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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07819422

Acute Effects of HIIT and MICT on Catestatin Dynamics in Young Males

Physical exercise acts as a major physiological stressor that alters cardiovascular and autonomic homeostasis. Catestatin (CTS), a bioactive peptide derived from chromogranin A (CgA), acts as a potent inhibitor of catecholamine secretion and modulates autonomic cardiovascular tone. However, the acute effects of distinct exercise modalities on circulating CTS dynamics and their associations with post-exercise autonomic recovery remain unclarified.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute responses of serum catestatin and chromogranin A to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in healthy sedentary young males, and to evaluate their potential relationship with post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR). Participants completed an initial incremental performance test followed by either a single HIIT session or a MICT session on a cycle ergometer. Serial blood samples and continuous cardiovascular measurements were obtained before, immediately after, and throughout a 60-minute post-exercise recovery period.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Volunteers Autonomic Nervous System Regulation Exercise Physiology

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Firat University Medical Faculty, Department of Physiology

Elâzığ, 23119, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Twenty healthy sedentary young adult males (aged 18-25 years) were assigned to either a high-intensity interval training group (HIIT, n=10) or a moderate-intensity continuous training group (MICT, n=10). Following an initial incremental maximal exercise test to determine individual exercise capacities, participants performed their assigned acute exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer separated by at least 48 hours.

The MICT session consisted of 30 minutes of continuous cycling at 60-70% of maximum heart rate (HRmax), whereas the HIIT protocol comprised four 4-minute intervals at 85-95% HRmax interleaved with 3-minute active recovery periods. Serial venous blood samples were collected at baseline (Pre), immediately post-exercise (0 min), and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise to analyze serum catestatin and chromogranin A concentrations via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Continuous heart rate and intermittent blood pressure were monitored throughout the exercise bouts and during the 60-minute recovery phase. Post-exercise autonomic regulation was assessed using 1-minute (HRR1) and 5-minute (HRR5) heart rate recovery indices.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy male individuals aged 18-25 years
  • Body mass index (BMI) between 18.0 and 25.0 kg/m²
  • Sedentary lifestyle (no regular exercise engagement within the last 3 months; <90 min/week moderate-intensity or <60 min/week vigorous-intensity exercise)
  • Normal resting blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg)
  • Fasting plasma glucose between 60 and 100 mg/dL
  • Normal resting electrocardiogram (ECG) and pulmonary function tests (FEV1/FVC >80%)
  • Signed written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Regular smoking or alcohol consumption
  • Any current or regular medication use
  • History or clinical signs of cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, or renal diseases
  • Symptoms suggestive of cardiopulmonary/metabolic disease (chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, syncope, ankle edema, palpitations, intermittent claudication)
  • Presence of known cardiovascular risk factors
  • Iron deficiency / anemia
  • Musculoskeletal limitations or contraindications to maximal cycle ergometer testing

Treatment and study plan

High-Intensity Interval Exercise

Other

Acute bout of 4x4 min intervals at 85-95% HRmax with 3 min active recovery on a cycle ergometer.

Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise

Other

Acute bout of continuous cycling for 30 minutes at 60-70% HRmax on a cycle ergometer.

Primary outcomes

  1. Serum Catestatin Concentration

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), immediately post-exercise (0 min), and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise.

    Serum catestatin levels measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate acute exercise-induced dynamic responses.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Serum Chromogranin-A Concentration

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), immediately post-exercise (0 min), and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise.

    Serum chromogranin-A (CgA) levels measured via ELISA to assess precursor dynamics and neuroendocrine response across exercise modalities.

  2. Post-Exercise Heart Rate Recovery (HRR1 and HRR5)

    Time frame: At 1 minute and 5 minutes post-exercise.

    Heart rate recovery calculated at 1 minute (HRR1 = peak heart rate minus heart rate at 1 min post-exercise) and 5 minutes (HRR5 = peak heart rate minus heart rate at 5 min post-exercise) to evaluate parasympathetic reactivation and sympathetic withdrawal.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Firat University

Other

Collaborators

  • The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Acute HIIT and MICT on Catestatin Dynamics in Sedentary Young Males: Selective Association With Post-Exercise Autonomic Recovery

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Sep 15, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 15, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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