Healthy VolunteersHyperLaNCT07721766
Glycolytic Phenotype (vLapeak) and Magnitude of Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy After Resistance Training
A study testing Hypertrophy-focused Resistance Training in people with Healthy Volunteers and Muscle Hypertrophy, run by Technical University of Munich at 8 sites in 4 countries.
Trial summary
The HyperLa study investigates whether a person's "glycolyticness"-the efficiency with which their body uses glycolysis for energy-can predict how much their muscles will grow (hypertrophy) in response to resistance training. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 39 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Volunteers, Muscle Hypertrophy, Glycolysis
- What is being tested?
- Hypertrophy-focused Resistance Training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 8 sitesin 4 countries
- Study dates
- 4 May 2026to 1 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 to 39 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Body Mass Index (BMI) between 20-29 kg/m2
- No structured resistance training performed in the last twelve months.
- Maximum of four sessions per week of recreational or low-to-moderate aerobic endurance activity.
- No history of competitive strength or physique sports.
Who cannot join
- Diagnosed cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, neuromuscular, or orthopaedic disease that contraindicates exercise.
- Positive response to any question on the PAR-Q 2025 questionnaire.
- Current use of anabolic steroids, creatine, or other substances known to strongly influence muscle hypertrophy.
- Regular engagement in shift work.
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Trial locations and contacts
8 sites in 4 countries. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Lara Becker contact
8 sites in 4 countries
Germany5 sites, 5 recruiting
- Recruiting
TU Chemnitz, Sports Medicine and Exercise Therapy
Chemnitz, Saxony, 09126
Nico Nitzsche, PD Dr. Dr., +49 371 531-37326, nico.nitzsche@hsw.tu-chemnitz.de
- Recruiting
DLR Cologne, Department of Metabolism and Human Performance
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, 51147
Dominik Pesta, Prof. Dr., +49 2203 601 2028, dominik.pesta@dlr.de
- Recruiting
iST University of Applied Sciences
Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, 40233
Stephan Geisler, Prof.Dr., +49 211 86668 6104, sgeisler@ist-hochschule.de
Tim Havers, thavers@ist-hochschule.de
- Recruiting
Institute for Applied Training Science (IAT) Leipzig
Leipzig, Saxony, 04109
Katharina Dunst, Dr., +49 341 4945-184, AnnaKatharina.Dunst@sport-iat.de
- Recruiting
Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Medicine and Health
München, Bavaria, 80809
Henning Wackerhage, Prof. Dr., +49 89 289 24480, henning.wackerhage@tum.de
Lara Becker, lara.becker@tum.de
Finland1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences
Jyväskylä, Central Finland, 40014
Juha Ahtiainen, Prof. Dr., +358408053740, juha.ahtiainen@jyu.fi
Ireland1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Limerick, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (PESS)
Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX
Brian Carson, Prof., +353 (0)61 20 2896, Brian.Carson@ul.ie
Spain1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF)
Madrid, Madrid, 28040
Pedro José Benito, Prof. Dr., +34 91 336 40 12, pedroj.benito@upm.es
About this study
Official title: HyperLa: Glycolytic Phenotype (vLapeak) and Magnitude of Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy After Resistance Training: A Multi-centre Study by the HyperLa Study Group
The HyperLa study investigates whether a person's "glycolyticness"-the efficiency with which their body uses glycolysis for energy-can predict how much their muscles will grow (hypertrophy) in response to resistance training. Participants will undergo a specialized "vLapeak" test, which measures the maximal rate of lactate accumulation during a 10-second all-out cycling sprint, to determine their individual glycolytic power. Following this initial assessment, participants will complete eight weeks of standardized, twice-weekly resistance training focused on the lower body. The study aims to determine if individuals with higher initial vLapeak values experience greater increases in muscle size compared to those with lower values. This research may help explain why people respond differently to exercise and support the development of personalized training programs.
Read the detailed description
This multicentre, prospective, single-arm interventional cohort study aims to link metabolic phenotypes with physical adaptations.
