AgingMi-HIITNCT05934760
Assessing the Impact of Age, and a Short-term High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Skeletal Muscle Mass and Mitochondrial Activity
A study testing High intensity interval training (HIIT) and Resistance based training (RET) in people with Aging and Sarcopenia, run by University of Nottingham at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
The goal of this interventional study is to learn about the role of mitochondrial function in healthy aging, and then go on and assess the role of a home-based exercise program on the changes seen. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Aging, Sarcopenia
- What is being tested?
- High intensity interval training (HIIT) and Resistance based training (RET)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 17 Dec 2019to 30 Mar 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- ● Healthy male or female aged over 18 years old able to give informed, written consent.
Who cannot join
- ● Current participation in a formal exercise regime
- Inability to use a static exercise bike
- A BMI <18 or >35 kg/m2
- Active cardiovascular disease:
- Uncontrolled hypertension (BP > 160/100)
- Angina
Show all 23Show fewer
- Heart failure (class III/IV)
- Significant arrhythmia
- Right to left cardiac shunt
- Recent cardiac event
- Taking beta-adrenergic blocking agents
- Cerebrovascular disease:
- Previous stroke
- Aneurysm (large vessel or intracranial)
- Epilepsy
- Respiratory disease including:
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Significant COPD
- Uncontrolled asthma
- Malignancy
- Clotting dysfunction
- Significant musculoskeletal or neurological disorders
- Any suspected or confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital
Derby, Derbyshire, DE223NE
About this study
The goal of this interventional study is to learn about the role of mitochondrial function in healthy aging, and then go on and assess the role of a home-based exercise program on the changes seen. The main question[s] it aims to answer are:
- What alterations in skeletal muscle mitochondrial function are seen in healthy aging?
- Can a short-term exercise program alter these alterations seen?
The older participants will be invited to take part in a home-based 4 week exercise intervention involving either:
- High intensity interval training
- Resistance based training (resistance bands will be provided) Researchers will compare the two exercise groups to see if it alters mitochondrial function.
Read the detailed description
The study will aim to recruit 40 healthy male and female volunteers. They will be assigned into one of three groups;
- 18 - 35 years old (n=12, 6M:6F)
- 40 - 55 years old (n=12, 6M:6F)
- Greater than 65 years old (n=16, 8F:8M)
All volunteers will undergo a full consenting process and undergo a full screening to ensure eligibility prior to commencing the study. If eligible for inclusion in the study, the time commitment will vary from a single half-day study visit, to 12 training sessions over a 4-week period (3 sessions per week) and two half-day study visits (one before and one after the training sessions) depending on the participant's age.
All participants will attend fasted from 22:00 the previous day. Participants will first have a single muscle biopsy of the vastus lateralis before a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan to assess body composition and an ultrasound scan of the thigh to assess the muscle structure. A supervised cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to determine cardiorespiratory fitness will then be performed before a battery of physical function assessments to determine muscle and neuromuscular function. The biopsies will be assessed using an OROBOROS respirometer for the primary endpoint of mitochondrial activity, as well being used to determine cell signaling activity and gene expression.
For those under 65 years of age, a follow-up visit 4-6 days after the biopsy for stitch removal and to complete an end of study questionnaire would be the end of the study. Those volunteers over the age of 65 years will be randomly allocated to a RET group or HIIT group for a 4-week period, after which the assessments from the baseline study day would be repeated. Each exercise group will contain 8 participants (4 male, 4 female).
Training program:
All exercise training will take place within the volunteers own homes in accordance to the divisional policy on this. As well as the education session provided at the baseline study day, participants will be contacted weekly via telephone or video call to encourage participation, to answer any difficulties participants maybe experiencing and to ensure no adverse symptoms are being experienced. A video will be recorded of a member of the research team performing the exercise regimen to enable participants to watch from home.
Each HIIT session last 15 minutes. Participants will be asked to measure their own heart rate during their rest periods and provided with an estimated max heart rate which they should be aiming to achieve within the final 2 exercises. Participants will be provided with a logbook to record the heart rate achieved in each exercise. The regimen will include:
- 2 min warm-up: jogging on the spot
- Each of the following exercises performed for 60seconds, interspaced by 90 seconds rest
- Star jumps
- Standing squats
- On-the-spot sprints
- Standing squats
- Star jumps
- 2 min cool-down: jogging on the spot
Each HIIT session lasts an estimated 20minutes. Participants will be provided with a set of TheraBand resistance bands to provide resistance to their workout, and a logbook to record the number of repetitions and band used.
