Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation: A Novel Treatment for Improving Metabolism

University of Texas, El Paso80 enrolled

Overview

Once written consent is obtained, the participant will be provided with an accelerometer to be worn for 7 days to assess current physical activity levels. Subjects will be provided with a standardized diet (55/15/30% CHO/PRO/FAT) prior to collection of pre-intervention data of insulin sensitivity. Individuals will then participate in an 8-week electrical stimulation intervention (30min/day, 3x/week) and randomized into placebo/control, NMES, resistance training combined with NMES (RT +NMES), or resistance training (RT) group (n=20 per group), followed by collection of post-intervention data. The control group will receive electrical stimulation up to sensory level, the NMES group will receive stimulation up to tolerable intensity to induce visible muscle contraction, the RT+ NMES will receive stimulation up to tolerable intensity during resistance training, and the RT group will only receive exercise training. Control and NMES group will self administer stimulation at home. Pre-and post-intervention data includes measurements for body composition, resting metabolic rate, VO2max, insulin sensitivity, and comprehensive blood work.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Insulin Resistance

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Overweight/Obese (BMI ≥25) * Sedentary Lifestyle: Physical Activity Level\<1.4 * Less than 150min/week of structured Exercise Exclusion Criteria: * Use of anti-hypertensive, lipid-lowering or insulin sensitizing medications * Excessive alcohol, drug abuse, smoking * Pregnant Women * Unwilling to adhere to the study Intervention

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Glycemic Control

Insulin Sensitivity will be measured through repeated blood sampling during an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Time frame: 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Respiratory Exchange Ratio

Respiratory Exchange Ratio will be used to quantify substrate utilization (fats vs carbohydrates) through the use of indirect calorimetry of in vivo gas exchange

Time frame: 8 Weeks

Amount of lean mass

Amount of lean mass will be measured by dual energy x-ray absortiometry