The Effect of Cycling, Running, and Playing Rugby on Three Biomarkers That May Indicate Brain Injury

NCT ID: NCT06804291

Last Updated: 2025-02-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

32 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-10-16

Study Completion Date

2022-02-15

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial was to determine if and how the biomarkers neurofilament light (NfL), brain lipid binding protein (BLBP), and amyloid precursor protein (APP) accumulated over 72 hours in venous blood following running, cycling, or playing rugby as compared to a non-exercising control group. Participants in this study were recreationally active and healthy males and females 18 - 49 years of age. The main questions it aimed to answer was:

Do NfL, BLBP, and APP increase following exercise? Researchers compared the accumulation of NfL, BLBP, and NfL among runners, cyclists, rugby players, controls, and between sexes in each category.

Participants were asked to either run, bike, play a rugby match, or abstain from exercise. In the exercising group, blood was drawn from a vein prior to the activity, immediately after the activity, 30 minutes after the activity, 1 hour after the activity, 24 hours after the activity, 48 hours after the activity, and 72 hours after the activity. In the non-exercising group blood was drawn from a vein one time.

Detailed Description

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Participants were recruited for this study from fall 2021 - spring 2022. Participants recruited to play in a rugby match were current members of the university men's and women's club rugby team. Running participants consisted of members of the university's men's and women's running teams as well as recreational runners. Cycling participants consisted of members of the university's cycling club as well as recreational cyclists. Male rugby athletes played two 40-minute halves while female rugby athletes played two 20-minute halves. These are typical match times for men's and women's rugby. Runners were asked to run 6.44 kilometers at their own pace, and cyclists were asked to cycle 39 kilometers at their own pace. A control group comprised of both sedentary and recreationally active individuals was also recruited and asked to refrain from exercise for 24 hours.

Blood was drawn from an antecubital vein in the exercising groups before and after exercise as well as 30 minutes, 1-, 24-, 48-, and 72-hours after exercise. Only one blood draw was taken in the control group.

The blood biomarkers neurofilament light (NfL), brain lipid binding protein (BLBP), and amyloid precursor protein were then measured in the venous blood and compared within groups, among groups, and between sexes.

Conditions

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Healthy Male and Female Subjects

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Running Group

Participants run 6.44 kilometers. Venous blood is drawn prior to the run, immediately after the run, 30 minutes after the run, and 1-, 24-, 48, and 72-hours after the run.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Running

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants were expected to run 6.44 kilometers.

Cycling Group

Participants cycle 39 kilometers. Venous blood is drawn prior to cycling, immediately after cycling, 30 minutes after cycling, and 1-, 24-, 48, and 72-hours after cycling.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Cycling

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants were expected to cycle 39 kilometers

Rugby Group

Participants play one rugby match. Venous blood is drawn prior to the match, immediately after the match, 30 minutes after the match and 1-, 24-, 48, and 72-hours after the match.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Rugby

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants were expected to play in one rugby match.

Control Group

Participants refrained from exercise for 24 hours followed by one blood draw.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

control group

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants were asked to refrain from exercise for 24 hours.

Interventions

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Running

Participants were expected to run 6.44 kilometers.

Intervention Type OTHER

Cycling

Participants were expected to cycle 39 kilometers

Intervention Type OTHER

Rugby

Participants were expected to play in one rugby match.

Intervention Type OTHER

control group

Participants were asked to refrain from exercise for 24 hours.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Jogging Biking Control

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Apparently Healthy
* Those in the running group must be able to run 6.44 kilometers
* Those in the cycling group must be able to cycle 39 kilometers
* Those in the ruby group must be members of the university club rugby team

Exclusion Criteria

* Individuals with diabetes
* Individuals with heart disease
* Individuals who are pregnant
* Individuals who get light-headed or dizzy while donating blood
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Appalachian State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Matthew Rogatzki

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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21-0286

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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