Plasma Taurine in Older Women With Obesity: Impact of Metabolic Phenotype and Combined Exercise (NCT07711899) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Plasma Taurine in Older Women With Obesity: Impact of Metabolic Phenotype and Combined Exercise
36 participantsStarted 2026-10-01
Plain-language summary
Population aging has been accompanied by a rise in obesity and other chronic diseases, increasing cardiovascular risk particularly among women, who exhibit a higher prevalence in older age groups compared to men. Aging and obesity share pathophysiological mechanisms, such as chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. However, distinct obesity phenotypes exist, such as metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). Consequently, therapeutic interventions involving nutritional strategies and physical training are highly relevant, especially for older women. Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, plays a role in modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, osmoregulation, and mitochondrial function. Rationale: Plasma taurine concentrations are lower in women with obesity compared to healthy individuals. However, studies investigating these concentrations across different phenotypes-particularly in older women, a group susceptible to functional and metabolic changes-remain limited. Understanding these variations could clarify taurine's role in the pathophysiology of obesity and aging and inform personalized therapeutic strategies. Combined physical training stands out as an effective strategy for modulating inflammatory, oxidative, and metabolic pathways, in addition to improving psychosocial aspects. Given that taurine levels can be influenced by these pathways, investigating the taurine response to physical training across different metabolic phenotypes may contribute to developing low-cost interventions aimed at improving the quality of life for older women with obesity.
Who can participate
Age range
60 Years – 75 Years
Sex
FEMALE
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
* Women aged 60 to 75 years.
* Residents of the city or region of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
* Physically inactive for at least 3 months.
* Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m² (PAHO, 2002).
* Body fat percentage ≥ 35%, according to obesity diagnostic criteria (Batsis et al., 2016; Rubino et al., 2025).
Classified into one of two obesity phenotypes based on Zembic et al. (2021):
Metabolically Healthy Obesity (MHO/OMS): all of the following criteria must be met:
* Systolic blood pressure (SBP) \< 130 mmHg;
* Waist-to-hip ratio \< 0.95;
* Fasting blood glucose \< 126 mg/dL.
Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity (MUO/OMNS): meets two or fewer of the above criteria.
Exclusion Criteria
Clinical conditions
* Contraindication to physical exercise.
* Current or previous diagnosis of:
* Neoplasms;
* Autoimmune diseases;
* Hepatic diseases;
* Coronary diseases;
* Renal diseases;
* Neurodegenerative diseases;
* Infectious diseases.
Previous or ongoing treatments
* Use of medication for thyroid disorders.
* Participation in exercise training programs, nutritional counseling, or weight loss treatment within the 3 months preceding the intervention.
Lifestyle habits
* Current smoking.
* Alcohol consumption.
For MHO Group:
* Medication use
* Hypoglycemic agents
* Insulin (Bell, Kivimäki, \& Hamer, 2014).
* Protocol adherence \*Attendance at less than 80% of the training sessions (De Carvalho et al., 2021).
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.