Altitude training has been suggested to be of potential support to improve some chronic clinical conditions, especially metabolic conditions. Normobaric hypoxia represents a promising system to simulate altitude training, and its efficacy and safety have been suggested in different conditions, including diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can characterized by metabolic alterations (including altered body composition, lipid and glycemic profile, etc.), and might benefit from aerobic training performed in simulated altitude training (i.e., normobaric hypoxia). Mild altitude training will be proposed (equal to about 2'500 m, 15% FiO2) and compared to a sham normobaric normoxia condition, during a 6-week 3 times per week 50-min aerobic training (walking) at 60-65% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). Cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and metabolic profile will be investigated.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
16
6 weeks of 3 times per week, 50 min aerobic training (walking on a treadmill at 60-65% HRmax) while wearing a mask and air is delivered between 15 and 16 FiO2%
6 weeks of 3 times per week, 50 min aerobic training (walking on a treadmill at 60-65% HRmax) while wearing a mask and air is delivered between at normal (around 21) FiO2%
University of Trieste - Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology Lab
Trieste, Trieste, Italy
Body mass (kg)
Evaluation of changes in body mass measured on a scale
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
Fat mass (%)
Evaluation of changes in fat mass, as percentage of body mass, assessed with bioimpedence (BIA)
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
Maximum oxygen uptake (mL/kg*min)
Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) assessed during a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and potentially after 8 weeks of training
Liver markers
Markers of liver health including ultrasound evaluation
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
Ventilatory threshold (mL/kg*min)
Metabolic intensity at which the ventilatory threshold occurs, as measured during the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and potentially after 8 weeks of training
Triglyceride (mg/dL)
Blood triglyceride concentration
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)
Blood total cholesterol concentration
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
High-density lipoprotein (mg/dL)
Blood high-density lipoprotein concentration
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
Low-density lipoprotein (mg/dL)
Blood low-density lipoprotein concentration
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
C-reactive protein (mg/dL)
Blood c-reactive protein concentration
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
Glycemia (mg/dL)
Blood glucose concentration
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
Insulinemia (mg/dL)
Blood insulin concentration
Time frame: At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of training
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