Effect of Aerobic Interval Training on Cardiovascular Function in Aging
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01883271 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : June 21, 2013
Last Update Posted : February 25, 2019
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Study objectives:
- To compare cardiovascular function in older compared to young healthy adults.
- To compare the effect of 8 weeks of aerobic interval training vs. continuous moderate exercise on cardiovascular function in healthy older adults.
Hypotheses:
- Compared to young adults, older adults will have lower cardiovascular function.
- Compared to continuous moderate intensity exercise training, interval training will be more effective in improving cardiovascular function in older adults.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Aging | Other: High intensity aerobic interval training Other: Continuous moderate intensity exercise | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 60 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Other |
Official Title: | Effect of Aerobic Interval vs. Continuous Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Function in Aging |
Study Start Date : | May 2013 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | February 21, 2019 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | February 21, 2019 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: High intensity aerobic interval training
Older adults will complete 8 weeks of high intensity aerobic interval exercise training.
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Other: High intensity aerobic interval training
Supervised aerobic interval training will be performed on bicycles 4 times per week for 8 weeks. Each training session will last 40 minutes and will consist of 10-minute warm up at 70% of maximal heart rate (HRmax), four 4-minute intervals at 90% of HRmax with 3-min active recovery at 70% of HRmax and 5-minute cool down at 70% of HRmax. |
Experimental: Continuous moderate intensity exercise
Older adults will complete 8 weeks of continuous moderate intensity exercise training.
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Other: Continuous moderate intensity exercise
Supervised exercise training will be performed on bicycles 4 times per week for 8 weeks. Each training session will last 47 minutes and will consist of continuous moderate intensity cycling at 70% of HRmax. |
No Intervention: Non-exercise control group
Older adults assigned to the non-exercise control group will maintain their normal lifestyle for 8 weeks.
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No Intervention: Young Healthy controls
Young healthy subjects will be assigned to the healthy control group and will undergo baseline measures only.
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- Change in vascular endothelial function [ Time Frame: At baseline and after 8 weeks of exercise training ]Brachial flow-mediated dilation using ultrasonography
- Change in factors related with endothelial function [ Time Frame: At baseline and after 8 weeks of exercise training ]Blood and cellular markers of oxidative stress and inflammation
- Change in arterial stiffness [ Time Frame: At baseline and after 8 weeks of exercise training ]Arterial stiffness and wave reflection will be measured using the SphygmoCor device
- Change in cardiac function [ Time Frame: At baseline and after 8 weeks of exercise training ]Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function will be measured using echocardiography
- Change in maximal oxygen consumption [ Time Frame: At baseline and after 8 weeks of exercise training ]Maximal oxygen consumption will be measured using online computer-assisted open-circuit spirometry during incremental treadmill exercise

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 79 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria for older adults:
- Healthy men and women 55 to 79 years of age
- Sedentary or minimally physically active for at least the prior 1 year.
- Women will be premenopausal or postmenopausal (either natural or surgical) defined as a cessation of menses for at least 2 years.
- Premenopausal women will be eumenorrheic and will be studied during the early follicular phase (days 1 through 6) of the menstrual cycle.
- Able to give consent.
Inclusion Criteria for young adults:
- Healthy men and women 18 to 35 years of age
- Sedentary or minimally physically active for at least the prior 1 year.
- Women will be premenopausal, eumenorrheic and will be studied during the early follicular phase (days 1 through 6) of the menstrual cycle.
- Able to give consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- history of diabetes
- history of any relevant cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, history of coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty, congestive heart failure, or arrhythmia)
- hypertension (≥160 mmHg systolic or ≥100 mmHg diastolic)
- history of renal impairment
- history of gout or hyperuricemia
- history of hepatic disease or infection with hepatitis B, C
- history of seizures, or other relevant on-going or recurrent illness
- recent (within 3 months) or recurrent hospitalizations
- use of tobacco products
- >5 % weight change in the prior 6 months.
- current intake of medications that may affect study results
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participation in regular aerobic exercise training (>30 minutes,
- 3 times/wk in the past year).
- premenopausal women taking oral contraceptives and postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy.
- pregnancy (positive urine pregnancy test) or lactation

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01883271
United States, Florida | |
University of Florida | |
Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32611 |
Principal Investigator: | Demetra D Christou, Ph.D | University of Florida |
Responsible Party: | University of Florida |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01883271 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
IRB201700044 551-2012 ( Other Identifier: University of Florida ) |
First Posted: | June 21, 2013 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 25, 2019 |
Last Verified: | February 2019 |