Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07311460

HIIT, Steroid Hormones and Mental Health in Adolescents

The purpose of study was to investigate the effect of a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), hormonal, and mental health markers in male adolescents. The main question it aims to answer is: Does HIIT improve CRF, hormonal (testosterone and cortisol levels, testosterone:cortisol ratio), and mental health (depression, anxiety and stress scores) markers. Researchers will compare HIIT (designed to experimental group) to non-training intervention (designed to control group) to see if the training program works to improve the health status. HIIT consisted of three sessions per week for 10 weeks, comprising of three sets of four to eight bouts of 30-s runs at high intensity [100-110% of maximal aerobic speed (MAS)], interspersed with 30-s recovery runs at low intensity (50% of MAS) between bouts.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Hormone Behavior Personal Satisfaction Psychological Well-Being

Age range

14 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Tunisia

El Kef, Boulifa, 7100, Tunisia

About this study

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time-efficient method for improving physical fitness in youth. However, limited evidence exists regarding its effects on testosterone and cortisol levels, testosterone:cortisol ratio, and mental health outcomes during adolescence, a critical period of development. This study was to investigate the effect of a HIIT intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF, expressed as maximal aerobic speed and maximal oxygen consumption), hormonal, and mental health markers in male adolescents. Twenty-eight healthy male adolescents (age, 14.9±0.74 yrs.) were randomized to a HIIT group (HIITG, n=15) or a non-training control group (CG, n=13). HIIT consisted of three sessions per week for 10 weeks, comprising of three sets of four to eight bouts of 30-s runs at high intensity [100-110% of maximal aerobic speed (MAS)], interspersed with 30-s recovery runs at low intensity (50% MAS) between bouts. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included CRF (VO2max), hormonal markers (testosterone, cortisol, and testosterone:cortisol ratio), and mental health markers (depression, anxiety and stress scores).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • male sex,
  • age 14 to 16 years,
  • normal weight according to the WHO child growth standards for BMI (BMI ≤ 85th percentile)
  • parental approval.

Exclusion criteria

  • medical conditions contraindicating intense physical exercise
  • non-compliance with the training program
  • habitual physical activity exceeding school physical education lessons
  • current or recent (within 3 months) dietary supplementation or restriction
  • incomplete data.

Treatment and study plan

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) program

Behavioral

The HIIT program consisted of three sessions per week for 10 weeks, comprising of three sets of four to eight bouts of 30-s runs at high intensity [100-110% of maximal aerobic speed (MAS)], interspersed with 30-s recovery runs at low intensity (50% MAS) between bouts.

Primary outcomes

  1. Testosterone

    Time frame: One day before the start and two days after the completion of the 10 weeks of training program.

    Testosterone concentration, expressed in nmol/L, was analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Monobind, Inc., Lake Forest, CA).

  2. Cortisol

    Time frame: One day before the start and two days after the completion of the 10 weeks of training program.

    Cortisol concentration, expressed in nmol/L, was analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Monobind, Inc., Lake Forest, CA).

  3. The testosterone/cortisol ratio

    Time frame: One day before the start and two days after the completion of the 10 weeks of training program.

    The testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C) was calculated by dividing the testosterone value by the cortisol value for each participant.

  4. Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 items (DASS-21)

    Time frame: Before the start and after the completion of the 10 weeks of training program.

    The DASS-21 is a self-report questionnaire that assesses symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (Lai et al., 2015). Each item is scored from 0 to 3, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate worse psychological symptoms (greater levels of depression, anxiety, or stress). In the present study, we used the Arabic version of the DASS-21, which has been validated and shown to have good psychometric properties (Moussa et al., 2017), to ensure linguistic and cultural appropriateness for assessing adolescents' psychological well-being.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Maximal aerobic speed

    Time frame: Before and after the 10 weeks of the training program.

    Maximal aerobic speed (MAS), expressed in km/h, was determined using the incremental running test (20-m shuttle run test) as previously described by (Léger et al. 1982). The test was designed to assess the aerobic capacity of schoolchildren, healthy adolescents, and adults.

  2. Maximal oxygen consumption

    Time frame: Before and after the 10 weeks of the training program.

    Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), expressed in mL/kg/min, was determined using the incremental running test (20-m shuttle run test) as previously described by (Léger et al. 1982). The test was designed to assess the aerobic capacity of schoolchildren, healthy adolescents, and adults.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effects of High-intensity Interval Training on Selected Steroid Hormones and Psychological Features in Healthy Male Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 31, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 31, 2025

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.