Effects of moderate versus high‑intensity interval exercise on blood vessel function in healthy and prehypertensive adults

Difference in Acute Responses of Vascular Function to Moderate-intensity and High-intensity Interval Training in Healthy and Prehypertensive Individuals

This will test whether a single session of moderate continuous exercise or high‑intensity interval exercise changes blood vessel function in healthy adults and people with prehypertension.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 45 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 50 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Ljubljana (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Ljubljana)
• Trial ID: NCT07048509 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

After a screening visit, participants complete three morning visits: a 30‑minute rest control, a moderate‑intensity continuous exercise session, and a high‑intensity interval session. Aerobic capacity is measured with a cardiopulmonary exercise test using indirect gas exchange to set exercise intensities and determine maximal oxygen uptake. Vascular function measures including pulse‑wave velocity, flow‑mediated slowing, and microvascular function are recorded before and after each condition to capture acute responses in central, peripheral, and microvasculature. Two groups (healthy normotensive and clinician‑diagnosed prehypertensive adults) are compared to establish reliability of newer measures and to see if exercise responses differ by blood pressure status.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18–50 years old with BMI <30 who are sedentary or low‑active, not taking prescription medications, and either normotensive or diagnosed with prehypertension are the intended participants.

Not a fit: People older than 50, with BMI ≥30, established cardiovascular disease or on blood‑pressure medications, those who are highly physically active, or those unable to attend morning fasting visits are unlikely to qualify or benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help personalize exercise recommendations and support use of simpler vascular tests to detect early vascular changes in people at risk of hypertension.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show acute exercise can transiently change some vascular measures, but applying and validating flow‑mediated slowing and specific microvascular tests in this setting is relatively novel and less established.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Normotensive participants inclusion criteria:

* 18 - 50 years of age, BMI \< 30, blood pressure (BP) within the optimal range according to the latest ESH guidelines (\< 120 mmHg systolic and/or \< 80 mmHg diastolic BP)
* Sedentary or low active according to the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) (Armstrong \& Bull, 2006; Lim et al., 2012)
* No prescribed medication and absence of chronic diseases

Inclusion criteria for prehypertensive individuals:

* 18 - 50 years of age, BMI \< 30
* Diagnosed prehypertension by a clinican from the Hypertension clinic, University clinical centre of Ljubljana using established criteria
* Sedentary or low or moderately active according to the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ)
* No prescribed medication and absence of chronic diseases

Exclusion Criteria:

* Blood pressure out of the optimal range (normotensives)
* High level of phyisical activity (moderate or high active according to GPAQ)
* Hypotension
* Chronic diseases
* Prescribed medication
* Lower extremity injury in the last six months
* Menopause
* Absence of normal menstrual cycle
* Pregnancy
* Smoking

Where this trial is running

Ljubljana

• University of Ljubljana, Faculty of sport — Ljubljana, Slovenia (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Armin H Paravlic, PhD

Conditions Prehypertension or Hypertension; Healthy; aerobic exercise; vascular function; prehypertension