Exercise-Induced Gut Permeability in Normal-weight Obesity

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Exercise acutely increases gut permeability and inflammation, even in healthy populations. However, whether this response differs in groups at-risk for CVD that present with low-grade inflammation (e.g., normal-weight obesity) has yet to be examined. The investigators aim to measure serum indicators of gut permeability in those with normal-weight obesity pre- and post-short, intense exercise and sustained, moderate exercise

Detailed Description
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The investigator's overall goal is to examine how indicators of gut permeability change in response to exercise in individuals with normal-weight obesity (i.e., normal body mass index [BMI] and high body fat percent) relative to those with a normal BMI and low body fat percent and those with a BMI in the obesity range and high body fat percent. The investigators will examine indicators of gut permeability (specified in primary outcomes) in response to a short, intense bout of exercise (i.e., VO2 max test on a cycle ergometer) and sustained, moderate bout of exercise (i.e., 45 minutes at 65% measured VO2 max on a cycle ergometer). Additionally, the investigators will measure basic anthropometrics, blood lipids and glucose, and body composition with DXA.

Official Title
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Indicators of Gut Permeability in Normal-weight Obesity in Response to Brief, Maximal and Sustained, Submaximal Exercise

Conditions
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Normal-weight Obesity, Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Exercise tests (VO2 max test and 45-minute exercise session at 65% VO2 max)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Control group: normal BMI, body fat percentage < 25% (male) or < 35% (female) Normal-weight obesity: normal BMI, body fat percentage > 25% (male) or > 35% (female) Overt obesity: BMI in obesity range, body fat percentage > 25% (male) or > 35% (female) Exclusion Criteria: Presence of pacemaker Pregnant Postmenopausal status History of chronically using of tobacco products, illicit drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., NSAIDs), lipid lowering drugs Recent use of antibiotics (< 6 weeks) and NSAIDs (< 3 days) Established cardiometabolic disease (e.g., cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes) diseases inflammatory in nature (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease), and/or diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Three study groups (n=10/ group): Normal weight and low body fat percent (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2, body fat percent < 25% in males or < 35% in females), Normal-weight obesity (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2, body fat percent > 25% in males or > 35% in female) Overt obesity and high body fat percent (BMI > 30 kg/m2, body fat percent > 25% in males or > 35% in females)
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Normal weight and low body fat percent<br>The low risk comparator group for this study will consist of individuals with normal BMI (18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2) and body fat percent < 25% (male) or < 35% (female). | Other: Exercise tests (VO2 max test and 45-minute exercise session at 65% VO2 max)<br>* All participants will complete two exercise sessions: VO2 max test on a cycle ergometer Moderate exercise session (45 minutes at 65% measured VO2 max)<br>|
| Experimental: Normal-weight obesity<br>Individuals with normal-weight obesity will be defined as having normal BMI (18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2), body fat percent > 25% (male) or > 35% (female). | Other: Exercise tests (VO2 max test and 45-minute exercise session at 65% VO2 max)<br>* All participants will complete two exercise sessions: VO2 max test on a cycle ergometer Moderate exercise session (45 minutes at 65% measured VO2 max)<br>|
| Active Comparator: Overt obesity and high body fat percent<br>Overt obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) with high body fat percent (> 25% [male] or > 35% [female]) will be used as a high-risk comparator group. | Other: Exercise tests (VO2 max test and 45-minute exercise session at 65% VO2 max)<br>* All participants will complete two exercise sessions: VO2 max test on a cycle ergometer Moderate exercise session (45 minutes at 65% measured VO2 max)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Serum concentrations of FABP2 following short, intense exercise | The investigators will examine peak and absolute change in this indicator of gut permeability after the VO2 max test on a cycle ergometer. | Approximately 8 months | 
| Serum concentrations of LBP following short, intense exercise | The investigators will examine peak and absolute change in this indicator of gut permeability after the VO2 max test on a cycle ergometer. | Approximately 8 months | 
| Serum concentrations of sCD14 following short, intense exercise | The investigators will examine peak and absolute change in this indicator of gut permeability after the VO2 max test on a cycle ergometer. | Approximately 8 months | 
| Serum concentrations of FABP2 following sustained, moderate exercise | The investigators will examine peak and absolute change in this indicator of gut permeability after 45-minutes of exercise at 65% VO2 max on a cycle ergometer. | Approximately 8 months | 
| Serum concentrations of IL-6 following sustained, moderate exercise | The investigators will examine peak and absolute change in this inflammatory marker after 45-minutes of exercise at 65% VO2 max on a cycle ergometer. | Approximately 8 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VO2 Max | The investigators will compare VO2 max after the short, intense exercise session across study groups. | Approximately 8 months | 
| Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during VO2 max test | The investigators will compare RER dynamics during the short, intense exercise session across study groups. | Approximately 8 months | 
| Maximum workload during exercise sessions | The investigators will compare workload dynamics in watts during the short, intense and moderate, sustained exercise session across study groups. | Approximately 8 months | 
| Heart rate dynamics during exercise sessions | The investigators will compare heart rate dynamics during the short, intense and moderate, sustained exercise session across study groups. | Approximately 8 months |