Each session will include:
- 2 min warm-up jogging on the spot
- 2 sets of 12-15 repetitions of:
- Squats
- Hip flexion
- Hip extension
- Hip abduction
- Seated row
- Bench press
- Lateral raises
- 2 min jogging on the spot cooldown.
Each exercise will be separated by 1-minute rest, with participants encouraged to workout to mild fatigue on their final repetition in each set. If able to perform more than the allocated maximum of 15 repetitions prior to fatigue, then participants will be informed to increase the resistance by using a tougher TheraBand.
- Conditions
- Aging, Sarcopenia
- Being tested
- High intensity interval training (HIIT), Resistance based training (RET)
- Keywords
- Exercise, Mitochondrial function, Healthy Aging
- Medical subject headings
- Sarcopenia, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
High intensity interval training (HIIT)Other
Each HIIT session last 15 minutes. Participants will be asked to measure their own heart rate during their rest periods and provided with an estimated max heart rate which they should be aiming to achieve within the final 2 exercises. Participants will be provided with a logbook to record the heart rate achieved in each exercise. The regimen will include:
- 2 min warm-up: jogging on the spot
- Each of the following exercises performed for 60seconds, interspaced by 90 seconds rest
- Star jumps
- Standing squats
- On-the-spot sprints
- Standing squats
- Star jumps
- 2 min cool-down: jogging on the spot
Resistance based training (RET)Other
Each RET session lasts an estimated 20minutes. Participants will be provided with a set of resistance bands to provide resistance to their workout, and a logbook to record the number of repetitions and band used.
Each session will include:
- 2 min warm-up jogging on the spot
- 2 sets of 12-15 repetitions of:
- Squats
- Hip flexion
- Hip extension
- Hip abduction
- Seated row
- Bench press
- Lateral raises
- 2 min jogging on the spot cooldown.
Each exercise will be separated by 1-minute rest, with participants encouraged to workout to mild fatigue on their final repetition in each set. If able to perform more than the allocated maximum of 15 repetitions prior to fatigue, then participants will be informed to increase the resistance by using a tougher resistance band.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| High intensity interval training (HIIT) | Experimental | Older participants (over 60) will be randomized to perform home-based unsupervised exercise, the HIIT group will perform the HIIT intervention 3 times a week, at home, unsupervised for 4 weeks. This will be supported by regular contact from a member of the research team to provide support and to encourage adherance.
Our research group has conducted many similar exercise regimes of this intensity to subjects in the anticipated age-range without incident. Participants will be adviced to terminate exercise training immediately if experiencing:
* Chest pain or tightness
* Faintness
* Sudden pallor
* Loss of co-ordination
* Confusion
* Dizziness
* Palpitations
* Sudden breathlessness
Should any participant experience these effects during any session, they will be advised to seek urgent medical attention and will be withdrawn from the exercise arm of the study for safety purposes. Receives: Other: High intensity interval training (HIIT) |
| Resistance exercise training (RET) | Experimental | Older participants (over 60) will be randomized to perform home-based unsupervised exercise, the RET group will perform the RET intervention at home, 3 times a week unsupervised for 4 weeks.This will be supported by regular contact from a member of the research team to provide support and to encourage adherance.
Our research group has conducted many similar exercise regimes of this intensity to subjects in the anticipated age-range without incident. Participants will be adviced to terminate exercise training immediately if experiencing:
* Chest pain or tightness
* Faintness
* Sudden pallor
* Loss of co-ordination
* Confusion
* Dizziness
* Palpitations
* Sudden breathlessness
Should any participant experience these effects during any session, they will be advised to seek urgent medical attention and will be withdrawn from the exercise arm of the study for safety purposes. Receives: Other: Resistance based training (RET) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mitochondrial activity across age
Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity changes seen across the age groups investigated Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity will be measured according to oxygen consumption determined by the use of a high-definition respirometer. This will then be compared across ages and expressed as a ratio of maximal consumption.
Measured: This will be compared across baseline assessment dates in all ages.
Mitochondrial activity change with a short-term home-based exercise program in older participants
The effect of either a resistance exercise-based and high-intensity interval training-based home-based training program on mitochondrial function in those over aged 60
Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity will be measured according to oxygen consumption determined by the use of a high-definition respirometer. The changes seen throughout the treatment will then be expressed as a percentage in order to express the changes seen from the baseline.
