Impact of Postprandial 'Exercise Snacks' on Protein and Glucose Metabolism Following a Period of Step Reduction in Older Adults

NCT ID: NCT05810272

Last Updated: 2023-07-13

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-04-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-08-01

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of 3-days reduced physical activity (<1500 steps/day) with/without 'exercise snacks' (15 chair stands with calf raises every 30 min) on skeletal muscle metabolic health.

Detailed Description

Many adults gradually lose muscle size, strength, and function after the age of 50. These losses are believed to occur faster with periods of reduced activity (e.g., lower step counts or physical movement when sick or injured) and can be difficult to regain by merely returning to a previously normal activity status. Such periods of reduced activity can also impair the body's ability to use the nutrients in the food consumed (e.g., proteins and carbohydrates), which increases the risk of frailty, type 2 diabetes, and ultimately a reduced quality of life. It is important to identify strategies to prevent these losses in muscle size, strength, and function especially during periods of reduced activity.

Recently, our laboratory has found that performing repeated bodyweight chair squats (repeated sit-to-stands with a calf raise) during a single day of reduced activity improves the muscle's ability to use carbohydrates and proteins, which may be a viable strategy to offset the negative effects of step reduction on muscle health.

In this study, the investigators will assess whether completing bodyweight chair squats at regular intervals (i.e., 'exercise snacks') reduces the negative effects of step reduction on carbohydrate and protein metabolism following a meal. The investigators will determine the impact of 'exercise snacks' (15 chair stands with calf raises every 30 min) compared to seated rest on protein and carbohydrate metabolism following three days of step reduction. The investigators will also assess how these responses compare to those seen following three days of normal (i.e., habitual) activity.

Conditions

Inactivity, Physical; Aging; Healthy Aging; Sarcopenia; Muscular Atrophy; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Habitual Activity

Following three days of habitual activity, a metabolic trial will be completed wherein participants (10M/10F) will be assessed for their anabolic response to a protein-carbohydrate meal.

Group Type: OTHER

Metabolic Trial

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will undergo a metabolic trial to assess for their anabolic response to a protein-carbohydrate meal.

Step-Reduction

Participants will undergo three days of reduced physical activity (\<1,500 steps/day) prior to a metabolic trial to establish their anabolic response to a protein-carbohydrate meal.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Metabolic Trial

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will undergo a metabolic trial to assess for their anabolic response to a protein-carbohydrate meal.

15 sit-to-stands with calf raises

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants (n=10; 5F/5M) will be randomized to perform 15 sit-to-stands with calf raises every 30 minutes for the 4 hour duration between muscle biopsies

Interventions

Metabolic Trial

Participants will undergo a metabolic trial to assess for their anabolic response to a protein-carbohydrate meal.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

15 sit-to-stands with calf raises

Participants (n=10; 5F/5M) will be randomized to perform 15 sit-to-stands with calf raises every 30 minutes for the 4 hour duration between muscle biopsies

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Exercise Snacks

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy older (age: 60-80 y) adults
• BMI between normal to overweight (18.5-29.9 kg/m2)

Exclusion Criteria

• Regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (with the exception of daily low-dose aspirin)
• Alcohol consumption during the study period
• Use of anticoagulants
• Use of a walker, cane, or assistive walking device
• Current or recently remised cancer
• Infectious or gastrointestinal disease
• Inability to comply with study protocol (e.g., >1,500 steps/day during Step-Reduction Phase)
• Regular tobacco use
• Self-reported illicit drug use (e.g. growth hormone, testosterone, etc.)
• Diagnosed chronic illness (e.g. type 2 diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disease)
• Hormonal Replacement Therapy

• Minimum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Toronto

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Daniel Moore

Associate Professor in Muscle Physiology

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Daniel R Moore, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Toronto

Hugo JW Fung, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Toronto

Locations

Goldring Center for High Performance Sport

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Canada

Central Contacts

Daniel R Moore, PhD

Role: CONTACT

dr.moore@utoronto.ca

4169464088

Matthew J Lees, PhD

Role: CONTACT

matthew.lees@utoronto.ca

Facility Contacts

Matthew J Lees, PhD

Role: primary

matthew.lees@utoronto.ca

416-946-0400

Hugo JW Fung, PhD (c)

Role: backup

hugojernwai.fung@utoronto.ca

Other Identifiers

ESPEN

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id