Healthy Adult MaleMITOPNCT07866651
Investigating Sex Differences in Mitochondrial Function and Leg Blood Flow During Exercise
A study testing Exercise in people with Healthy Adult Male and Healthy Adult Females, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
This study will compare mitochondrial function and leg blood flow during exercise in healthy endurance-trained females and males aged 19-35. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 19 to 35 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Adult Male, Healthy Adult Females
- What is being tested?
- Exercise
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 24 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 2 Oct 2026to May 2027
- 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 19 to 35 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- can understand and communicate in English;
- are 19 to 35 years old;
- answer "No" to all questions on the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Get Active Questionnaire (CSEP-GAQ), or have approval from a doctor to do maximal exercise testing;
- are healthy enough to do hard exercise;
- are an endurance athlete; and
- have done at least 6 hours per week of planned endurance training, such as running, cycling, swimming, or rowing, over the past 12 months.
Who cannot join
- • currently use cigarettes, vaping products, or other nicotine products, or have used them in the past 2 years;
- have a major uncontrolled heart, blood vessel, muscle, metabolic, or nervous system condition
- have a medical condition that makes maximal exercise unsafe for you
- have heart or lung disease, or a condition that affects your heart, lungs, blood vessels, or muscles
- have type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- have cancer or have had cancer treatment in the past 12 months
Show all 10Show fewer
- take blood-thinning medicine or have a bleeding disorder
- are allergic to lidocaine or other local freezing medicine
- are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are trying to become pregnant
- are unable to follow the study instructions safely
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Canada1 site
Gateway Health Building
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z1
Lucas Wiens, MSc, 1+778-837-7665, Wiensl55@student.ubc.ca
Robert Boushel, PhD
About this study
This study will compare mitochondrial function and leg blood flow during exercise in healthy endurance-trained females and males aged 19-35.
Read the detailed description
This study will compare mitochondrial function and leg blood flow during exercise in healthy endurance-trained females and males aged 19-35. Participants will complete five laboratory visits over 2-3 weeks, including cycling and single-leg knee extension exercise tests, a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition scan, one resting thigh muscle biopsy, ultrasound blood-flow measurements, muscle oxygen and activity measurements, intramuscular pressure measurement, OMNI perceived exertion ratings, and a finger-prick hemoglobin sample. The study will examine whether sex-related differences in muscle energy use, muscle torque, and muscle pressure help explain blood-flow delivery during exercise.
- Conditions
- Healthy Adult Male, Healthy Adult Females
- Being tested
- Exercise
- Keywords
- mitochondrial function, intramuscular pressure, VO2max regulation, Sex Differences, muscle torque, Muscle Physiology
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ExerciseOther
Exercise - Men
ExerciseOther
Exercise - Females
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Males | Active comparator | Endurance Trained Healthy Males Receives: Other: Exercise |
| Healthy Females | Active comparator | Endurance Trained Healthy Females Receives: Other: Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Isolated mitochondria maximal state 3 respiration (pmols O2/microgram) measured via an ouroborous oxygraph (mitochondrial respirometry)
This measure quantifies the maximal rate of oxygen consumption (picomoles O2/ micogram of mitochondrial protein) when ADP, Malate, Succinate, Pyruvate and Glutamate have all been addded to the chamber.
Measured: Baseline
Maximal state 3 respiration in permeabilized Fibers (pmols O2/mg) measured via an ouroborous oxygraph (mitochondrial respirometry)
This measure quantifies the maximal rate of oxygen consumption (picomoles O2/ milligram of muscle tissue) when ADP, Malate, Succinate, Pyruvate and Glutamate have all been added to the chamber.
Measured: Baseline
Fiber type 1 specific maximal state 3 respiration (pmols O2/mg) measured via an ouroborous oxygraph (mitochondrial respirometry)
This measure quantifies the maximal rate of oxygen consumption (picomoles O2/ micogram of mitochondrial protein) when ADP, Malate, Succinate, Pyruvate and Glutamate have all been added to the chamber.
Measured: Baseline
Fiber type 2 specific maximal state 3 respiration (pmols O2/mg) measured via an ouroborous oxygraph (mitochondrial respirometry)
This measure quantifies the maximal rate of oxygen consumption (picomoles O2/ micogram of mitochondrial protein) when ADP, Malate, Succinate, Pyruvate and Glutamate have all been addded to the chamber.
