Skip to content

Fasted Exercise and LDL-C

The Effect of Fasted Exercise on LDL-cholesterol in Men and Women

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05279014
Enrollment
29
Registered
2022-03-15
Start date
2022-03-30
Completion date
2024-08-30
Last updated
2025-03-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cardiovascular Diseases

Brief summary

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the UK and worldwide with low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) being one of the most important modifiable risk factors. Physical activity is inexpensive and research shows that it consistently improves high density lipoprotein and triglyceride concentrations. However, fails to improve LDL-C concentrations. Preliminary research suggests fasted exercise could potentially improve LDL-C concentrations. The majority of research in these areas have also mostly been done in males with the results generalised to females. As it is known that lipid metabolism and CVD risk is different between sexes it is possible that the response to fasted exercise may also be different between sexes. This aim of this study is to assess the effect of physical activity performed before or after a meal on plasma LDL-C concentrations in men and women and explore sex differences. The study will also assess the effect of fasted exercise on other CVD risk factors.

Interventions

A high-carbohydrate (1 g/kg body mass) meal to be consumed either 1.5-3 hours before or immediately after exercise. Those consuming the meal after exercise will have fasted for at least 8 hours before exercise.

Sponsors

King's College London
CollaboratorOTHER
Zoe Global Limited
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Bath
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-65 years * Body mass index 20-40kg/m2 * Physically inactive (exercise for less than 150 minutes per week)

Exclusion criteria

* Weight instability (\>5kg change in body mass over last 6 months) * Diagnosis of diabetes or CVD * Pregnant or lactating * Any medical condition or medication that could introduce bias into the study (eg. lipid disorders, lipid or glucose metabolism altering medications eg statins)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in fasting plasma LDL-C concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations (mmol/L)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in fasting plasma total cholesterol concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma total cholesterol concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma triglyceride concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma triglyceride concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma C-reactive protein concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma C-reactive protein concentrations (mg/L)
Change in fasting plasma C-reactive protein concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma C-reactive protein concentrations (mg/L)
Change in fasting plasma glucose concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma glucose concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma glucose concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma glucose concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma insulin concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma insulin concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma insulin concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma insulin concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in 7-day mean interstitial glucose concentration at week 12Baseline and week 12Mean interstitial glucose concentration (mmol/L) measured by continuous glucose monitor over a 7-day period
Change in 7-day standard deviation of interstitial glucose concentration at week 12Baseline and Week 12Standard deviation of interstitial glucose concentration (mmol/L) measured by continuous glucose monitor over a 7-day period
Change in 7-day coefficient of variation for interstitial glucose concentration at week 12Baseline and week 12.Coefficient of variation for interstitial glucose concentration (%) measured by continuous glucose monitor over a 7-day period
Change in 7-day mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions for interstitial glucose at week 12Baseline and week 12.Mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions for interstitial glucose (mmol/L) measured by continuous glucose monitor over a 7-day period
Change in fasting plasma LDL-C concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma HDL-C concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma HDL-C concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma total cholesterol concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma total cholesterol concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma apolipoprotein B concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma apolipoprotein B concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma apolipoprotein B concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma apolipoprotein B concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma triglyceride concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma triglyceride concentrations (mmol/L)

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in body mass at week 12Baseline and week 12Body mass (kg)
Change in body mass at week 4Baseline and week 4Body mass (kg)
Change in waist-to-hit ratio at week 12Baseline and week 12Waist-to-hit ratio
Change in waist-to-hit ratio at week 4Baseline and week 4Waist-to-hit ratio
Change in fat mass at week 12Baseline and week 12Fat mass determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (kg)
Change in fat mass at week 4Baseline and week 4Fat mass determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (kg)
Change in fat-free mass at week 12Baseline and week 12Fat-free mass determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (kg)
Change in fat-free mass at week 4Baseline and week 4Fat-free mass determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (kg)
Change in sagittal abdominal diameter at week 12Baseline and week 12Sagittal abdominal diameter (cm)
Change in sagittal abdominal diameter at week 4Baseline and week 4Sagittal abdominal diameter (cm)
Change in gut microbiome species richness at week 12Baseline and week 12Species count in fecal sample (as part of ZOE testing program)
Change in fasting plasma VLDL-rich triglyceride concentrations at week 12Baseline and week 12Fasting plasma VLDL-rich triglyceride concentrations (mmol/L)
Change in fasting plasma VLDL-rich triglyceride concentrations at week 4Baseline and week 4Fasting plasma VLDL-rich triglyceride concentrations (mmol/L)

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026