How exercise timing affects after-meal blood sugar
Official title: Exercise Timing and Postprandial Glucose Responses in Healthy Adults
Run by Technical University of Munich · NCT07434349 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether running before or after breakfast or dinner changes after-meal blood sugar in healthy, active young adults.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Technical University of Munich Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (München, Bavaria) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 2026 |
| Study ends | August 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07434349 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy, endurance-trained adults aged 18–35 with BMI 18.5–24.9 who can run continuously for 45 minutes at 75–85% of maximal heart rate and have habitual wake times compatible with an 08:00 breakfast.
✕Probably not a fit
People with metabolic disorders, those taking medications that affect glucose, individuals with BMI ≥25, pregnant or breastfeeding people, or those unable to complete vigorous running are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized repeated-measures crossover trial has each participant complete five conditions over a 14-day period while wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Conditions include a 45-minute vigorous outdoor run performed before or after breakfast or dinner, plus a no-exercise control, with exercise set at 75–85% of maximal heart rate. All meals are fully standardized, high–glycemic-load, and served at fixed times (08:00, 13:00, 18:00), and postprandial glucose is measured for the three consecutive meals following each condition. The order of conditions is randomized and every participant completes all five conditions to allow within-person comparisons.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help people time endurance exercise to lower after-meal blood sugar and improve day-to-day glucose control.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have found that exercise timing can alter postprandial glucose in both people with diabetes and healthy adults, but results have been mixed and this tightly controlled crossover with continuous glucose monitoring is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 to 35 years * Body mass index 18.5 to 24.9 kg per square meter * Able to complete 45 minutes of continuous running at an intensity corresponding to 75 to 85 percent of maximal heart rate without stopping * Engages in regular endurance-type physical activity * Habitual waking times are compatible with the fixed breakfast time of 08:00 * Willing and able to comply with all study procedures, including standardized meals, exercise sessions, behavioral restrictions, and continuous glucose monitoring * For female participants: non-pregnant and using stable hormonal contraception for at least 3 months Exclusion Criteria: * Acute or chronic illness * Metabolic disorders or conditions associated with altered glucose or lipid metabolism * Use of medications known to interfere with glucose metabolism or study outcomes * Intolerance or allergy to components of the standardized study diets * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Body mass index greater than or equal to 25 kg per square meter * Current or past eating disorder, or any medical condition or medication that could affect appetite regulation, glucose regulation, or make vigorous endurance exercise unsafe * Current smoking or use of nicotine-containing products
Where it's running
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Technical University of Munich
München, Bavaria, Germany Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Christoph Höchsmann, PD Dr. — Technical University of Munich
- Study coordinator: Christoph Höchsmann, PD Dr.
- Email: christoph.hoechsmann@tum.de
- Phone: +49 89 289 24488
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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.