ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT06268743GUTFITUpdated May 5, 2026

Effects of a Combined Exercise Intervention on the Gut Microbiome of People With Type 2 Diabetes

An interventional study of High intensity and Moderate intensity in Type 2 Diabetes, sponsored by University of New Brunswick. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 19 Years to 64 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-05.

Sponsored by University of New Brunswick · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
19 Years to 64 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this experimental trial is to learn about the changes in bacterial diversity in individuals with type 2 diabetes who perform endurance and strength training at different intensities.

Participants with type 2 diabetes will be randomly assigned to 16 weeks of either moderate-intensity endurance and strength training or high-intensity endurance and strength training.

Researchers will compare the moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise groups for differences in glycemia and bacterial diversity.

Read the detailed description

It is unclear if performing aerobic training (AT) and resistance training (RT) at a higher intensity in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) would generate greater improvement in HbA1c and if this would be associated with increased gut microbiome diversity.

Therefore, the objective of this study is to test whether performing resistance training and aerobic exercise (RT+AT) at a high intensity for 16 weeks will significantly improve glycemic control (HbA1c) and if this change is associated with an increase in gut microbiome diversity compared to performing RT+AT at a moderate intensity in individuals with poor glycemic control. We hypothesize that individuals performing RT+AT at a high intensity will significantly reduce HbA1c and improve gut microbiome diversity compared to individuals performing RT+AT at a moderate intensity.

Methods: This study is a parallel-group, single-blinded, randomized trial including 40 adults (50% males and females) living with T2DM. Participants will be allocated to one of two treatment groups: 1) high intensity or 2) moderate intensity for 16 weeks.

A total of 40 participants (n = 20 for each sex) living with T2DM with poor glycemic control (HbA1c => 7.0%), aged between 19-64 years, who do not currently meet the recommended levels of physical activity for optimal health, (i.e., 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity + 2 days/week of resistance training) will be recruited.

Intervention: Participants will undergo a supervised exercise intervention of RT+AT for 16 weeks, performed at high or moderate intensity. 1) High intensity: AT will be performed at 70-80% heart rate reserve and 8-10 repetitions (75-80% maximal strength). 2) Moderate intensity: AT will be performed at 45-55% heart rate reserve and 12-15 repetitions (65-70% maximal strength). AT will consist of expending 10 kcal/kg per week, while RT will consist of 2 days of resistance training per week as per the recommendations. Our previous work shows that participants could perform this type of intensity; therefore, no problems are anticipated. Exercise intensity will be monitored using heart rate for aerobic training and the OMNI-RES scale (1-10) for resistance training.

Primary Outcomes: All HbA1c tests will be performed using a validated DCA Vantage® Analyzer (Siemens, Germany). Participants will undergo HbA1c tests at baseline and post-intervention (16 weeks). The gut microbiome composition will be determined at baseline and post-intervention in participant feces using next-generation sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) of 16S ribosomal RNA genes.

02

Conditions studied

  • Type 2 Diabetes

Keywords

  • Exercise intensity
  • Aerobic training
  • Resistance training
  • Gut microbiome
  • Physical activity
  • Glycemia
  • Diabetes
03

In context

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

10,371 studies on the registry are indexed under Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; 1,406 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 40 is below the median of 80 across 8,350 interventional studies indexed under Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2.

Browse Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 studies →

Lead sponsor

University of New Brunswick is the lead sponsor of 19 studies on the registry; 4 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
19 Years to 64 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 19 - 64 years old;
  • Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes;
  • An >= 7.0%;
  • Not currently meeting the recommended levels of physical activity for optimal health (i.e., 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and 2+ days/week of resistance training);
  • Average less than 10,000 steps per day over the last seven days;
  • No change in diabetes medications over the last three months.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Not diagnosed with type 2 diabetes;
  • Partaking in a self-reported regular exercise regimen, defined as consistent participation in running or jogging activity, attending exercise classes every week, or averaging 10,000 steps per day or more over seven days;
  • Currently performing two days of resistance training per week;
  • Having an injury that would prevent safe participation in the intervention;
  • A self-reported diagnosis of low iron concentrations, anemia, or being treated for these conditions;
  • A diagnosis of any red blood cell altering condition (i.e., sickle cell anemia, poikilocytosis);
  • Currently living with any cardiovascular disease which would impact the ability to participate in exercise safely;
  • Currently prescribed any medication which would impact the ability to use a heart rate monitor to accurately track intensity.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HbA1c

A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Investigator)
Enrollment
40 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    High intensity

    Participants will perform high-intensity aerobic and strength training exercises.

    Other: High intensity

  • Active comparator
    Moderate Intensity

    Participants will perform moderate-intensity aerobic and strength training exercises.

    Other: Moderate intensity

Interventions

  • OtherHigh intensity

    High intensity exercise

  • OtherModerate intensity

    Moderate intensity exercise

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Glycemic control through glycated hemoglobin

    Change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)

    Time frame: 16 weeks

  2. Gut microbiome diversity through 16S ribosomal RNA genes

    Change in the composition of the gut microbiome based on sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA genes

    Time frame: 16 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Cardiometabolic Exercise & Lifestyle Laboratory
    Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B5A3, Canada
08

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Feb 2024 to primary completion in Apr 2026, 25 months.

Of 2,066 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, half reached primary completion within 21 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 40. This study's 25 months is above that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 2,243 studies reached it within 21 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 39.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Feb 12, 2024
First posted
Feb 20, 2024
StartActual
Feb 29, 2024
Primary completionActual
Apr 7, 2026
CompletionActual
Apr 7, 2026
Last update
May 5, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 5, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06268743
Lead sponsor
University of New Brunswick
Collaborators
Laval University
Responsible party
Martin Senechal (Full Professor, Martin Senechal, Ph.D., University of New Brunswick) — Principal investigator
First posted
Feb 20, 2024
Start date
Feb 29, 2024
Primary completion
Apr 7, 2026
Completion
Apr 7, 2026
Last update
May 5, 2026

Study contacts

Martin Senechal, Ph.D.
principal investigator · University of New Brunswick

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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