Randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of aerobic exercise in reducing metabolic risk in healthy older people: The Hertfordshire Physical Activity Trial.
BACKGROUND
While there are compelling observational data confirming that individuals who exercise are healthier, the efficacy of aerobic exercise interventions to reduce metabolic risk and improve insulin sensitivity in older people has not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, while low birth weight has been shown to predict adverse health outcomes later in life, its influence on the response to aerobic exercise is unknown. Our primary objective is to assess the efficacy of a fully supervised twelve week aerobic exercise intervention in reducing clustered metabolic risk in healthy older adults. A secondary objective is to determine the influence of low birth weight on the response to exercise in this group.


METHODS
We aim to recruit 100 participants born between 1931-1939, from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study and randomly assign them to no intervention or to 36 fully supervised one hour sessions on a cycle ergometer, over twelve weeks. Each participant will undergo detailed anthropometric and metabolic assessment pre- and post-intervention, including muscle biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, objective measurement of physical activity and sub-maximal fitness testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the extensive phenotypic characterization, this study will provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise as well as the efficacy, feasibility and safety of such interventions in this age group.


BACKGROUND
Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN60986572.
Finucane
Francis M
FM
MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, UK. francis.finucane@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
Horton
Jessica
J
Purslow
Lisa R
LR
Savage
David B
DB
Brage
Soren
S
Besson
Hervé
H
Horton
Kenneth
K
Rolfe
Ema De Lucia
Ede L
Sleigh
Alison
A
Sharp
Stephen J
SJ
Martin
Helen J
HJ
Sayer
Avan Aihie
AA
Cooper
Cyrus
C
Ekelund
Ulf
U
Griffin
Simon J
SJ
Wareham
Nicholas J
NJ