Exercise Timing and Postprandial Glucose Responses
Germany30 participantsStarted 2026-04-01
Plain-language summary
This interventional crossover study examines the effect of exercise timing relative to meal intake on postprandial glucose responses in healthy, physically active young adults. Participants complete five experimental conditions involving endurance exercise performed before or after breakfast or dinner, as well as a non-exercise control condition, while wearing a continuous glucose monitoring device.
Postprandial glucose responses are assessed for the three consecutive meals following each exercise session. Following morning exercise, outcomes are assessed after breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the same day. Following evening exercise, outcomes are assessed after dinner on the same day and after breakfast and lunch on the subsequent day. All meals are standardized and consumed at fixed clock times.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 35 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age 18 to 35 years
* Body mass index 18.5 to 24.9 kg per square meter
* Able to complete 45 minutes of continuous running at an intensity corresponding to 75 to 85 percent of maximal heart rate without stopping
* Engages in regular endurance-type physical activity
* Habitual waking times are compatible with the fixed breakfast time of 08:00
* Willing and able to comply with all study procedures, including standardized meals, exercise sessions, behavioral restrictions, and continuous glucose monitoring
* For female participants: non-pregnant and using stable hormonal contraception for at least 3 months
Exclusion Criteria:
* Acute or chronic illness
* Metabolic disorders or conditions associated with altered glucose or lipid metabolism
* Use of medications known to interfere with glucose metabolism or study outcomes
* Intolerance or allergy to components of the standardized study diets
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Body mass index greater than or equal to 25 kg per square meter
* Current or past eating disorder, or any medical condition or medication that could affect appetite regulation, glucose regulation, or make vigorous endurance exercise unsafe
* Current smoking or use of nicotine-containing products
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
3-hour postprandial glucose area under the curve (AUC)
Timeframe: During each intervention condition within the 14-day study period, assessed over the 3-hour period following each of the three consecutive meals after each condition