- Primary Assessment: Glycolytic power is quantified via the vLapeak test, defined as the peak rate of blood lactate accumulation during a 10-second isokinetic or sprint-configured cycle ergometry test.
- Intervention: The 8-week resistance training program consists of two supervised sessions per week. Exercises include the leg press (or Smith-machine squat) and leg extensions, performed for 4 sets of 8-12 repetitions. Intensity progresses from an RPE of 6 to voluntary muscular failure by the third week.
- Measurements: Muscle hypertrophy is primarily assessed via ultrasound measurement of muscle thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the thigh muscles before and after the intervention.
- Secondary Objectives: The study also evaluates changes in the plasma metabolome via venous blood samples and, at select sites, analyzes muscle biopsies for glycolytic enzyme activity and fiber type composition to further validate the vLapeak results.
- Being tested
- Hypertrophy-focused Resistance Training
- Keywords
- Resistance Training, vLapeak, Skeletal Muscle Adaptation, Metabolic Phenotyping, Exercise Physiology
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Hypertrophy-focused Resistance TrainingBehavioural
Standardized training consisting of twice-weekly supervised sessions for 8 weeks. Each session includes 4 sets of 8-12 repetitions of leg press (or Smith-machine squat) and leg extensions. Training intensity progresses from an RPE of 6 to voluntary muscular failure starting from week three.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance Training Group | Experimental | Participants in this single-arm cohort will undergo an 8-week standardized, hypertrophy-focused lower-body resistance training program. Receives: Behavioral: Hypertrophy-focused Resistance Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in mid-thigh Muscle Thickness
Change in mid-thigh muscle thickness (combination of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius) as measured by ultrasound.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Change in lateral-thigh Muscle Thickness
Change in lateral thigh muscle thickness (combination of vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius) as measured by ultrasound.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change in Peak Rate of Blood Lactate Accumulation (vLapeak)
Peak rate of blood lactate accumulation before and after a 10-second all-out seated cycle ergometry test. Blood lactate will be sampled every minute for 10 minutes post-test to capture the peak value.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Change in Vastus Lateralis Muscle Cross-Sectional Area (CSA)
Change in cross-sectional area of the vastus lateralis at 50% of muscle length measured via ultrasound.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Maximal Strength (3RM) for Leg Press
Change in 3-Repetition Maximum (3RM) for the leg press exercise to assess lower-body multi-joint maximal strength.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Maximal Strength (3RM) for Leg Exentsion
Change in 3-Repetition Maximum (3RM) for the leg extension exercise to assess single-joint quadriceps strength.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Change in Relative Abundance of Selected Plasma Metabolites
Change in the relative concentration of targeted plasma metabolites from baseline to Week 8, as analyzed via mass spectrometry.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jul 2026
- Study start4 May 2026
- Primary completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Healthy VolunteersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Technical University of MunichThe 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- This is a multi-centre, prospective, single-arm interventional cohort study. All participants will undergo the same standardized, 8-week hypertrophy-focused resistance training program, consisting of twice-weekly supervised sessions. Because the study aims to correlate an individual's baseline metabolic phenotype (vLapeak) with their subsequent physical adaptation (muscle hypertrophy), no control group is utilized. Blinding is not possible due to the nature of the exercise intervention.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Technical University of Munich
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Chemnitz University of Technology, DLR German Aerospace Center, University of Jyvaskyla, University of Limerick, IST University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, Institute for Applied Training Science (IAT/FES e.V.)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Prof. Dr. Henning Wackerhage, Technical University of Munich
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07721766
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HyperLa
- Acronym
- HyperLa
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: A formal plan for sharing individual participant data (IPD) with external researchers has not yet been finalized. The study involves a multicentric international consortium with strict data protection requirements under GDPR. Data is currently managed centrally via REDCap at the Technical University of Munich. Requests for data sharing will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the HyperLa Study Group after the primary publication of results, and would require a formal proposal and a signed Data Access or Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)
Publications
Ahtiainen JP, Walker S, Peltonen H, Holviala J, Sillanpaa E, Karavirta L, Sallinen J, Mikkola J, Valkeinen H, Mero A, Hulmi JJ, Hakkinen K. Heterogeneity in resistance training-induced muscle strength and mass responses in men and women of different ages. Age (Dordr). 2016 Feb;38(1):10. doi: 10.1007/s11357-015-9870-1. Epub 2016 Jan 15.
