NCT07430839

Exercise and Carotid Artery Function in Metabolic Syndrome

Identifying Sex-specific Carotid Endothelial Dysfunction in Young Adults With Metabolic Syndrome

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 48 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine 1) if young adults with metabolic syndrome display endothelial dysfunction of the internal carotid artery in a sex-specific fashion and 2) if this endothelial dysfunction can be acutely improved with a single bout of exercise. This will be achieved by testing internal carotid artery function before and after a 30-minute bout of moderate intensity exercise. 48 young adults with and without metabolic syndrome will be enrolled and will be on study for approximately 5.5 hours over 4 study visits.

Detailed description

The goal of this project is to determine if young MetSyn patients exhibit carotid endothelial dysfunction (ED) in a sex-specific manner and if exercise can acutely restore internal carotid artery (ICA) function. The investigators will test this by first quantifying ICA endothelial function using an inhaled gas stressor (CO2) to acutely increase ICA shear rate (SR) and measuring the vascular responsiveness to this increased SR. Carotid endothelial function has never been tested in this way in patients with MetSyn before. Then, a 30 min bout of cycling exercise will be performed followed by the same gas stressor test to determine if ICA endothelial function can be acutely improved in MetSyn. The aims and hypotheses are to: * Aim 1: Determine if young adults with MetSyn exhibit carotid ED compared to healthy adults. Hypothesis: carotid ED will be present in young adults with MetSyn. * Aim 2: Determine if sex differences exist in carotid endothelial function in MetSyn. Hypothesis: MetSyn will result in greater declines in carotid endothelial function in females. * Aim 3: Determine if exercise yields an acute benefit on carotid endothelial function in young adults with MetSyn. Hypothesis: young adults with MetSyn will receive a greater increase in carotid endothelial function from a single bout of exercise than healthy adults.

Conditions

• Metabolic Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	exercise	30 minute bout of cycling
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Diagnostics	* Doppler Ultrasound used to non-invasively assess the diameter and blood flow going into an artery, the ICA in this study. * Indirect calorimeter in tandem with semi-recumbent bike used to assess O2 consumption * heart rate monitor
OTHER	Inhaled CO2-mixed air	Three gases of different composition are used to ensure that the proper PETCO2 administration desired for this study occurs in tandem with keeping inspired O2 content constant. This is achieved by used a 5% O2, 95% CO2 tank, a 5% O2, 95% N2 tank, and a 100% O2 tank. In tandem, the use of these three tanks allows for precise control of PETCO2 without a change in inspired O2.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-01
• Primary completion: 2027-06-30
• Completion: 2027-06-30
• First posted: 2026-02-24
• Last updated: 2026-03-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States