Can exercise type boost your immune system? small study suggests maybe
NCT ID NCT07618455
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed study looked at how two different exercise programs affect the immune system in 20 healthy, active men aged 18-25. Participants did either high-intensity interval training or moderate-intensity continuous exercise for 12 weeks. Researchers measured changes in immune cells and markers before and after the program to see if one type of exercise was better for immune function.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Exercise training (whole-body high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help tailor exercise programs to boost immune function in healthy adults.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in only 20 healthy young men, so results may not apply to women, older adults, or people with health conditions.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jun 2020
- Finished
-
Aug 2020
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Healthy male adults Aged 18-25 years Not engaged in regular structured exercise training (\>3 sessions/week) VO₂max within normal healthy range Willingness to participate and provide informed consent No acute or chronic inflammatory, metabolic, or cardiovascular disease Exclusion Criteria: Female participants (not included in study design) Smoking or alcohol abuse Use of anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory drugs Participation in regular high-intensity training programs Musculoskeletal limitations preventing exercise testing or training Acute infection within last 2 weeks Chronic metabolic, cardiovascular, or autoimmune diseases
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Exercise immunology are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Bitlis Eren University
Bitlis, Merkez, 13100, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a shuttle run shift key blood nutrients? study tests the question
- Can a hard cycling sprint change a Heart-Calming peptide?
- Can exercise type reshape appetite hormones? a trial puts aerobic, anaerobic, and HIIT to the test
- Can training be timed to a Woman's cycle? a new study investigates
- Can All-Out sprints reshape the Thyroid's response?
- Cycling vs. running: is your heart rate lying to you at key exercise thresholds?