Comparison of the Effects of Aerobic-Anaerobic Exercises on Hormonal and Immune Biomarkers

NCT ID: NCT07092969

Last Updated: 2025-07-30

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

90 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-09-15

Study Completion Date

2026-09-15

Brief Summary

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This study aims to compare the effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercise on hormonal, immunological, and metabolic biomarkers in young individuals using blood and saliva samples. It will also assess participants' physical activity levels, depression levels, and general lifestyle habits to explore their relationship with biomarker profiles. Biomarkers such as testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, IgA, alpha-amylase, insulin, lactate, and various inflammatory cytokines will be measured using ELISA. The study seeks to evaluate the physiological and psychosocial effects of different types of exercise in a holistic manner.

Detailed Description

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Exercise is a complex stimulus that induces multifaceted effects on an individual's physiological and psychological systems. Aerobic and anaerobic types of exercise differ in terms of their energy production pathways and metabolic responses in the body. Aerobic exercises are long-duration, oxygen-dependent activities, while anaerobic exercises are short-duration, high-intensity activities that activate oxygen-independent energy systems.

These types of exercise cause various hormonal, immunological, and metabolic changes in the body. After exercise, significant changes are observed in biomarkers such as stress hormones (cortisol, progesterone), anabolic hormones (testosterone), immune system markers (IgA, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-4), and metabolic parameters (amylase, insulin, lactate). The fact that these parameters can be measured from both blood and saliva samples has increased the use of non-invasive methods in exercise physiology studies.

The level of physical activity is directly related not only to biological systems but also to an individual's psychological health and lifestyle habits. Research shows that regular physical activity reduces levels of depression and improves quality of life. The positive effects of exercise on the immune system become more significant when considered in conjunction with an individual's general lifestyle habits (nutrition, sleep, stress levels, substance use, etc.). It is particularly known that individuals with depression have high cortisol levels and suppressed IgA levels. Therefore, depression levels and lifestyle habits are important variables that affect the physiological responses to exercise.

This study will compare the effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercise on hormonal, immunological, and metabolic biomarkers measured via blood and saliva samples in young individuals. Additionally, the participants' physical activity levels, depression levels, and general lifestyle habits will be evaluated to explore the relationship between these variables and biomarker profiles. Measurements will include levels of testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, IgA, alpha-amylase, insulin, lactate, and various inflammatory cytokines, assessed using the ELISA method. In this way, the biological effects of different types of exercise will be evaluated from both physiological and psychosocial perspectives.

The main aim of this study is to comparatively examine the effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercises on hormonal, immunological, and metabolic biomarkers measured through blood and saliva samples in young individuals. Additionally, the relationship between the participants' physical activity level, depression level, and general lifestyle habits (nutrition, sleep patterns, substance use, etc.) with these biomarkers will be investigated, as well as the potential modulatory effects on the physiological responses to exercise.

Conditions

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Activity, Motor Biomarkers Exercise Immunity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The study will be conducted in 2025 with 90 voluntary university students from the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Sakarya University of Applied Sciences. Participants will be aged 18-25 and free of chronic illnesses. Inclusion criteria are being a university student and within the specified age range. Exclusion criteria include orthopedic, cognitive, mental health problems, or chronic systemic diseases. Eligible students will be informed about the study's purpose, duration, potential risks, and methods, and will sign informed consent. Participants will be randomly divided into three equal groups, each receiving a different intervention, allowing comparison of physiological responses across groups.
Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Group I - Control Group:

This group will not receive any training intervention. Participants will only undergo the Bruce Protocol and Wingate tests to serve as a baseline reference for physiological responses, allowing comparison with the other two groups.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Group II - Treadmill Exercise (Bruce Protocol):

Participants will perform the Bruce Protocol on a treadmill, which involves progressive stages of increasing speed and incline to challenge cardiovascular endurance. At each stage, heart rate, blood pressure, and fatigue level will be recorded. The session will end with a cool-down phase.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Treadmill Exercise

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants in this group will perform an aerobic exercise using the Bruce Protocol on a treadmill. The test involves walking or running with gradually increasing speed and incline in predefined stages to assess cardiovascular endurance. Heart rate, blood pressure, and fatigue levels will be recorded at each stage. The session will conclude with a low-intensity cool-down phase.

Group III - Bicycle Exercise (Wingate Anaerobic Test):

This group will perform the Wingate Anaerobic Test using a stationary exercise bike. Following a warm-up, participants will cycle at maximum effort for 30 seconds to assess anaerobic performance. Data collected will include pedaling speed, power output, heart rate, and oxygen saturation.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Bicycle Exercise

Intervention Type DEVICE

The Wingate Anaerobic Test will be conducted using an ergometer bike. After a standardized warm-up, participants will pedal all-out for 30 seconds against a preset resistance, aiming to evaluate their anaerobic performance. Physiological parameters including power output, heart rate, and oxygen saturation will be monitored throughout the test.

Interventions

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Treadmill Exercise

Participants in this group will perform an aerobic exercise using the Bruce Protocol on a treadmill. The test involves walking or running with gradually increasing speed and incline in predefined stages to assess cardiovascular endurance. Heart rate, blood pressure, and fatigue levels will be recorded at each stage. The session will conclude with a low-intensity cool-down phase.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Bicycle Exercise

The Wingate Anaerobic Test will be conducted using an ergometer bike. After a standardized warm-up, participants will pedal all-out for 30 seconds against a preset resistance, aiming to evaluate their anaerobic performance. Physiological parameters including power output, heart rate, and oxygen saturation will be monitored throughout the test.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Being a university student,
* Being between the ages of 18 and 25.

Exclusion Criteria

* Having orthopedic problems that prevent exercise,
* Having cognitive or mental health problems that prevent participation in exercise,
* Having chronic systemic diseases such as cardiac, pulmonary, or nephrological.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

25 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Sakarya Applied Sciences University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Abdurrahim Yıldız

Doç.Dr

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

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Abdurrahim Yıldız, Doc.Dr.

Role: CONTACT

+90 507 751 63 63

References

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Guest NS, VanDusseldorp TA, Nelson MT, Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Jenkins NDM, Arent SM, Antonio J, Stout JR, Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Goldstein ER, Kalman DS, Campbell BI. International society of sports nutrition position stand: caffeine and exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Jan 2;18(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33388079 (View on PubMed)

Pedersen BK, Hoffman-Goetz L. Exercise and the immune system: regulation, integration, and adaptation. Physiol Rev. 2000 Jul;80(3):1055-81. doi: 10.1152/physrev.2000.80.3.1055.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10893431 (View on PubMed)

Gleeson M. Immune function in sport and exercise. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Aug;103(2):693-9. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00008.2007. Epub 2007 Feb 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17303714 (View on PubMed)

Mikkelsen K, Stojanovska L, Polenakovic M, Bosevski M, Apostolopoulos V. Exercise and mental health. Maturitas. 2017 Dec;106:48-56. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.09.003. Epub 2017 Sep 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29150166 (View on PubMed)

Schuch FB, Vancampfort D, Firth J, Rosenbaum S, Ward PB, Silva ES, Hallgren M, Ponce De Leon A, Dunn AL, Deslandes AC, Fleck MP, Carvalho AF, Stubbs B. Physical Activity and Incident Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 Jul 1;175(7):631-648. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.17111194. Epub 2018 Apr 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29690792 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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308-2025

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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