Measured: Assessed prior to and after the completion of a 4 week exercise program
The altered response to training type
The differing responses to either high intensity interval training or resistance based training
Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity will be measured according to oxygen consumption determined by the use of a high-definition respirometer. The changes caused by the training regimen will then be expressed as a percentage in order to express the changes seen from the baseline, and in order to allow comparison between training modality.
Measured: 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Jul 2023
- Study start17 Dec 2019
- Primary completion30 Dec 2023
- Study completion30 Mar 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AgingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of NottinghamThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Nottingham
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05934760
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Mi-HIIT CMMP
- Acronym
- Mi-HIIT
- Status last verified
- Nov 2023
- First submitted
- 28 Jun 2023
- Last updated
- 17 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessing the Impact of Age, and a Short-term High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Skeletal Muscle Mass and Mitochondrial Activity
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05934760
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Mi-HIIT / Mi-HIIT CMMP
- Conditions
- Aging, Sarcopenia
- Keywords
- Exercise, Mitochondrial function, Healthy Aging
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of NottinghamUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 17 Dec 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Mar 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this interventional study is to learn about the role of mitochondrial function in healthy aging, and then go on and assess the role of a home-based exercise program on the changes seen. The main question[s] it aims to answer are:
- What alterations in skeletal muscle mitochondrial function are seen in healthy aging?
- Can a short-term exercise program alter these alterations seen?
The older participants will be invited to take part in a home-based 4 week exercise intervention involving either:
- High intensity interval training
- Resistance based training (resistance bands will be provided) Researchers will compare the two exercise groups to see if it alters mitochondrial function.
Detailed description
The study will aim to recruit 40 healthy male and female volunteers. They will be assigned into one of three groups;
- 18 - 35 years old (n=12, 6M:6F)
- 40 - 55 years old (n=12, 6M:6F)
- Greater than 65 years old (n=16, 8F:8M)
All volunteers will undergo a full consenting process and undergo a full screening to ensure eligibility prior to commencing the study. If eligible for inclusion in the study, the time commitment will vary from a single half-day study visit, to 12 training sessions over a 4-week period (3 sessions per week) and two half-day study visits (one before and one after the training sessions) depending on the participant's age.
All participants will attend fasted from 22:00 the previous day. Participants will first have a single muscle biopsy of the vastus lateralis before a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan to assess body composition and an ultrasound scan of the thigh to assess the muscle structure. A supervised cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to determine cardiorespiratory fitness will then be performed before a battery of physical function assessments to determine muscle and neuromuscular function. The biopsies will be assessed using an OROBOROS respirometer for the primary endpoint of mitochondrial activity, as well being used to determine cell signaling activity and gene expression.
For those under 65 years of age, a follow-up visit 4-6 days after the biopsy for stitch removal and to complete an end of study questionnaire would be the end of the study. Those volunteers over the age of 65 years will be randomly allocated to a RET group or HIIT group for a 4-week period, after which the assessments from the baseline study day would be repeated. Each exercise group will contain 8 participants (4 male, 4 female).
Training program:
All exercise training will take place within the volunteers own homes in accordance to the divisional policy on this. As well as the education session provided at the baseline study day, participants will be contacted weekly via telephone or video call to encourage participation, to answer any difficulties participants maybe experiencing and to ensure no adverse symptoms are being experienced. A video will be recorded of a member of the research team performing the exercise regimen to enable participants to watch from home.
Each HIIT session last 15 minutes. Participants will be asked to measure their own heart rate during their rest periods and provided with an estimated max heart rate which they should be aiming to achieve within the final 2 exercises. Participants will be provided with a logbook to record the heart rate achieved in each exercise. The regimen will include:
- 2 min warm-up: jogging on the spot
- Each of the following exercises performed for 60seconds, interspaced by 90 seconds rest
- Star jumps
- Standing squats
- On-the-spot sprints
- Standing squats
- Star jumps
- 2 min cool-down: jogging on the spot
Each HIIT session lasts an estimated 20minutes. Participants will be provided with a set of TheraBand resistance bands to provide resistance to their workout, and a logbook to record the number of repetitions and band used.
Each session will include:
- 2 min warm-up jogging on the spot
- 2 sets of 12-15 repetitions of:
- Squats
- Hip flexion
- Hip extension
- Hip abduction
- Seated row
- Bench press
- Lateral raises
- 2 min jogging on the spot cooldown.
