Cycling for weight loss in an 'altitude simulation chamber'

ISRCTN ISRCTN11842323
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11842323
Secondary identifying numbers CMO nr: 2009/341; ABR nr: 29211.091.09
Submission date
05/03/2021
Registration date
25/05/2021
Last edited
05/05/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and aims
Women willing to lose overweight may do so by reducing their food intake or by enhancing their physical activity but the results of both approaches rely on the nutrients involved. It is hypothesized that cycling under mildly reduced environmental oxygen consumes more body fat than cycling under normal environmental oxygen conditions. Results will be used to optimize oxidation of body fat for weight loss by low-intensity cycling.

Who can participate?
Healthy women aged 20 - 40 years, willing to lose overweight by low-intensity cycling.

What does the study involve?
Women with overweight perform a 50-min cycling protocol, that encloses phases of rest, cycling at a personalized low intensity and of recovery, in an 'altitude simulation chamber' at two occasions within a period of 2 weeks, in randomized order once under normal (N-Ox: 20.9 %) and once under mildly reduced (R-OX: 17.0 %) normobaric oxygen. O2 consumption and CO2 production of subjects are measured continuously by use of a 'ventilated hood system'. Results inform about the metabolic costs of cycling and the ratio in which these costs are covered by carbohydrates and fat. Moreover, 4 fingertip blood samples are taken to determine glucose and lactate concentrations (mM) to get secondary evidence about the use of carbohydrates and fat during low-intensity cycling in women with overweight.

What are the possible benefits and risk of participating?
Results may help to raise the oxidation of body fat for weight loss by low-intensity cycling.
The risk of mildly reduced oxygen (R-Ox: 17 %), comparable with the oxygen level during a long-distance air flight, is commonly well tolerated by healthy subjects.

Where is the study run from?
HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2009 to June 2011

Who is funding the study?
HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
WUR University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (PIDON fund) - The Netherlands

Who is the main contact?
Dr. Victor V.A.M. Schreurs (vs@glazenkamp.net)

Contact information

Dr Victor V.A.M. Schreurs
Scientific

Research Group Sports, Nutrition and Life style
ISES - HAN University of Applied Sciences
P.O. Box 6960
Nijmegen
NL-6503 GL
Netherlands

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-9324-7816
Phone +31.24.3531507
Email vs@glazenkamp.net
Dr Victor Schreurs
Public

Research Group Sports, Nutrition and Life style
ISES - HAN University of Applied Sciences
P.O. Box 6960
Nijmegen
NL-6503 GL
Netherlands

Phone +31.24.3531507
Email vs@glazenkamp.net

Study information

Study designSingle centre interventional randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised cross over trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet No participant information sheet available
Scientific titleComparison of metabolic responses to low intensity cycling under normal and mildly reduced normabaric oxygen in women with overweight
Study hypothesisCycling under mildly reduced normobaric oxygen in an 'altitude simulation chamber' might be a feasible way to raise oxidation of body fat for weight loss as far as reduced oxygen conditions enhance metabolic costs of exercise e.g. by an urge to increase the recycling of lactate to glucose (Cori cycle).
Ethics approval(s)Approved 23/03/2010, Regional Ethics Committee Arnhem (Radboud UMC, P.O. Box 9101 [internal post 628], NL - 6500 HB Nijmegen - The Netherlands; +31. (0)243613154; commissiemensgebondenonderzoek@radboudumc.nl), ref: CMO nr: 2009/341; ABR nr: 29211.091.09.
ConditionTo raise oxidation of body fat during low intensity cycling in women willing to lose overweight
InterventionParticipants perform a 50-min protocol, enclosing phases of rest, cycling at a personalized low intensity and recovery, in an 'altitude simulation chamber', at two occasions within a period of 2 weeks, in randomized order once under normal (N-Ox: 20.9%) and once under mildly reduced (R-Ox: 17.0%) normobaric oxygen.

