We are currently recruiting for a randomised control trial to investigate the effect of fasted exercise on blood cholesterol. You will be asked to perform an exercise program for 12 weeks. The study will involve three laboratory visits, at weeks one, four and twelve of the program.

Research in this area has shown that exercise improves certain types of cholesterol which is important in assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease. We would like to know if performing exercise fasted has additional beneficial effects on cholesterol. Furthermore, we will investigate if there are differences between men and women.

What's involved in the study

We will ask you to stick to an exercise program for 12 weeks in which you perform moderate intensity exercise for 50 minutes three times a week. You will be randomly allocated to perform this exercise either fasted or after a meal. We will assess how this affects your levels of blood cholesterol as well as other markers of health such as fitness level and body composition.

To participate in this study you will be asked to visit the university laboratory on three occasions. Each visit will be exactly the same.

Trial days Each visit will last approximately two hours. You will have measures of body composition taken and a blood test. You will also be asked to perform a short (approximately 24 minutes) sub-maximal exercise test.

Eligibility

We are looking for men and women who meet the following criteria:

• Aged 18 to 65 years old and in general good health
• Have a BMI of between 20 and 40 kg∙m-2
• Be physically inactive (exercise for less than 150 minutes per week)

Exclusion criteria:

• Weight instability (>5kg change in body mass over last 6 months)
• A diagnosis of diabetes or cardiovascular disease
• Pregnant or lactating
• Any cardiopulmonary condition prohibiting exercise testing
• Any medical condition or medication that could introduce bias into the study (e.g. lipid disorders, lipid or glucose metabolism altering medications e.g. statins)
• Sleeping disorders such as snoring or sleep apnoea

What you'll get for taking part

The main benefit of taking part is that you are likely to improve your fitness during the study. You will also be provided with detailed feedback on your physiological health. This will include details about your fitness level and metabolic rate, body composition and BMI, and blood markers. You will also be making an invaluable contribution to scientific knowledge that will pioneer new findings in this area of research.

Confidentiality

All identifiable data will be kept in a locked cabinet or in a password protected spreadsheet on the university server. For this reason, only the lead investigator and principal supervisor will have access to this. As a participant you will have access to your own data upon request.¹