Blood-based markers linked to aerobic (VO₂max/VO₂peak) fitness
Molecular Indicators of Systematic Fitness
This project will try a blood test to see if it can predict VO₂max/VO₂peak in adults who can safely complete maximal exercise testing.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 250 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VO Health, Inc. Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 1 site (New Haven, Connecticut) |
| Trial ID | NCT07393841 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective observational cohort that pairs directly measured VO₂max/VO₂peak with fasting, resting blood samples collected on the same day. Investigators will use multi-analyte molecular measurements (for example proteomics and other blood biomarkers) to build predictors of cardiorespiratory fitness and to examine how those features vary by age, sex, and activity history. A subset of participants may provide repeat VO₂max and blood samples over time to test whether the biomarkers track changes after self-directed training. No interventions are assigned by investigators; the dataset is intended to support biomarker development and analytic reliability testing.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18 and older who can give informed consent, are willing to provide fasting blood samples and complete maximal/symptom-limited VO₂max testing, and have no medical contraindications to maximal exercise testing.
Not a fit: People with unstable cardiovascular conditions, acute illness, inability or unwillingness to undergo venipuncture, or those who cannot safely perform maximal exercise testing are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable a simple blood test to estimate aerobic fitness, making fitness measurement easier and more accessible for monitoring and personalized guidance.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has found promising links between blood proteomics/metabolomics and fitness, but robust, generalizable multi-analyte predictors of VO₂max are still preliminary.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Be ≥18 years old * Be able to understand and provide informed consent (English; additional languages may be added via amendment with translated materials) * Be willing to complete VO₂max testing, blood draw, and questionnaires. * Be able to safely perform maximal/symptom-limited exercise testing as determined by: PAR-Q+ screening and investigator review (included as an attachment) and resting vitals screening (heart rate) Exclusion Criteria: * Conditions that, in the investigator's judgment, or a medical doctor, makes maximal exercise testing unsafe (e.g., unstable cardiovascular symptoms) * Contraindications or unwillingness to undergo venipuncture * Acute illness (fever, significant respiratory illness) at the time of testing * Failure to comply with procedures.
Where this trial is running
New Haven, Connecticut
- VO Health, Inc. — New Haven, Connecticut, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Brooks P Leitner, MD, PhD
- Email: brooks@vohealth.co
- Phone: 443-474-7206
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.