one session conducted in the early follicular phase, and one session conducted in the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Healthy Adult Females
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Early Follicular Phase; Other: Mid-Luteal Phase

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 12
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Pascal Imbeault, PhD; Phone Number: 6135625800 ext 7290; Email: imbeault@uottawa.ca

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1S 5S9
      • Recruiting
      • Behavioural and Metabolic Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa
      • Contact: Pascal Imbeault; Phone Number: 7290 16135625800; Email: imbeault@uottawa.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• English or French speaking
• Ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• History or evidence of chronic disease
• Current use of hypolipemic medication
• Current use of hormonal contraceptives
• Current use of antidepressants
• Current use of anticoagulants
• Ongoing smoking status
• Experiencing pregnancy, puerperium, or irregular menstrual cycles

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Early Follicular Phase	Other: Early Follicular Phase; In the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, participants will undergo 6 hours of seated rest after the consumption of a high-fat meal representing 33% of estimated daily energy expenditure and consisting of 59% of calories from fat.
Experimental: Mid-Luteal Phase	Other: Mid-Luteal Phase; In the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, participants will undergo 6 hours of seated rest after the consumption of a high-fat meal representing 33% of estimated daily energy expenditure and consisting of 59% of calories from fat.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline in plasma total triglyceride concentrations	Plasma total triglyceride concentrations will be measured via colorimetric assays from venous blood samples collected upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and during the exposure (i.e., 0 or baseline, 30, 60, 90,120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 minutes).	6 hours
Change from baseline in plasma buoyant triglyceride concentrations	Plasma buoyant triglyceride concentrations will be measured via colorimetric assays from venous blood samples collected upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and during the exposure (i.e., 0 or baseline, 30, 60, 90,120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 minutes).	6 hours
Change from baseline in plasma denser triglyceride concentrations	Plasma denser triglyceride concentrations will be measured via colorimetric assays from venous blood samples collected upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and during the exposure (i.e., 0 or baseline, 30, 60, 90,120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 minutes).	6 hours
Change from baseline in plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations	Plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations will be measured via colorimetric assays from venous blood samples collected upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and during the exposure (i.e., 0 or baseline, 30, 60, 90,120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 minutes).	6 hours
Change from baseline in plasma insulin concentrations	Plasma insulin concentrations will be measured via colorimetric assays from venous blood samples collected upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and during the exposure (i.e., 0 or baseline, 30, 60, 90,120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 minutes).	6 hours
Change from baseline in plasma glucose concentrations	Plasma glucose concentrations will be measured via colorimetric assays from venous blood samples collected upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and during the exposure (i.e., 0 or baseline, 30, 60, 90,120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 minutes).	6 hours
Change from baseline in plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations	Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations will be measured via colorimetric assays from venous blood samples collected upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and during the exposure (i.e., 0 or baseline, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 minutes).	6 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Baseline serum β-estradiol concentrations	Serum β-estradiol concentrations will be measured via colorimetric assays from venous blood samples collected upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline)	Baseline
Baseline serum progesterone concentrations	Serum progesterone concentrations will be measured via colorimetric assays from venous blood samples collected upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline)	Baseline
Change from baseline in respiratory exchange ratio	Respiratory exchange ratio will be measured via indirect calorimetry upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline), and hourly for 6 hours following meal consumption.	6 hours
Change from baseline in desire to eat	Scores of subjective desire to eat, measured using visual analog scales. Measurements are performed upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and hourly during the 6-hour exposure. Scores will be measured using semantic differential scales in the form of 100-mm visual analog scales. For desire to eat, the question will be asked as follows: "How strong is your desire to eat?" (very weak (0 mm) - very strong (100 mm)).	6 hours
Change from baseline in hunger	Scores of subjective hunger, measured using visual analog scales. Measurements are performed upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and hourly during the 6-hour exposure. Scores will be measured using semantic differential scales in the form of 100-mm visual analog scales. For hunger, the question will be asked as follows: "How hungry do you feel?" (not hungry at all (0 mm) - as hungry as I have ever felt (100 mm))	6 hours
Change from baseline in fullness	Scores of subjective fullness, measured using visual analog scales. Measurements are performed upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and hourly during the 6-hour exposure. Scores will be measured using semantic differential scales in the form of 100-mm visual analog scales. For fullness, the question will be asked as follows: How full do you feel?" (not full at all (0 mm) - very full (100 mm)).	6 hours
Change from baseline in prospective food consumption	Scores of subjective prospective food consumption, measured using visual analog scales. Measurements are performed upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and hourly during the 6-hour exposure. Scores will be measured using semantic differential scales in the form of 100-mm visual analog scales. For prospective food consumption, the question will be asked as follows: "How much food do you think you could eat?" (nothing at all (0 mm) - a large amount (100 mm)).	6 hours
Fasting resting energy expenditure	Fasting resting energy expenditure will be measured via indirect calorimetry upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline).	Baseline
Change from baseline in resting energy expenditure	Resting energy expenditure will be measured via indirect calorimetry upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and hourly for 6 hours following meal consumption. The thermic effect of food is defined as the increase in resting energy expenditure above the fasting baseline value.	6 hours
Change from baseline in carbohydrate oxidation rate	Carbohydrate oxidation rate will be measured via indirect calorimetry upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and hourly for 6 hours following meal consumption.	6 hours
Change from baseline in lipid oxidation rate	Carbohydrate oxidation rate will be measured via indirect calorimetry upon arrival at the laboratory (baseline) and hourly for 6 hours following meal consumption.	6 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Ottawa
• Collaborators: Hopital Montfort; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada; Institut du Savoir Montfort

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 26, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 3, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Menstrual Cycle; Triglyceride; Postprandial Lipemia; High-Fat Meal
• Other Study ID Numbers: H-06-18-837-2026

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