How do two types of intense exercise affect a brain neurotrophic factor?
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN12081217 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12081217 |
- Submission date
- 03/07/2025
- Registration date
- 03/07/2025
- Last edited
- 03/07/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Exercise is linked to neuroplasticity, our brain's ability to adapt to different environments and experiences. When we exercise, various brain health protective neurotrophic factors are released that improve brain functioning and health. Therefore, it is important to research the optimal exercise protocols, in terms of intensity, type and goal, to promote this neuroplasticity.
This study aimed to test two high-intensity exercise protocols and how they affect a specific neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, as well as lactate concentration (an indicator of fatigue and metabolism).
Who can participate?
Young healthy adults aged 20-30 years, with both females and males included
What does the study involve?
Participants were randomly allocated into three groups. One experimental exercise group completed a 15-minute high-intensity protocol, while another one had a 15-minute maximum intensity protocol. The control group watched a 15-minute educational video. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor was measured in saliva with participants passively drooling into a specific tube. Lactate concentration was measured from capillary blood.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is a possibility that the exercise will be tiring or cause physical or psychological fatigue. The tests can cause psychological fatigue. During the exercise, heart rate will be monitored to control the intensity, and a team of sports scientists will be present to monitor the process and stop the study if necessary. The risk will be reduced by warming up so that the exercise load increases gradually.
Where is the study run from?
Sports Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia (Latvia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2023 to February 2025
Who is funding the study?
We acknowledge the donation of SIA "Mikrotīkls" (MikroTik) administered by the University of Latvia Foundation, project no. 2322
Who is the main contact?
Klāvs Ēvelis, klavs.evelis@lu.lv
Contact information
Public, Scientific
Jelgavas iela 1
Riga
LV-1004
Latvia
 ORCID ID |
0009-0002-5215-6456 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +371 (0)29404027 |
| klavs.evelis@lu.lv |
Principal Investigator
Jelgavas iela 1
Riga
LV-1004
Latvia
| ORCID ID |
0009-0007-2777-1154 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +371 (0)26528853 |
| liga.plakane@lu.lv |
Study information
| Study design | Three-group pre-post block randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Laboratory |
| Study type | Efficacy |
| Participant information sheet | Not available retrospectively, as study data collection is already finished |
| Scientific title | Effects of high-intensity training and reduced exertion high-intensity training on brain-derived neurotrophic factor: a block randomized controlled trial |
| Study objectives | H1: Lactate and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) will increase after acute exercise, compared to baseline, but will not increase in the control group. H2: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) will increase with increased lactate. Q1: Will the reduced-exertion high-intensity training (REHIT) load lead to a higher BDNF post-exercise increase than high-intensity training (HIIT)? |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 12/01/2024, Life science and medicine scientific research ethics committee of the University of Latvia (Raiņa bulvāris 19, Riga, LV-1586, Latvia; +371 (0)67033881; lu@lu.lv), ref: No. 71-35/2 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Acute exercise effect on brain-derived neurotrophic factor |
| Intervention | Block randomization was used to assign participants to three groups. One experimental exercise group completed a 15-minute HIIT protocol, while another one had a 15-minute REHIT protocol, and the control group watched a 15-minute educational video. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) measured in saliva using an ELISA kit pre-exercise and directly after the main part of the exercise (before cooldown) |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Lactate measured pre-exercise and directly after the main part of the exercise (before cooldown) 2. Glucose measured pre-exercise and directly after the main part of the exercise (before cooldown) Both measured in capillary blood samples using a Biosen Lactate and Glucose Analyser |
| Overall study start date | 23/11/2023 |
| Completion date | 12/02/2025 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 20 Years |
| Upper age limit | 30 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 66 |
| Total final enrolment | 60 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Young adults, aged 20 - 30 years, without any medical conditions that would limit their ability to exercise 2. No colourblind vision, as some of the cognitive tests (not included in the analysis) were in various colour forms 3. Non-smokers 4. Exercise up to three times a week. |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Athletes 2. People who have health conditions that do not allow them to exercise |
| Date of first enrolment | 11/03/2024 |
| Date of final enrolment | 12/02/2025 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Latvia
Study participating centre
Riga
LV-1004
Latvia
Sponsor information
University/education
Raiņa bulvāris 19
Riga
LV-1004
Latvia
| Phone | +371 (0)67034777 |
|---|---|
| lu@lu.lv | |
| Website | https://www.lu.lv |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/05g3mes96 |
Funders
Funder type
Industry
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/11/2025 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Published as a supplement to the results publication |
| Publication and dissemination plan | This study is submitted to a peer-reviewed journal |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study will be published as a supplement to the results publication. |
Editorial Notes
03/07/2025: Study's existence confirmed by the life science and medicine scientific research ethics committee of the University of Latvia.
