Comparison of the Effects of Aerobic-Anaerobic Exercises on Hormonal and Immune Biomarkers

Sakarya Applied Sciences University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Immunity; Biomarkers; Activity, Motor; Exercise

Treatments: Device: Treadmill Exercise; Device: Bicycle Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07092969

308-2025 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

2

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to compare the effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercise on hormonal, immunological, and metabolic biomarkers in young individuals using blood and saliva samples. It will also assess participants' physical activity levels, depression levels, and general lifestyle habits to explore their relationship with biomarker profiles. Biomarkers such as testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, IgA, alpha-amylase, insulin, lactate, and various inflammatory cytokines will be measured using ELISA. The study seeks to evaluate the physiological and psychosocial effects of different types of exercise in a holistic manner.

Full description

Exercise is a complex stimulus that induces multifaceted effects on an individual's physiological and psychological systems. Aerobic and anaerobic types of exercise differ in terms of their energy production pathways and metabolic responses in the body. Aerobic exercises are long-duration, oxygen-dependent activities, while anaerobic exercises are short-duration, high-intensity activities that activate oxygen-independent energy systems.

These types of exercise cause various hormonal, immunological, and metabolic changes in the body. After exercise, significant changes are observed in biomarkers such as stress hormones (cortisol, progesterone), anabolic hormones (testosterone), immune system markers (IgA, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-4), and metabolic parameters (amylase, insulin, lactate). The fact that these parameters can be measured from both blood and saliva samples has increased the use of non-invasive methods in exercise physiology studies.

The level of physical activity is directly related not only to biological systems but also to an individual's psychological health and lifestyle habits. Research shows that regular physical activity reduces levels of depression and improves quality of life. The positive effects of exercise on the immune system become more significant when considered in conjunction with an individual's general lifestyle habits (nutrition, sleep, stress levels, substance use, etc.). It is particularly known that individuals with depression have high cortisol levels and suppressed IgA levels. Therefore, depression levels and lifestyle habits are important variables that affect the physiological responses to exercise.

This study will compare the effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercise on hormonal, immunological, and metabolic biomarkers measured via blood and saliva samples in young individuals. Additionally, the participants' physical activity levels, depression levels, and general lifestyle habits will be evaluated to explore the relationship between these variables and biomarker profiles. Measurements will include levels of testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, IgA, alpha-amylase, insulin, lactate, and various inflammatory cytokines, assessed using the ELISA method. In this way, the biological effects of different types of exercise will be evaluated from both physiological and psychosocial perspectives.

The main aim of this study is to comparatively examine the effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercises on hormonal, immunological, and metabolic biomarkers measured through blood and saliva samples in young individuals. Additionally, the relationship between the participants' physical activity level, depression level, and general lifestyle habits (nutrition, sleep patterns, substance use, etc.) with these biomarkers will be investigated, as well as the potential modulatory effects on the physiological responses to exercise.

Enrollment: 90 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being a university student,
• Being between the ages of 18 and 25.

Exclusion criteria

• Having orthopedic problems that prevent exercise,
• Having cognitive or mental health problems that prevent participation in exercise,
• Having chronic systemic diseases such as cardiac, pulmonary, or nephrological.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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90 participants in 3 patient groups

Group I - Control Group:

No Intervention group

Description:

This group will not receive any training intervention. Participants will only undergo the Bruce Protocol and Wingate tests to serve as a baseline reference for physiological responses, allowing comparison with the other two groups.

Group II - Treadmill Exercise (Bruce Protocol):

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will perform the Bruce Protocol on a treadmill, which involves progressive stages of increasing speed and incline to challenge cardiovascular endurance. At each stage, heart rate, blood pressure, and fatigue level will be recorded. The session will end with a cool-down phase.

Treatment:

Device: Treadmill Exercise

Group III - Bicycle Exercise (Wingate Anaerobic Test):

Experimental group

Description:

This group will perform the Wingate Anaerobic Test using a stationary exercise bike. Following a warm-up, participants will cycle at maximum effort for 30 seconds to assess anaerobic performance. Data collected will include pedaling speed, power output, heart rate, and oxygen saturation.

Treatment:

Device: Bicycle Exercise