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Oct 2026
- Study start2 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion27 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Healthy Adult MaleStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of British ColumbiaThe 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Males and Females will be compared.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Robert Boushel, University of British Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07866651
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H25-01966
- Acronym
- MITOP
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Undecided
Publications
Cardinale DA, Larsen FJ, Schiffer TA, Morales-Alamo D, Ekblom B, Calbet JAL, Holmberg HC, Boushel R. Superior Intrinsic Mitochondrial Respiration in Women Than in Men. Front Physiol. 2018 Aug 17;9:1133. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01133. eCollection 2018.
PubMed 30174617
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigating Sex Differences in Mitochondrial Function and Leg Blood Flow During Exercise
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07866651
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MITOP / H25-01966
- Conditions
- Healthy Adult Male, Healthy Adult Females
- Keywords
- mitochondrial function, intramuscular pressure, VO2max regulation, Sex Differences, muscle torque, Muscle Physiology
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of British ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 27 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Oct 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.
This study will compare mitochondrial function and leg blood flow during exercise in healthy endurance-trained females and males aged 19-35.
Detailed description
This study will compare mitochondrial function and leg blood flow during exercise in healthy endurance-trained females and males aged 19-35. Participants will complete five laboratory visits over 2-3 weeks, including cycling and single-leg knee extension exercise tests, a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition scan, one resting thigh muscle biopsy, ultrasound blood-flow measurements, muscle oxygen and activity measurements, intramuscular pressure measurement, OMNI perceived exertion ratings, and a finger-prick hemoglobin sample. The study will examine whether sex-related differences in muscle energy use, muscle torque, and muscle pressure help explain blood-flow delivery during exercise.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Males and Females will be compared.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Males | Active comparator | Other: ExerciseEndurance Trained Healthy Males |
| Healthy Females | Active comparator | Other: ExerciseEndurance Trained Healthy Females |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 19 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- can understand and communicate in English;
- are 19 to 35 years old;
- answer "No" to all questions on the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Get Active Questionnaire (CSEP-GAQ), or have approval from a doctor to do maximal exercise testing;
- are healthy enough to do hard exercise;
- are an endurance athlete; and
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- • currently use cigarettes, vaping products, or other nicotine products, or have used them in the past 2 years;
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 |
|---|---|---|
| ExerciseExercise - Men | Other | Healthy Males |
| ExerciseExercise - Females | Other | Healthy Females |
Primary outcome
Isolated mitochondria maximal state 3 respiration (pmols O2/microgram) measured via an ouroborous oxygraph (mitochondrial respirometry)
Time frame: Baseline
This measure quantifies the maximal rate of oxygen consumption (picomoles O2/ micogram of mitochondrial protein) when ADP, Malate, Succinate, Pyruvate and Glutamate have all been addded to the chamber.
Maximal state 3 respiration in permeabilized Fibers (pmols O2/mg) measured via an ouroborous oxygraph (mitochondrial respirometry)
Time frame: Baseline
This measure quantifies the maximal rate of oxygen consumption (picomoles O2/ milligram of muscle tissue) when ADP, Malate, Succinate, Pyruvate and Glutamate have all been added to the chamber.
Fiber type 1 specific maximal state 3 respiration (pmols O2/mg) measured via an ouroborous oxygraph (mitochondrial respirometry)
Time frame: Baseline
This measure quantifies the maximal rate of oxygen consumption (picomoles O2/ micogram of mitochondrial protein) when ADP, Malate, Succinate, Pyruvate and Glutamate have all been added to the chamber.
Fiber type 2 specific maximal state 3 respiration (pmols O2/mg) measured via an ouroborous oxygraph (mitochondrial respirometry)
Time frame: Baseline
This measure quantifies the maximal rate of oxygen consumption (picomoles O2/ micogram of mitochondrial protein) when ADP, Malate, Succinate, Pyruvate and Glutamate have all been addded to the chamber.
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 8 Oct 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 30174617Cardinale DA, Larsen FJ, Schiffer TA, Morales-Alamo D, Ekblom B, Calbet JAL, Holmberg HC, Boushel R. Superior Intrinsic Mitochondrial Respiration in Women Than in Men. Front Physiol. 2018 Aug 17;9:1133. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01133. eCollection 2018.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Undecided
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exercise in people with Healthy Adult Male and Healthy Adult Females, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
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 6 inclusion and 10 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Oct 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 Canada. 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 Lucas Wiens, MSc (1+778-837-7665, wiensl55@student.ubc.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Isolated mitochondria maximal state 3 respiration (pmols O2/microgram) measured via an ouroborous oxygraph (mitochondrial respirometry) (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 4 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 NCT07866651, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 8 Oct 2026.