Exercise-induced Changes in DNA-methylation

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Behavioral: High-intensity interval training; Behavioral: Moderate training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01931072

EPI-GEN100

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether regular moderate- or high-intensity interval training can change the DNA methylation in a long-lasting state, and whether these changes affect the gene expression. In addition, the investigators will determine whether the intensity of the training could be an affecting factor of the possible DNA-methylation change as well. The null hypothesis was that no such exercise-induced changes occur.

Enrollment: 37 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 70 to 75 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male
• 70-75 years old
• Signed written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Incompatible with exercise
• Known cardiac disease
• Active cancer
• Significant pulmonary disease
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Use of blood thinning medicine (except Albyl-E)
• Drug abuse
• Alcohol abuse
• Finishing less than 80% of the exercise sessions (this complies to the training groups)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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37 participants in 3 patient groups

High-intensity interval training

Experimental group

Description:

The High-intensity interval training group was instructed to complete exercise sessions of 4x4-minutes intervals at 85-95% of maximal heart rate, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. This type of exercise include 10 minutes warm-up, followed by four intervals of four minutes high-intensity (85-95% of HRmax), with three minutes active breaks (70% of HRmax) between each interval, and ending with seven minutes cool-down. An exercise session last for 42 minutes, where the participants should breathe heavily and feel exhausted four times.

Treatment:

Behavioral: High-intensity interval training

Moderate training

Active Comparator group

Description:

The moderate training group was instructed to complete exercise sessions of 50 minutes at 70% of maximal heart rate, 3 times a week for 8 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Moderate training

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group followed the baseline and follow-up tests, and was asked to live normally and not change their dietary pattern or exercise habits during their participation in this project. Based on the well-known beneficial effects of exercise on general health, it was regarded unethical to demand the control group to desist from any types of physical activity during the project period. They got no further follow-up on exercise.