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Central ObesityNCT07486557

Cistanche Deserticola Extract Combined With Aerobic Exercise Improves Body Composition, Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Men With Central Obesity

A study testing Supervised Aerobic Exercise and Cistanche deserticola Extract in people with Central Obesity and Insulin Resistance, run by Beijing Sport University at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This is a randomized controlled trial to see if a combination of aerobic exercise and Cistanche deserticola extract can improve body composition, insulin resistance, and inflammation in men with central obesity. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 50 to 55 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Central Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Inflammation
What is being tested?
Supervised Aerobic Exercise and Cistanche deserticola Extract
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
125 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 Jun 2025to 1 Mar 2026
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 50 to 55 years
  • Men only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Chinese males aged 50 to 55 years.
  • Central obesity, defined as a waist circumference (WC) > 90 cm and a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25.0 kg/m².
  • A daily eating window of ≥ 14 hours.
  • Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) ≤ 150 minutes per week.
  • Sedentary time ≥ 8 hours per day.

Who cannot join

  • Confirmed diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes mellitus.
  • A history of alcohol consumption or tobacco use.
  • Diagnosis of conditions (e.g., arthritis) or presence of injuries that impair gait and limit exercise capacity.
  • Participation in other clinical trials within 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
  • Use of treatments or medications that may affect appetite or metabolism.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Beijing Sport University

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100084

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Cistanche Deserticola Extract Combined With Aerobic Exercise Improves Body Composition, Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Men With Central Obesity: a Randomized Controlled Trial

This is a randomized controlled trial to see if a combination of aerobic exercise and Cistanche deserticola extract can improve body composition, insulin resistance, and inflammation in men with central obesity. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group (18 weeks of supervised aerobic exercise plus daily Cistanche extract supplementation) or a control group (usual lifestyle advice). The investigators will measure changes in body fat percentage, muscle mass, blood sugar, insulin levels, and inflammatory markers before and after the 18-week intervention. The goal is to find a safe and effective way to help men with central obesity improve their metabolic health. Possible benefits include better body composition and improved insulin sensitivity. Potential risks are mild muscle soreness or digestive discomfort from the supplement.

Being tested
Supervised Aerobic Exercise, Cistanche deserticola Extract
Keywords
Aerobic Exercise, Cistanche deserticola, Body Composition, Insulin Resistance, Inflammation
Medical subject headings
Obesity, Abdominal, Insulin Resistance, Inflammation

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Supervised Aerobic ExerciseBehavioural

    Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise 3 times per week, 40 minutes per session, for 18 weeks, supervised by trained exercise professionals.

  • Cistanche deserticola ExtractDietary supplement

    Daily oral supplementation with standardized Cistanche deserticola extract for 18 weeks, administered as a capsule or powder.

Study groups in NCT07486557
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Control Group (CON)No interventionNot described
Cistanche deserticola Group (CD)ExperimentalNot described
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Cistanche deserticola Extract
Aerobic Exercise Training Group (ET)ExperimentalNot described
Receives: Behavioral: Supervised Aerobic Exercise
Combined Intervention Group (CDET)ExperimentalNot described
Receives: Behavioral: Supervised Aerobic Exercise; Dietary Supplement: Cistanche deserticola Extract

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Waist Circumference

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Lufkin W606PM Metallic Tape;Measurement Method:Measured in accordance with the guidelines of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). The measurement site is the midpoint between the iliac crest and the lower costal margin. The subject stands with relaxed abdomen and feet together, and the measurement is repeated at least 3 times to take the average value;Measurement Unit:Centimeter (cm)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  2. Height

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Seca Leicester Stadiometer;Measurement Method:Measured in a standard standing position, barefoot, with the back against the stadiometer and the head kept level;Measurement Unit:Centimeter (cm)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  3. Body Weight

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Tanita MC-780 MA Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Instrument;Measurement Method:Measured after fasting, with light clothing and empty bladder, the measurement is repeated at least 3 times to take the average value;Measurement Unit:Kilogram (kg)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  4. Body Mass Index (BMI)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Seca Leicester Stadiometer + Tanita MC-780 MA Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Instrument;Measurement Method:Calculated by the formula: BMI = Body Weight (kg) / Height² (m²);Measurement Unit:Kilogram per square meter (kg/m²)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  5. Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Omron M7 Intelli IT Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor;Measurement Method:Measured in a standard sitting position after the subject rests for 15 minutes, the measurement is repeated 3 times to take the average value;Measurement Unit:Millimeter of mercury (mmHg)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  6. Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Omron M7 Intelli IT Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor;Measurement Method:Measured in a standard sitting position after the subject rests for 15 minutes, the measurement is repeated 3 times to take the average value;Measurement Unit:Millimeter of mercury (mmHg)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  7. Body Fat Percentage

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Tanita MC-780 MA Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Instrument;Measurement Method:Measured after more than 10 hours of fasting and avoiding exercise, alcohol and caffeine for more than 4 hours. The skin electrodes are cleaned before measurement, and the measurement is repeated 3 times to take the average value;Measurement Unit:Percentage (%)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  8. Muscle Mass Percentage

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Tanita MC-780 MA Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Instrument;Measurement Method:Measured after more than 10 hours of fasting and avoiding exercise, alcohol and caffeine for more than 4 hours. The skin electrodes are cleaned before measurement, and the measurement is repeated 3 times to take the average value;Measurement Unit:Percentage (%)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  9. Maximal Oxygen Consumption (VO₂max)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Treadmill + Physio-Dyne Instrument Corp. MAX II Metabolic System + Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor;Measurement Method:The modified Bruce protocol is adopted, the treadmill is subjected to incremental load exercise until exhaustion, and respiratory gas exchange variables and heart rate are recorded in real time;Measurement Unit:Milliliter per kilogram per minute (mL/kg/min)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