PubMed 26767377Wackerhage H, Kabasakalis A, Seiler S, Heck H. Is the vLamax for Glycolysis What the V O 2 max is for Oxidative Phosphorylation? Sports Med. 2025 Aug;55(8):1853-1866. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02259-6. Epub 2025 Jul 17.
PubMed 40676393Wackerhage H, Vechetti IJ, Baumert P, Gehlert S, Becker L, Jaspers RT, de Angelis MH. Does a Hypertrophying Muscle Fibre Reprogramme its Metabolism Similar to a Cancer Cell? Sports Med. 2022 Nov;52(11):2569-2578. doi: 10.1007/s40279-022-01676-1. Epub 2022 Apr 23.
PubMed 35460513Warburg O, Wind F, Negelein E. THE METABOLISM OF TUMORS IN THE BODY. J Gen Physiol. 1927 Mar 7;8(6):519-30. doi: 10.1085/jgp.8.6.519. No abstract available.
PubMed 19872213
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- HyperLa: Glycolytic Phenotype (vLapeak) and Magnitude of Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy After Resistance Training: A Multi-centre Study by the HyperLa Study Group
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07721766
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HyperLa / HyperLa
- Keywords
- Resistance Training, vLapeak, Skeletal Muscle Adaptation, Metabolic Phenotyping, Exercise Physiology
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Technical University of MunichUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Chemnitz University of Technology, DLR German Aerospace Center, University of Jyvaskyla, University of Limerick, IST University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, Institute for Applied Training Science (IAT/FES e.V.)
- Study start
- 4 May 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Jul 2026 (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 HyperLa study investigates whether a person's "glycolyticness"-the efficiency with which their body uses glycolysis for energy-can predict how much their muscles will grow (hypertrophy) in response to resistance training. Participants will undergo a specialized "vLapeak" test, which measures the maximal rate of lactate accumulation during a 10-second all-out cycling sprint, to determine their individual glycolytic power. Following this initial assessment, participants will complete eight weeks of standardized, twice-weekly resistance training focused on the lower body. The study aims to determine if individuals with higher initial vLapeak values experience greater increases in muscle size compared to those with lower values. This research may help explain why people respond differently to exercise and support the development of personalized training programs.
Detailed description
This multicentre, prospective, single-arm interventional cohort study aims to link metabolic phenotypes with physical adaptations.
- Primary Assessment: Glycolytic power is quantified via the vLapeak test, defined as the peak rate of blood lactate accumulation during a 10-second isokinetic or sprint-configured cycle ergometry test.
- Intervention: The 8-week resistance training program consists of two supervised sessions per week. Exercises include the leg press (or Smith-machine squat) and leg extensions, performed for 4 sets of 8-12 repetitions. Intensity progresses from an RPE of 6 to voluntary muscular failure by the third week.
- Measurements: Muscle hypertrophy is primarily assessed via ultrasound measurement of muscle thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the thigh muscles before and after the intervention.
- Secondary Objectives: The study also evaluates changes in the plasma metabolome via venous blood samples and, at select sites, analyzes muscle biopsies for glycolytic enzyme activity and fiber type composition to further validate the vLapeak results.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- This is a multi-centre, prospective, single-arm interventional cohort study. All participants will undergo the same standardized, 8-week hypertrophy-focused resistance training program, consisting of twice-weekly supervised sessions. Because the study aims to correlate an individual's baseline metabolic phenotype (vLapeak) with their subsequent physical adaptation (muscle hypertrophy), no control group is utilized. Blinding is not possible due to the nature of the exercise intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance Training Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Hypertrophy-focused Resistance TrainingParticipants in this single-arm cohort will undergo an 8-week standardized, hypertrophy-focused lower-body resistance training program. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 39 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Body Mass Index (BMI) between 20-29 kg/m2
- No structured resistance training performed in the last twelve months.
