IL-6 and Cortisol Responses to Cycling Exercise

NCT07681362 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: OMU-IL6-CORT-2024-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 27
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aimed to investigate salivary interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol responses following short-term and long-term cycling exercise in team athletes with different cardiorespiratory fitness levels. Participants completed a Wingate anaerobic cycling test and a YMCA submaximal cycling test in a randomized crossover design separated by a seven-day washout period. Saliva samples were collected before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise to determine IL-6 and cortisol concentrations. The study also examined whether cardiorespiratory fitness level influenced the magnitude of these physiological responses.

Conditions

Exercise Physiology; Cardiorespiratory Fitness; Cortisol; Interleukin-6

Keywords

Neuroendocrine; ınflammatory; fitness level; cortisol; exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Salivary Cortisol Response

  Change in salivary cortisol concentrations measured before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise following short-term and long-term cycling tests.

  Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 30 minutes post-exercise

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Salivary Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Response

  Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 30 minutes post-exercise

Study Arms (2)

Long-Term Cycling Test

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants performed a YMCA submaximal cycling test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness. Saliva samples were collected before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise for the assessment of cortisol and interleukin-6 responses.

Behavioral: YMCA Submaximal Cycling Test

Short-Term Cycling Test

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants performed a 30-second Wingate anaerobic cycling test. Saliva samples were collected before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise for the assessment of cortisol and interleukin-6 responses.

Behavioral: Wingate Anaerobic Cycling Test

Interventions

Wingate Anaerobic Cycling Test BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed a 30-second all-out Wingate anaerobic cycling test to evaluate acute physiological responses. Saliva samples were collected before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise for cortisol and interleukin-6 analysis.

Also known as: Short-Term Cycling Test

Short-Term Cycling Test

YMCA Submaximal Cycling Test BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed a YMCA submaximal cycling test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise-induced physiological responses. Saliva samples were collected before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise for cortisol and interleukin-6 analysis.

Long-Term Cycling Test

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Team athletes aged 18 to 35 years Participation in organized team sports (e.g., volleyball, basketball, soccer, or handball) Minimum of 3 training sessions per week, with each session lasting at least 1 hour Sports participation history of at least 2 years Apparently healthy and free from known cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, or respiratory diseases Willingness to provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Current musculoskeletal injury or illness affecting exercise performance Use of medications known to influence hormonal or inflammatory responses Smoking or use of tobacco products Acute infection within the previous two weeks Failure to complete both exercise testing sessions Failure to comply with pre-test instructions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ondokuz Mayıs University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Sport Sciences

Samsun, Samsun, 55139, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant, PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 26, 2026
• First Posted: July 2, 2026
• Study Start: May 5, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 5, 2025
• Study Completion: June 5, 2025
• Last Updated: July 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)