An interventional study of Running and Cycling in Healthy Male and Female Subjects, sponsored by Appalachian State University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-02-03.
Sponsored by Appalachian State University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
The goal of this clinical trial was to determine if and how the biomarkers neurofilament light (NfL), brain lipid binding protein (BLBP), and amyloid precursor protein (APP) accumulated over 72 hours in venous blood following running, cycling, or playing rugby as compared to a non-exercising control group. Participants in this study were recreationally active and healthy males and females 18 - 49 years of age. The main questions it aimed to answer was:
Do NfL, BLBP, and APP increase following exercise? Researchers compared the accumulation of NfL, BLBP, and NfL among runners, cyclists, rugby players, controls, and between sexes in each category.
Participants were asked to either run, bike, play a rugby match, or abstain from exercise. In the exercising group, blood was drawn from a vein prior to the activity, immediately after the activity, 30 minutes after the activity, 1 hour after the activity, 24 hours after the activity, 48 hours after the activity, and 72 hours after the activity. In the non-exercising group blood was drawn from a vein one time.
Participants were recruited for this study from fall 2021 - spring 2022. Participants recruited to play in a rugby match were current members of the university men's and women's club rugby team. Running participants consisted of members of the university's men's and women's running teams as well as recreational runners. Cycling participants consisted of members of the university's cycling club as well as recreational cyclists. Male rugby athletes played two 40-minute halves while female rugby athletes played two 20-minute halves. These are typical match times for men's and women's rugby. Runners were asked to run 6.44 kilometers at their own pace, and cyclists were asked to cycle 39 kilometers at their own pace. A control group comprised of both sedentary and recreationally active individuals was also recruited and asked to refrain from exercise for 24 hours.
Blood was drawn from an antecubital vein in the exercising groups before and after exercise as well as 30 minutes, 1-, 24-, 48-, and 72-hours after exercise. Only one blood draw was taken in the control group.
The blood biomarkers neurofilament light (NfL), brain lipid binding protein (BLBP), and amyloid precursor protein were then measured in the venous blood and compared within groups, among groups, and between sexes.
Appalachian State University is the lead sponsor of 41 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants run 6.44 kilometers. Venous blood is drawn prior to the run, immediately after the run, 30 minutes after the run, and 1-, 24-, 48, and 72-hours after the run.
Other: Running
Participants cycle 39 kilometers. Venous blood is drawn prior to cycling, immediately after cycling, 30 minutes after cycling, and 1-, 24-, 48, and 72-hours after cycling.
Other: Cycling
Participants play one rugby match. Venous blood is drawn prior to the match, immediately after the match, 30 minutes after the match and 1-, 24-, 48, and 72-hours after the match.
Other: Rugby
Participants refrained from exercise for 24 hours followed by one blood draw.
Other: control group
Participants were expected to run 6.44 kilometers.
Also known as: Jogging
Participants were expected to cycle 39 kilometers
Also known as: Biking
Participants were expected to play in one rugby match.
Participants were asked to refrain from exercise for 24 hours.
Also known as: Control
Blood Biomarkers
Neurofilament light (NfL) was measured in venous blood samples collected from participants. NfL was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in pg·mL-1.
Time frame: Baseline, 0, 0.5, 1, 24, 48, 72 hours post-intervention.
Blood Biomarkers
Brain lipid binding protein (BLBP) was measured in venous blood samples collected from participants. BLBP was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in ng·mL-1.
Time frame: Baseline, 0, 0.5, 1, 24, 48, 72 hours post-intervention.
Blood Biomarkers
Amyloid precursor protein (APP) was measured in venous blood samples collected from participants. APP was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in ng·mL-1.
Time frame: Baseline, 0, 0.5, 1, 24, 48, 72 hours post-intervention.
Plan to share: No — The data set is small and collected from a specific population. Sharing IPD may indirectly identify some subjects.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Ran from Oct 2021 to primary completion in Feb 2022, 3 months.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Appalachian State University