Rowing and Cycling Reduce Inflammation in Early-Stage Type 2 Diabetes

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Continuous Exercise - Cycling Group: Warm-up: 5 minutes of low-intensity cycling (50-60 W, approximately 40%-50% HRmax of continuous power cycling at) Main Training: 40 minutes 65%-75% HRmax (approximately 60%-70% VO₂peak), maintaining a cadence of 60-80 rpm Cool-down: 5 minutes of low-intensity cycling followed by stretching Total Duration: 50 minutes

Rowing Ergometer High-Intensity Interval Training: Warm-up: 5 minutes of low-intensity rowing at approximately 50% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). Main Training: 24 minutes of interval training consisting of 4 sets of high-intensity rowing for 4 minutes each (85%-90% HRmax), with 2 minutes of low-intensity active recovery (50%-60% HRmax) between each set. Maintain a stroke rate of 24-30 strokes per minute (SPM) for high-intensity intervals and 18-22 SPM for recovery intervals. Cool-down: 5 minutes of low-intensity rowing combined with stretching. Total Duration: 34 minutes

Combined Training Standard: Warm-up: 5 minutes of low-intensity activity (choose either cycling or rowing). Rowing Machine Segment: 20 minutes at an intensity of 65%-75% of maximum heart rate (HRmax) (approximately 60%-70% of VO₂peak), with a stroke rate of 22-26 strokes per minute (SPM). Bicycle Segment: 20 minutes at an intensity of 65%-75% of HRmax (approximately 60%-70% of VO₂peak), with a cadence of 60-80 revolutions per minute (rpm). Cool-down: 5 minutes of stretching. Total Duration: 50 minutes

Study summary

This multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluates the short-term (7-day) effects of different rowing-cycling exercise regimens on postprandial glycemic excursions in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients (aged 18-60 years, diagnosis ≤12 months, drug-naïve). A total of 120 participants will be randomized into five groups: control, moderate-intensity continuous cycling, high-intensity interval rowing, and standard combined exercise (rowing + cycling, 50 min). The primary outcome is inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-10, hs-CRP), body Composition and functional Indicators. Secondary outcomes include change in continuous glucose monitoring-derived glycemic variability (CONGA), and time-in-range. Mixed-effects models will quantify dose-response relationships and identify key effect modifiers (e.g., age). This study aims to establish an evidence-based precision exercise prescription for early-stage type 2 diabetes management.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• inflammatory cytokines — 1.4 weeks
  IL-6 (Interleukin-6) - The first muscle factor induced by exercise, is the core molecule connecting exercise to systemic anti-inflammatory effects. IL-6 produced by skeletal muscles during exercise inhibits TNF-α and stimulates IL-1ra to exert anti-inflammatory effects. Different exercise patterns have varying regulations on IL-6, with both aerobic training and combined training significantly reducing IL-6 levels in T2DM patients. TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha) - A key pro-inflammatory factor in insulin resistance in T2DM. Exercise improves insulin sensitivity by inhibiting the production of TNF-α. Meta-analyses confirm that exercise significantly reduces TNF-α levels in T2DM patients. hs-CRP (High-sensitivity C-reactive protein) - A classic marker of systemic low-grade inflammation, identified as a key baseline biomarker to distinguish well-controlled T2DM patients from healthy adults.
• Body Composition — 1.4 weeks
  DEXA to detect body fat percentage (BF%) and skeletal muscle index (SMI)
• maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) — 1.4 weeks
  Cardiopulmonary exercise testing to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max)

Trial sites (1)

More The 95th Hospital of Putian，Putian, Fujian, China trials in China

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