Effects of exercise on brain insulin response
Official title: Effects of One Exercise Training Session on Brain Insulin Responsiveness
Run by University Hospital Tuebingen · NCT06039787 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests how one session of different types of exercise affects how the brain responds to insulin in people with different body weights.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 20 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital Tuebingen Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Tübingen) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 20, 2023 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | November 8, 2023 |
| Trial ID | NCT06039787 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy adults with a BMI between 19.5 and 39 who engage in minimal physical activity.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, or significant neurological disorders are unlikely to benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates how a single session of exercise affects brain insulin responsiveness in individuals with varying body weights. Participants will undergo two different types of endurance exercise—moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT)—in a randomized order, with a control condition for comparison. The study utilizes functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess changes in cerebral blood flow and connectivity after intranasal insulin administration. Secondary outcomes include monitoring changes in blood metabolites, proteins, and eating behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance understanding of how exercise influences insulin sensitivity in the brain, potentially leading to better management strategies for obesity and insulin resistance.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on exercise and insulin sensitivity, this specific approach using fMRI and intranasal insulin is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * BMI between ≥ 19.5 to 39 kg/m2- * Less than 150 min/week for moderate-intensity physical activity * Less than 75 min/week for Vigorous- intensity exercise (WHO recommendations for regular physical activity of adults) * Written consent to participate in the study * Written consent to be informed about incidental findings Exclusion Criteria * Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases such as chronic heart failure, myocardial infarction, status post stroke * Limitations to participate in ergometer-based exercise (balance and coordination disorders, orthopedic problems, …) * Insufficient knowledge of the German language * Persons who cannot legally give consent * Pregnancy or lactation * History of severe mental or somatic disorders including neurological diseases (incl. epileptic seizures and migraines) * Taking psychotropic drugs * Taking medications that influence glucose metabolism * Regular use of analgesic drugs * Taking anticoagulant agents * Previous bariatric surgery * Acute infection within the last 4 weeks * Hemoglobin values less than 12g/dl for women, less than 14 g/dl for men * Other diseases that in the opinion of the investigator may jeopardize the success of the study or indicate a risk to the volunteer * Current participation in a lifestyle intervention study or a pharmaceutical study * Metal implants which cannot be removed as pacemakers, artificial heart valve, electrical devices as insulin pumps, large tattoos, retainer over more than 4 teeth, contraceptive coil, implanted magnetic metal parts as screws or plates after a surgery * Persons with claustrophobia * Temperature-sensitive person * Persons with tinnitus or increased sensitivity to loud sounds
Where it's running
-
University Clinic Tübingen, Department of Internal Medicine IV
Tübingen, Germany Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Stephanie Kullmann, PhD
- Email: stephanie.kullmann@med.uni-tuebingen.de
- Phone: 0049707129
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.