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Enrolling by invitationNCT07632911Updated Aug 31, 2026

The Effect of Aerobic and Resistance Training on the Immune System

An interventional study of Aerobic and resistance exercise in Sedentary Behavior, sponsored by Inonu University. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-31.

Sponsored by Inonu University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 1 year 4 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jan 2025, registered May 2026).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
36
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 35 Years
Sex
Female
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Study summary

Six-week exercise interventions in sedentary young women demonstrated that aerobic exercise and resistance exercise differentially optimize inflammatory and immune responses through their effects on osteocalcin and IgM, and IgA, respectively. These distinct effects of exercise modality on immune biomarkers can be utilized to design personalized exercise programs.

Read the detailed description

The effects of exercise on the immune system have been studied for many years. Regular physical activity is known to enhance the effectiveness of the immune system by modulating the inflammatory response. Regular exercise has been shown to increase individuals' physical fitness levels. Exercise is used in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Consequently, a review of the literature reveals numerous studies indicating that regular exercise positively impacts an individual's health. Regular exercise positively affects all systems of the organism, including the immune system. Changes in the immune system after acute and chronic exercise differ. The effects of exercise on the immune system vary depending on the intensity of the exercise and the physical characteristics of the individuals. While light to moderate exercise strengthens the immune system, intense exercise can suppress it. The effects of exercise on the immune system have been the subject of much research in recent years. However, the effects of different types of exercise (aerobic and resistance training) on immune markers are still not fully understood. Inflammatory markers, particularly C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), play a critical role in assessing the effect of exercise on the immune system. In addition, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) are important biomarkers in evaluating the immune response. This study aims to investigate the chronic effects of a 4-week aerobic and resistance exercise program on the immune system and inflammation. Blood and saliva samples will be collected and analyzed for CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and immunoglobulin levels. The data obtained will help us understand the specific effects of different types of exercise on inflammatory and immune responses, contributing to more informed exercise prescriptions.

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Conditions studied

  • Sedentary Behavior

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Keywords

  • Aerobic exercise
  • resistance training
  • sedentary women
  • exercise immunology
03

In context

Sedentary Behavior

1,273 studies on the registry are indexed under Sedentary Behavior; 300 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 36 is below the median of 60 across 1,076 interventional studies indexed under Sedentary Behavior.

Browse Sedentary Behavior studies →

Lead sponsor

Inonu University is the lead sponsor of 394 studies on the registry; 95 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 35 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

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

  • University students aged 18-30
  • Individuals who have engaged in recreational exercise at least two days a week for the past three months
  • Those with low or no smoking or alcohol consumption who volunteer to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals who have had an infection or chronic illness in the last 6 months,
  • Those with a history of disease,
  • Metabolic syndrome, or cardiovascular disease,
  • Those who have used antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs in the last 3 months,
  • Those who have suffered a serious injury during exercise or are unable to continue are not eligible.
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.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
36 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Resistance exercise group

    Exercise group completed a 6-week supervised training program consisting of three sessions per week on non-consecutive days. Each session lasted 45-60 minutes and included a standardized warm-up, main exercise phase, and cool-down. Training stimulus was controlled using both internal and external load parameters. Internal load was monitored via heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE), whereas external load was defined by exercise duration, intensity, and training volume.

    Behavioral: Aerobic and resistance exercise

  • Experimental
    Aerobic Group

    The aerobic training group performed continuous exercise on a treadmill or cycle ergometer at 60-75% of heart rate reserve (HRR), corresponding to moderate-to-vigorous intensity. Exercise intensity was continuously monitored using HR and verified with RPE (target: 12-15). A progressive overload approach was applied, with intensity increasing from 60% HRR in the initial weeks to 70-75% HRR in the final phase.

    Behavioral: Aerobic and resistance exercise

  • Experimental
    Control group

    The control group maintained habitual activities and refrained from structured exercise.

    Behavioral: Aerobic and resistance exercise

Interventions

  • BehavioralAerobic and resistance exercise

    Because it was done on young girls who lead a sedentary lifestyle.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Levels

    Serum C-reactive protein levels will be measured using an ELISA kit to evaluate systemic inflammation. (Unit of measurement: mg/L)

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 6)

  2. Change in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Levels

    Serum interleukin-6 levels will be analyzed to assess pro-inflammatory cytokine response. (Unit of measurement: pg/mL)

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 6)

  3. Change in Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) Levels

    Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels will be measured to evaluate pro-inflammatory cytokine activity. (Unit of measurement: pg/mL)

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 6)

  4. Change in Salivary Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Levels

    Salivary Immunoglobulin A levels will be measured to evaluate mucosal immune response. (Unit of measurement: mg/dL)

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 6)

  5. Change in Immunoglobulin M (IgM) Levels

    Serum Immunoglobulin M levels will be measured to assess acute infection and humoral immune response. (Unit of measurement: mg/dL)

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 6)

  6. Change in Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Levels

    Serum Immunoglobulin G levels will be measured to assess long-term immune memory and humoral immune response. (Unit of measurement: mg/dL)

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 6)

  7. Change in Leukocyte (WBC) Count

    Total leukocyte (White Blood Cell) count will be analyzed to assess general immune and inflammatory status. (Unit of measurement: cells/µL)

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 6)

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Study locations

1 site
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References and documents

Publications

  • Nash D, Hughes MG, Butcher L, Aicheler R, Smith P, Cullen T, Webb R. IL-6 signaling in acute exercise and chronic training: Potential consequences for health and athletic performance. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2023 Jan;33(1):4-19. doi: 10.1111/sms.14241. Epub 2022 Oct 8. PubMed 36168944 ↗
  • Henson J, Yates T, Edwardson CL, Khunti K, Talbot D, Gray LJ, Leigh TM, Carter P, Davies MJ. Sedentary time and markers of chronic low-grade inflammation in a high risk population. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 29;8(10):e78350. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078350. eCollection 2013. PubMed 24205208 ↗
  • Coughlin GH, Antush MT, Vella CA. Associations of sedentary behavior and screen time with biomarkers of inflammation and insulin resistance. J Behav Med. 2024 Oct;47(5):828-838. doi: 10.1007/s10865-024-00498-y. Epub 2024 May 25. PubMed 38796664 ↗
  • Thomas NE, Williams DR. Inflammatory factors, physical activity, and physical fitness in young people. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2008 Oct;18(5):543-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00824.x. Epub 2008 Jul 9. PubMed 18627553 ↗
  • Dogra S, Wolf M, Jeffrey MP, Foley RCA, Logan-Sprenger H, Jones-Taggart H, Green-Johnson JM. Disrupting prolonged sitting reduces IL-8 and lower leg swell in active young adults. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2019 Oct 18;11:23. doi: 10.1186/s13102-019-0138-4. eCollection 2019. PubMed 31636910 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 31, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07632911
Lead sponsor
Inonu University
Responsible party
ZEYNEP ÜNVER (LECTURER DOCTOR, Inonu University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jun 8, 2026
Start date
Jan 2, 2025
Primary completion
Sep 15, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 1, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 31, 2026

Study contacts

Fahri Safa Çınarlı, Doç. Dr.
principal investigator · Inonu University

Oversight

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

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