Effects of BFR-training on Stem Cells and Immune Cells in Human Skeletal Muscle

May 1, 2026 updated by: Chia-Hua Kuo, University of Taipei
In this 3-year project, investigators will first measure stem cells (primary outcome) and immune cells (secondary outcome) in human skeletal muscle immediately after and 24 hour after the BFR-training. In the second and third year, the effect of β-NMN (vitamin B3 precursor) and antioxidant on the same outcomes after BFR-exercise will be assessed. The BFR-exercise in the study will consist of a 5 × 10-second sprinting with maximal voluntary efforts, 5 minutes after a BFR pre-conditioning to legs using pressurized cuffs. In Study 1 (1st year, N = 24, aged 20-30 year), a randomized crossover trial will be conducted to compare the efficacy of sprinting exercise using BFR pre-conditioning at 20 mmHg (control) or 180 mmHg (occlusion). Study 2 (2nd year, N = 24, aged 20-30 years) will be conducted to examine the effect of β-NMN supplementation on the aforementioned outcomes in human muscles using a randomized placebo-controlled crossover study design. Study 3 (third year, N = 24, aged 20-30 years) will be conducted to examine the effect of vitamin C on the same variables immediately after and 24 hours after resistance exercise intervention, using a randomized placebo-controlled crossover study design.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Primary outcome: Stem cells (Stro-1+ cells) assessed by immunofluorescence staining.

Secondary outcome: Immune cells (MPO+ cells) assessed by immunofluorescence staining.

Study 1: Two-arm intervention (counterbalanced crossover design): Sham-exercise, BFR-exercise Study 2: Two-arm intervention (counterbalanced crossover design): Placebo-BFR exercise, NMN-BFR exercise Study 3: Two-arm intervention (counterbalanced crossover design): Placebo-BFR exercise, Vitamin C-BFR exercise

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

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

  • Taiwan
    • Taiwan
      • Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan, 111
        • Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry

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

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • healthy men

Exclusion Criteria:

  • inflammatory or immune conditions

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Sham (20 mmHg)

Study 1:

Sham: blood flow restriction (20 mmHg on leg) for 3-5 min before exercise
Behavioral: BFR (180 mmHg)
Sprinting exercise after BFR
Other Names:
  • Sham (20 mmHg)
Experimental: BFR (180 mmHg)

Study 1:

BFR: blood flow restriction (180 mmHg on leg) for 3-5 min before exercise
Behavioral: BFR (180 mmHg)
Sprinting exercise after BFR
Other Names:
  • Sham (20 mmHg)
Placebo Comparator: Placebo-BFR exercise

Study 2:

Placebo (cornstarch)-ingestion before and after BFR-exercise
Dietary supplement: NMN-BFR exercise
NMN ingested before and after BFR exercise
Other Names:
  • Placebo-BFR exercise
Experimental: NMN-BFR exercise

Study 2:

NMN-ingestion before and after BFR-exercise
Dietary supplement: NMN-BFR exercise
NMN ingested before and after BFR exercise
Other Names:
  • Placebo-BFR exercise
Placebo Comparator: Placebo-resistance exercise

Study 3:

Cornstarch-ingestion before and after resistance exercise
Dietary supplement: Vitamin C-resistance exercise
Vitamin C ingested before and after resistance exercise
Other Names:
  • Placebo-resistance exercise
Experimental: Vitamin C-resistance exercise

Study 3:

Vitamin C-ingestion before and after BFR-exercise
Dietary supplement: Vitamin C-resistance exercise
Vitamin C ingested before and after resistance exercise
Other Names:
  • Placebo-resistance exercise

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Stem cells in muscle
Time Frame: Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 24-hour post-challenge (BFR-exercise) recovery
Stem cells are identified by Stro-1 cell marker
Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 24-hour post-challenge (BFR-exercise) recovery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Immune cells in muscle
Time Frame: At 24-hour post-challenge recovery
Immune cells are identified by myeloperoxidase (MPO) cell marker
At 24-hour post-challenge recovery

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Taipei

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 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 1, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB-2021-082
  • MOST 111-2410-H-845 -005 -MY3 (Other Grant/Funding Number: National Science and Technology Council)

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

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.

Clinical Trials on Exercise

Clinical Trials on BFR (180 mmHg)

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Malawi

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe