High Intensity Interval Training for Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Official title: Unraveling the Potential of Physical Activity in the Treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Impact of Exercise on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Atherosclerosis Progression, and Underlying Mechanisms
Run by Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Investigación Biomédica Andalucía Oriental · NCT06833944 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The study tests whether high-intensity interval training or moderate-intensity continuous exercise can improve heart and blood vessel health for adults with familial hypercholesterolemia.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 75 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Investigación Biomédica Andalucía Oriental Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Granada, Granada) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 20, 2025 |
| Main results expected | February 28, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06833944 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults over 18 with a genetic diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia, clinically stable, and with at least one year of follow-up at the Vascular Risk Clinic.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals who cannot participate in exercise testing or have contraindications to exercise, or with prior clinical cardiovascular disease, may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study compares two supervised exercise programs—high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)—to see which more effectively improves cardiorespiratory fitness and early signs of atherosclerosis in adults with familial hypercholesterolemia. Researchers will look at fitness measures and biomarkers to understand the mechanisms behind any changes, including metabolomic signatures. Participants are adults with genetically confirmed FH, stable clinical status, and previous vascular risk clinic follow-up, enrolled at Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital in Granada, Spain. The study is centered on physical activity as an adjunct to cholesterol management and cardiovascular risk reduction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience improved fitness and healthier blood vessel profiles, potentially lowering cardiovascular risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in related populations suggest exercise can improve fitness and vascular markers, but this specific comparison of HIIT versus MICT in FH is a novel approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * Individuals with a diagnosis of genetic FH. * \> 18 years old. * Minimum follow-up of 1 year in the Vascular Risk Clinic of the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital (HUVN). * Clinical and treatment stability. * Non-pathological angio-TAC of coronary arteries in the 2 years prior to the study (for participants \>45 years old). Exclusion criteria: * Inability to read, understand and sign the informed consent. * Contraindications to exercise. * History of clinical CVD (ischemic heart disease, stroke, and/or peripheral arterial disease).
Where it's running
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Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital
Granada, Granada, Spain Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jose A Vargas-Hitos, MD, PHD — Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain
- Study coordinator: Jose A Vargas-Hitos, MD, PHD
- Email: joseantoniovh@hotmail.com
- Phone: +34625943933
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.