The Effect of Cycling, Running, and Playing Rugby on Three Biomarkers That May Indicate Brain Injury

NCT06804291 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 21-0286
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial was to determine if and how the biomarkers neurofilament light (NfL), brain lipid binding protein (BLBP), and amyloid precursor protein (APP) accumulated over 72 hours in venous blood following running, cycling, or playing rugby as compared to a non-exercising control group. Participants in this study were recreationally active and healthy males and females 18 - 49 years of age. The main questions it aimed to answer was: Do NfL, BLBP, and APP increase following exercise? Researchers compared the accumulation of NfL, BLBP, and NfL among runners, cyclists, rugby players, controls, and between sexes in each category. Participants were asked to either run, bike, play a rugby match, or abstain from exercise. In the exercising group, blood was drawn from a vein prior to the activity, immediately after the activity, 30 minutes after the activity, 1 hour after the activity, 24 hours after the activity, 48 hours after the activity, and 72 hours after the activity. In the non-exercising group blood was drawn from a vein one time.

Conditions

Healthy Male and Female Subjects

Keywords

Brain injury biomarkers

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Blood Biomarkers

  Neurofilament light (NfL) was measured in venous blood samples collected from participants. NfL was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in pg·mL-1.

  Baseline, 0, 0.5, 1, 24, 48, 72 hours post-intervention.

• Blood Biomarkers

  Brain lipid binding protein (BLBP) was measured in venous blood samples collected from participants. BLBP was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in ng·mL-1.

  Baseline, 0, 0.5, 1, 24, 48, 72 hours post-intervention.

• Blood Biomarkers

  Amyloid precursor protein (APP) was measured in venous blood samples collected from participants. APP was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in ng·mL-1.

  Baseline, 0, 0.5, 1, 24, 48, 72 hours post-intervention.

Study Arms (4)

Running Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants run 6.44 kilometers. Venous blood is drawn prior to the run, immediately after the run, 30 minutes after the run, and 1-, 24-, 48, and 72-hours after the run.

Other: Running

Cycling Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants cycle 39 kilometers. Venous blood is drawn prior to cycling, immediately after cycling, 30 minutes after cycling, and 1-, 24-, 48, and 72-hours after cycling.

Other: Cycling

Rugby Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants play one rugby match. Venous blood is drawn prior to the match, immediately after the match, 30 minutes after the match and 1-, 24-, 48, and 72-hours after the match.

Other: Rugby

Control Group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants refrained from exercise for 24 hours followed by one blood draw.

Other: control group

Interventions

Running OTHER

Participants were expected to run 6.44 kilometers.

Also known as: Jogging

Running Group

Cycling OTHER

Participants were expected to cycle 39 kilometers

Also known as: Biking

Cycling Group

Rugby OTHER

Participants were expected to play in one rugby match.

Rugby Group

control group OTHER

Participants were asked to refrain from exercise for 24 hours.

Also known as: Control

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Apparently Healthy
• Those in the running group must be able to run 6.44 kilometers
• Those in the cycling group must be able to cycle 39 kilometers
• Those in the ruby group must be members of the university club rugby team

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals with diabetes
• Individuals with heart disease
• Individuals who are pregnant
• Individuals who get light-headed or dizzy while donating blood

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Appalachian State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina, 28608, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Running; Jogging; albumin Rugby Park; Control Groups

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Locomotion; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Exercise; Motor Activity; Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Research Design; Methods

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 25, 2025
• First Posted: February 3, 2025
• Study Start: October 16, 2021
• Primary Completion: February 15, 2022
• Study Completion: February 15, 2022
• Last Updated: February 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)