Each exercise will be separated by 1-minute rest, with participants encouraged to workout to mild fatigue on their final repetition in each set. If able to perform more than the allocated maximum of 15 repetitions prior to fatigue, then participants will be informed to increase the resistance by using a tougher TheraBand.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| High intensity interval training (HIIT) | Experimental | Other: High intensity interval training (HIIT)Older participants (over 60) will be randomized to perform home-based unsupervised exercise, the HIIT group will perform the HIIT intervention 3 times a week, at home, unsupervised for 4 weeks. This will be supported by regular contact from a member of the research team to provide support and to encourage adherance. Our research group has conducted many similar exercise regimes of this intensity to subjects in the anticipated age-range without incident. Participants will be adviced to terminate exercise training immediately if experiencing: * Chest pain or tightness * Faintness * Sudden pallor * Loss of co-ordination * Confusion * Dizziness * Palpitations * Sudden breathlessness Should any participant experience these effects during any session, they will be advised to seek urgent medical attention and will be withdrawn from the exercise arm of the study for safety purposes. |
| Resistance exercise training (RET) | Experimental | Other: Resistance based training (RET)Older participants (over 60) will be randomized to perform home-based unsupervised exercise, the RET group will perform the RET intervention at home, 3 times a week unsupervised for 4 weeks.This will be supported by regular contact from a member of the research team to provide support and to encourage adherance. Our research group has conducted many similar exercise regimes of this intensity to subjects in the anticipated age-range without incident. Participants will be adviced to terminate exercise training immediately if experiencing: * Chest pain or tightness * Faintness * Sudden pallor * Loss of co-ordination * Confusion * Dizziness * Palpitations * Sudden breathlessness Should any participant experience these effects during any session, they will be advised to seek urgent medical attention and will be withdrawn from the exercise arm of the study for safety purposes. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- ● Healthy male or female aged over 18 years old able to give informed, written consent.
Key exclusion criteria (23 listed)
- ● Current participation in a formal exercise regime
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| High intensity interval training (HIIT)Each HIIT session last 15 minutes. Participants will be asked to measure their own heart rate during their rest periods and provided with an estimated max heart rate which they should be aiming to achieve within the final 2 exercises. Participants will be provided with a logbook to record the heart rate achieved in each exercise. The regimen will include: * 2 min warm-up: jogging on the spot * Each of the following exercises performed for 60seconds, interspaced by 90 seconds rest * Star jumps * Standing squats * On-the-spot sprints * Standing squats * Star jumps * 2 min cool-down: jogging on the spot | Other | High intensity interval training (HIIT) |
| Resistance based training (RET)Each RET session lasts an estimated 20minutes. Participants will be provided with a set of resistance bands to provide resistance to their workout, and a logbook to record the number of repetitions and band used. Each session will include: * 2 min warm-up jogging on the spot * 2 sets of 12-15 repetitions of: * Squats * Hip flexion * Hip extension * Hip abduction * Seated row * Bench press * Lateral raises * 2 min jogging on the spot cooldown. Each exercise will be separated by 1-minute rest, with participants encouraged to workout to mild fatigue on their final repetition in each set. If able to perform more than the allocated maximum of 15 repetitions prior to fatigue, then participants will be informed to increase the resistance by using a tougher resistance band. | Other | Resistance exercise training (RET) |
Primary outcome
Mitochondrial activity across age
Time frame: This will be compared across baseline assessment dates in all ages.
Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity changes seen across the age groups investigated Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity will be measured according to oxygen consumption determined by the use of a high-definition respirometer. This will then be compared across ages and expressed as a ratio of maximal consumption.
Mitochondrial activity change with a short-term home-based exercise program in older participants
Time frame: Assessed prior to and after the completion of a 4 week exercise program
The effect of either a resistance exercise-based and high-intensity interval training-based home-based training program on mitochondrial function in those over aged 60 Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity will be measured according to oxygen consumption determined by the use of a high-definition respirometer. The changes seen throughout the treatment will then be expressed as a percentage in order to express the changes seen from the baseline.
The altered response to training type
Time frame: 4 weeks
The differing responses to either high intensity interval training or resistance based training Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity will be measured according to oxygen consumption determined by the use of a high-definition respirometer. The changes caused by the training regimen will then be expressed as a percentage in order to express the changes seen from the baseline, and in order to allow comparison between training modality.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing High intensity interval training (HIIT) and Resistance based training (RET) in people with Aging and Sarcopenia, run by University of Nottingham at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 23 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Mitochondrial activity across age (time frame: This will be compared across baseline assessment dates in all ages.). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Aug 2026.