Within the chamber (2.4 x 3.8 x 2.7m; 25m³) an upright bike ergometer combines with a "ventilated hood system" for open-circuit respiratory gas exchange of cyclists.

The 20 participants were listed in alphabetical order of initials and randomised by their odd (N-Ox ~ R-Ox) or even (R-Ox ~ N-Ox) position.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureMeasured during periods of rest, cycling and recovery:
1. O2 consumption (VO2: mL O2/min)
2. CO2 production (VCO2: mL CO2/min)
derived from differences in content of O2 and CO2 measured between air samples drawn from the inlet (ambient air in the chamber) and outlet (ambient air modified by respiration ) of a 'ventilated hood'. Both sample lines are analyzed simultaneously by a dual channel Servomex 4100 gas analyzer (Servomex, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands). Each channel accommodates a paramagnetic O2 transducer serially connected to an infrared CO2 transducer. Differences in content of O2 and CO2 between sample lines caused by respiration, down to 0.01 %, are measured accurately during ventilation of the hood with 250 L of ambient air per min. To this purpose the entire analogue output range of the transducers (20 mA, being converted to 10 mV) is calibrated for a linear measuring range of only 1.00 %. VO2 and VCO2 measured at the same timeoptimize accuracy of 'real-time' changes in metabolism regarding metabolic costs (~VO2) and substrate use (~ VCO2/ VO2) before, during and after cycling. Mean values of data collected at 20 sec intervals during 5 min are calculated for 4 phases within the cycling protocol: Rest (5-10 min), Initial cycling (22-27 min), Final cycling (35-40 min) and Recovery (40-45 min))
Secondary outcome measures1. Blood oxygen saturation (SaO2: %) measured using pulse oximeter
2. Heart rate (HR: min-1) monitored by reflectance finger pulse-oxymetry using the PulseOx 7500 (SPO Medical, Simi Valley CA, USA)
3. Glucose (mM) measured using a single sample of 10 μL fingertip capillary blood using a Biosen C-line analyzer (EKF Diagnostics, Sopachem, Ochten, The Netherlands)
4. Lactate (mM) measured using a single sample of 10 μL fingertip capillary blood using a Biosen C-line analyzer (EKF Diagnostics, Sopachem, Ochten, The Netherlands)
5. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE value: Borg scale: 6 – 20)
All secondary outcome measures are collected at min 6, 26, 39 and 46 and assumed to represent the 4 phases of the cycling protocol mentioned under primary outcome measures
Overall study start date01/06/2009
Overall study end date01/06/2011

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Healthy volunteer
Age groupAdult
SexFemale
Target number of participants20
Total final enrolment20
Participant inclusion criteria1. Women willing to lose overweight by low intensity exercise
2. Low active
3. 20 - 40 years of age
Participant exclusion criteria1. Anemia
2. Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
3. Hypertension
4. Heart disease
Recruitment start date01/04/2010
Recruitment end date01/06/2010

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Netherlands

Study participating centre

HAN University of Applied Sciences
Kapittelweg 33
Nijmegen
NL - 6525 EN
Netherlands

Sponsor information

HAN University of Applied Sciences
University/education

Kapittelweg 33
Nijmegen
NL - 6525 EN
Netherlands

Phone +31.24.3531507
Email Ellen.Schravendeel@han.nl
Website http://www.han.nl/international/english
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0500gea42

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Wageningen University and Research Centre
Private sector organisation / Universities (academic only)
Alternative name(s)
Wageningen UR, WUR
Location
Netherlands
PIDON Fund (Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/07/2021
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high impact peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Raw data prepared for publication are stored at Wageningen University and will be made available after publication for a period of 2 years upon reasonable requests for inspection or research purposes.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 12/04/2022 05/05/2022 Yes No

Editorial Notes

05/05/2022: Publication reference added.
05/07/2021: The sponsor contact has been updated.
13/04/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by Wageningen.