Scientists hunt for Muscle's secret Fat-Burning signals
NCT ID NCT01911091
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at how exercise changes the signals muscles send to the rest of the body, especially those that help burn fat. Researchers will compare obese, lean, and athletic participants to find proteins or genetic codes released from muscle during exercise. The goal is to better understand why exercise is beneficial for metabolism, which could lead to new ways to treat obesity and related disorders.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Exercise (aerobic and interval training)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could reveal new proteins or genes from muscle that help burn fat, potentially pointing toward future treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early observational study, not testing a treatment. It may not identify clear factors, and any findings would need years of further research before becoming therapies.
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
-
About 56 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Start date
-
Jul 2013
- Expected to finish
-
Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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 to 40 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- 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: Applicable to all Groups * Healthy men and women, aged 18 - 40, inclusive. * Willing to stop alcohol and caffeine consumption for 48 hours preceding each blood draw Applicable to Group 1 * BMI between 22 and 29.9 kg/m2 * Not involved in regular exercise program * Willing to exercise every day for the study period Applicable to Group 2 * BMI between 22 and 29.9 kg/m2 * Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) ≥ 45 ml/kg fat-free mass /min * Engaged in a minimum of 1.5 h of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise 3 times/ week Applicable to Group 3 * BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and weight ≤ 350 lbs * Not involved in a regular exercise program Exclusion Criteria: Applicable to All Groups * History of Type 2 Diabetes * "Unfavorable anatomy" for continuous venous blood sample collection * Abnormal resting ECG * Significant renal, cardiac, liver, lung, or neurological disease (controlled hypertension is acceptable if baseline bp \< 140/90 on medications) * Use of drugs known to affect energy metabolism or body weight: including, but not limited to: orlistat, sibutramine, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, corticosterone, etc * Current treatment with blood thinners or anti-platelet medications that cannot be safely stopped for testing procedures * New onset (\<3 months on a stable regime) use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy * Alcohol or other drug abuse * Smoking within the past 3 months * Females that are currently or have been pregnant or are currently or have nursed a child within the last 12 months (minimum). * Parental enrollment into the study that compromises the well being of the child \[no partner or connected caregiver\] * Unwilling or unable to abstain from caffeine or alcohol 48 hours prior to metabolic rate measurements * Increased liver function tests * Metal objects that would interfere with the measurement of body composition /magnetic resonance spectroscopy such as implanted rods, surgical clips, etc * Any New York Heart Association class of congestive heart failure * History of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism * Significant varicose veins * Abnormal blood count/Anemia, or blood donation within the last 2 months * Major surgery on the abdomen, pelvis, or lower extremities within previous 3 months * Bariatric surgery or liposuction within the previous 3 years * Cancer (active malignancy with or without concurrent chemotherapy) * Rheumatoid disease * Bypass graft in limb * Known genetic factor (Factor V Leiden, etc) or hypercoagulable state * Diagnosed peripheral arterial or vascular disease, or intermittent claudication * Family history of primary deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism * Peripheral neuropathy * Claustrophobia * Frequent nocturnal urination and/or sleep apnea * Presence of any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, compromises participant safety or data integrity or the participants' ability to complete the training protocol Applicable to Group 2 * Gait problems * Major Depression * Presence of an eating disorder or eating attitudes/behaviors that could interfere with the study completion * Unwilling or unable to complete the protocol Applicable to Group 3 * HbA1c ≥ 6.5% (O)
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Disorder of lipid storage and metabolism are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes
Orlando, Florida, 32804, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Custom knee guides put to the test in obese patients
- A pill for obesity? early human trial puts MDR-001 to the test
- Can a weekly shot help people who still struggle with weight after bariatric surgery?
- Do GLP-1 Weight-Loss drugs change how teens eat and feel?
- Can electrical muscle stimulation boost exercise benefits after menopause?
- Can a cold cloth on the neck calm Post-Surgery nausea?