- Maximum of four sessions per week of recreational or low-to-moderate aerobic endurance activity.
- No history of competitive strength or physique sports.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Diagnosed cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, neuromuscular, or orthopaedic disease that contraindicates exercise.
- Positive response to any question on the PAR-Q 2025 questionnaire.
- Current use of anabolic steroids, creatine, or other substances known to strongly influence muscle hypertrophy.
- Regular engagement in shift work.
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hypertrophy-focused Resistance TrainingStandardized training consisting of twice-weekly supervised sessions for 8 weeks. Each session includes 4 sets of 8-12 repetitions of leg press (or Smith-machine squat) and leg extensions. Training intensity progresses from an RPE of 6 to voluntary muscular failure starting from week three. | Behavioural | Resistance Training Group |
Primary outcome
Change in mid-thigh Muscle Thickness
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Change in mid-thigh muscle thickness (combination of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius) as measured by ultrasound.
Change in lateral-thigh Muscle Thickness
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Change in lateral thigh muscle thickness (combination of vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius) as measured by ultrasound.
5 secondary outcomes
Change in Peak Rate of Blood Lactate Accumulation (vLapeak)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Change in Vastus Lateralis Muscle Cross-Sectional Area (CSA)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Maximal Strength (3RM) for Leg Press
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Maximal Strength (3RM) for Leg Exentsion
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Change in Relative Abundance of Selected Plasma Metabolites
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 26767377Ahtiainen JP, Walker S, Peltonen H, Holviala J, Sillanpaa E, Karavirta L, Sallinen J, Mikkola J, Valkeinen H, Mero A, Hulmi JJ, Hakkinen K. Heterogeneity in resistance training-induced muscle strength and mass responses in men and women of different ages. Age (Dordr). 2016 Feb;38(1):10. doi: 10.1007/s11357-015-9870-1. Epub 2016 Jan 15.
- Background: PubMed 40676393Wackerhage H, Kabasakalis A, Seiler S, Heck H. Is the vLamax for Glycolysis What the V O 2 max is for Oxidative Phosphorylation? Sports Med. 2025 Aug;55(8):1853-1866. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02259-6. Epub 2025 Jul 17.
- Background: PubMed 35460513Wackerhage H, Vechetti IJ, Baumert P, Gehlert S, Becker L, Jaspers RT, de Angelis MH. Does a Hypertrophying Muscle Fibre Reprogramme its Metabolism Similar to a Cancer Cell? Sports Med. 2022 Nov;52(11):2569-2578. doi: 10.1007/s40279-022-01676-1. Epub 2022 Apr 23.
- Background: PubMed 19872213Warburg O, Wind F, Negelein E. THE METABOLISM OF TUMORS IN THE BODY. J Gen Physiol. 1927 Mar 7;8(6):519-30. doi: 10.1085/jgp.8.6.519. No abstract available.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. A formal plan for sharing individual participant data (IPD) with external researchers has not yet been finalized. The study involves a multicentric international consortium with strict data protection requirements under GDPR. Data is currently managed centrally via REDCap at the Technical University of Munich. Requests for data sharing will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the HyperLa Study Group after the primary publication of results, and would require a formal proposal and a signed Data Access or Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)
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Screening Protocol
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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.
Lara Becker contact
8 sites in 4 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Hypertrophy-focused Resistance Training in people with Healthy Volunteers and Muscle Hypertrophy, run by Technical University of Munich at 8 sites in 4 countries.
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 4 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 8 sites in Germany, Finland, Ireland, Spain. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Henning Wackerhage, Prof. Dr. (+49 89 289 24480, henning.wackerhage@tum.de), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in mid-thigh Muscle Thickness (time frame: Baseline and Week 8 (completion of training intervention)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07721766, which also lists 4 linked publications.
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 23 Jul 2026.