Secondary outcomes (17)
  1. Fasting Blood Glucose

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Bayer AG Contour Plus Blood Glucose Meter;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected after the subject fasts for 10 hours and detected immediately;Measurement Unit:Millimole per liter (mmol/L)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  2. Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Roche cobas® b 101 Analyzer;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, and serum is separated for instrument detection;Measurement Unit:Percentage (%)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  3. Fasting Insulin

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Mercodia Uppsala Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kit;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, plasma is separated and detected by double replicate ELISA;Measurement Unit:Milliunit per liter (mU/L)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  4. Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Bayer AG Contour Plus Blood Glucose Meter + Mercodia Uppsala Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kit;Measurement Method:Calculated by the formula: HOMA-IR = (Fasting Blood Glucose × Fasting Insulin) / 22.5;Measurement Unit:No unit

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  5. Homeostatic Model Assessment for Beta Cell Function (HOMA-β)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Bayer AG Contour Plus Blood Glucose Meter + Mercodia Uppsala Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kit;Measurement Method:Calculated by the formula: HOMA-β = (20 × Fasting Insulin) / (Fasting Blood Glucose - 3.5);Measurement Unit:No unit

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  6. Total Cholesterol (TC)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Roche cobas® c 111 Analyzer;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, and serum is separated for instrument detection;Measurement Unit:Millimole per liter (mmol/L)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  7. Triglycerides (TG)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Roche cobas® c 111 Analyzer;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, and serum is separated for instrument detection;Measurement Unit:Millimole per liter (mmol/L)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  8. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Roche cobas® c 111 Analyzer;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, and serum is separated for instrument detection;Measurement Unit:Millimole per liter (mmol/L)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  9. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Roche cobas® c 111 Analyzer;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, and serum is separated for instrument detection;Measurement Unit:Millimole per liter (mmol/L)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  10. Leptin

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:ImmunoDiagnostics Limited / Thermo Fisher Scientific Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kit;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, plasma is separated and detected by double replicate ELISA;Measurement Unit:Nanogram per milliliter (ng/ml)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  11. Ghrelin

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Bio-Rad Hercules California Luminex Assay Kit;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, plasma is separated and detected by magnetic bead-based Luminex assay;Measurement Unit:Picogram per milliliter (pg/ml)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  12. C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:ImmunoDiagnostics Limited / Thermo Fisher Scientific Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kit;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, plasma is separated and detected by double replicate ELISA;Measurement Unit:Microgram per milliliter (ug/ml)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  13. Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Bio-Rad Hercules California Luminex Assay Kit;Measurement Method:Venous blood is collected on an empty stomach, plasma is separated and detected by magnetic bead-based Luminex assay;Measurement Unit:Picogram per milliliter (pg/ml)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  14. Gut Microbiota Composition (Phylum/Class/Genus level)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Omega BIO-TEK Norcross E.Z.N.A.® Stool DNA Kit + BGI Genomics 16S/18S/ITS Amplicon Metagenomic Sequencing Platform;Measurement Method:Fecal samples are provided by subjects on an empty stomach, transported on ice within 2 hours or frozen at -80℃; microbial DNA is extracted for 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, and taxonomic composition is analyzed by software such as DADA2 and phyloseq;Measurement Unit:Relative abundance (%) / No unit (sequencing read count)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  15. Microbial Differential Abundance (Enterocloster/Gemella)

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:BGI Genomics 16S/18S/ITS Amplicon Metagenomic Sequencing Platform + R Language (emmeans/vegan package);Measurement Method:Analyzed by Δabundance (post-intervention - pre-intervention), combined with Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA) statistical tests;Measurement Unit:No unit (standardized abundance value)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  16. Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) Targeted Metabolomics Detection

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Thermo ScientificTM TSQ Altis Mass Spectrometer + Thermo Scientific Vanquish TM Flex Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatograph + Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 Chromatographic Column;Measurement Method:Prepare SCFA standards and isotope internal standards, extract biological sample metabolites. UHPLC-MS/MS detection with gradient elution (40°C, 2μL injection, 0.3mL/min flow rate), ESI negative ion MRM mode; validate via linearity, precision, accuracy, stability and QC. Quantify with standard/internal standard ratio standard curve; conduct PCA, clustering, KEGG annotation and differential metabolite screening;Measurement Unit:nanogram per milliliter (ng/mL) / microgram per milliliter (ug/mL)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

  17. Total Daily Energy Intake

    Full Name of Measurement Tool:Dietary Record(MyFitnessPal APP); trained dietitians calculate total daily energy intake using nutrient databases; compliance is assessed during study visits;Measurement Unit:Kilocalorie per day (kcal/d)

    Measured: Baseline to 18 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Mar 2026
  2. Study start1 Jun 2025
  3. Primary completion1 Mar 2026
  4. Study completion1 Mar 2026

Resources

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
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator
Enrolment
125 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07486557
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB-2025073
Status last verified
Jun 2025
First submitted
11 Mar 2026
Last updated
20 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Supervised Aerobic Exercise and Cistanche deserticola Extract in people with Central Obesity and Insulin Resistance, run by Beijing Sport University at 1 site in China.

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 5 inclusion and 5 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 20 Mar 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 China. 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?

Waist Circumference (time frame: Baseline to 18 weeks). The study lists 9 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 20 Mar 2026.

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