Feasibility Assessment of Cardiovascular Endurance Training for the Symptomatic Improvement of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients With a Sedentary and Non-active Lifestyle.

NCT ID: NCT05680766

Last Updated: 2025-12-18

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-10-16
• Study Completion Date: 2027-01-02

Brief Summary

This exploratory study's primary objective is the changes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptom severity by cardiovascular endurance training (CET) in relation to the baseline sedentary or non-active lifestyle. Secondary endpoints focus on the mechanisms associated with these changes.

These mechanisms relate to dietary adaptations, changes in anxiety, depressive comorbidity, somatisation, alterations in the gut microbiome or metabolome, body composition and measures of cardiovascular fitness. Virtually all IBS guidelines mention lifestyle modifications as a management option.

Research on the role of physical activity remains underassessed as compared to the other interventions. Therefore, an exploratory proof-of-concept study will investigate the influence of regular physical exercise on symptoms in a small group of IBS patients. This study will gather data on putative underlying mechanisms related to dietary factors, faecal microbiome and metabolome, mental well-being, body composition and cardiovascular fitness.

Conditions

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Intervention arm

IBS subjects fulfilling the eligibility criteria will follow a structured and personalised cardiovascular endurance training (CET).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Cardiovascular endurance training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Based on the results of a maximal effort test, investigators will provide a personalised training program. Results of a submaximal effort test after 6 weeks, will allow for adaptation of the training program for the remaining training period.

Interventions

Cardiovascular endurance training

Based on the results of a maximal effort test, investigators will provide a personalised training program. Results of a submaximal effort test after 6 weeks, will allow for adaptation of the training program for the remaining training period.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients aged 18 - 60 years;
• Fulfilling the ROME IV criteria for Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS);
• Moderate symptom severity as defined by a IBS-Symptom Severity Scale > 175;
• Sedentary lifestyle defined as SIT-Q-7D > 8h/day;
• Physically inactive defined as < 150min/week on the IPAQ score

Exclusion Criteria

• Cardiorespiratory disorder hampering participation in a program of physical exercise as evidenced by the sport + keuringsartsen (SKA) questionnaire.
• Clinical suspicion of an organic disorder different from IBS (patients can be included when this disorder had been excluded);
• Known inflammatory bowel disorder;
• Known intestinal motility disorder;
• Alcohol (defined as more than 14 U per week) or other substance abuse;
• Active psychiatric disorder;
• Known systemic or auto-immune disorder with implication for the GI system;
• Prior abdominal surgery (with the exception of appendectomy or cholecystectomy more than 6 months ago);
• Any prior diagnosis of cancer other than basocellular carcinoma;
• Current chemotherapy;
• History of gastro-enteritis in the past 8 weeks;
• Change in diet in the past 8 weeks;
• Dietary supplements unless taken at a stable dose for more than 8 weeks;
• Antibiotics, pre-, pro-, post-biotics or any combination during the past 8 weeks;
• Treatment with neuromodulators (one neuromodulator taken at a stable dose for more than 12 weeks is allowed);
• Treatment with spasmolytic agents, opioids, loperamide, gelatine tannate or mucoprotect-ants during the past 8 weeks.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

UZ Brussel

Jette, , Belgium

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Belgium

Central Contacts

Sébastien Kindt

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +32 2 477

Email: sebastien.kindt@uzbrussel.be

Virgini Van Buggenhout

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +32 2 477

Email: virgini.vanbuggenhout@uzbrussel.be

Facility Contacts

Sebastien Kindt

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

Face-IT

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id