Influence of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Adaptations to Sprint Interval Training

ConditionHealthy
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18-35
SponsorUniversity of Toronto

About this trial

Sprint interval training improves endurance performance and induces metabolic adaptations in muscle. Most research demonstrating these responses has been conducted in males, with limited studies evaluating changes to endurance performance and skeletal muscle oxidative capacity in females. Moreover, it is currently unknown if training in specific phases of the menstrual cycle influences adaptations to training. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to compare adaptations to 2 weeks of sprint interval training performed in the follicular vs. luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in healthy, eumenorrheic women.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Participating in 150 min of moderate-vigorous physical activity/week

VO2peak of 'good' or above based on American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM) normative values(greater than 35.0ml/kg/min)

Body mass index (BMI) between 18-27 kg/m2

Performing 2-4 structured exercise sessions/week.

Disqualifiers

Hormonal contraceptive use within the last 3 months

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis

Failure to meet MC verification criteria.

Diagnosed with cardiovascular or metabolic disease, hyper- or hypogonadism, and/or PCOS

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Sprint Interval Training

    Other intervention

    6 sessions of sprint interval training over 2 weeks. Each session involves 4-6 x 30 second Wingate sprints with 4 minutes of recovery in between on a stationary bike

Treatment groups

24 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Follicular Phase TrainingActive comparator 1 intervention
Group B: Luteal Phase TrainingExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Endurance performance

Time to completion and average power output during a 250kJ time trial

Time frame
Before and after 2 weeks of exercise training

Secondary outcomes

1

Skeletal muscle mitochondrial content

Measured via Western blotting

Time frame
Before and after 2 weeks of exercise training
2

Skeletal muscle mitochondrial enzyme activity

Measured via enzyme activity assays

Time frame
Before and after 2 weeks of exercise training
3

Skeletal muscle capillarization

Measured via immunofluorescence

Time frame
Before and after 2 weeks of exercise training
4

Skeletal muscle lipid content

Measured via immunofluorescence

Time frame
Before and after 2 weeks of exercise training

Other outcomes

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