Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Exogenous Carbohydrate Oxidation During High Intensity Exercise

This study is all about understanding how your body uses energy from the food you eat, especially during different levels of exercise. We're focusing on how your body burns sugar, also known as glucose. We use a special, safe type of sugar that's 'labelled' (it's called deuterium-labelled glucose) to track exactly how much of the sugar you take in turns into power when you're exercising at a moderate level and also when you're pushing yourself harder. The main goal is to get a clearer picture of how your body's energy system works during physical activity, which could help us understand more about sports performance and metabolism.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Bath

Enrolment target

Start

08 Jun 2026

Estimated completion

30 Sep 2026

Exercise Metabolism

What is this study about?

Imagine your body is like a car, and food is its fuel. This study is like trying to understand how efficiently your car uses its petrol when you're driving normally compared to when you're accelerating hard. Specifically, we're looking at how your body burns a type of sugar called glucose – which is a key fuel source – when you're exercising.

We're interested in two main levels of exercise: 'moderate intensity' (like a steady jog) and 'high intensity' (like sprinting or cycling really fast). We use a special, safe type of glucose that has a tiny, harmless 'tag' on it, called a deuterium label. This tag allows us to track exactly how much of the sugar you've eaten is being used for energy during your workout.

By understanding how your body uses this fuel under different exercise conditions, we can learn more about how our bodies create energy during physical activity. This knowledge could be really helpful for athletes, coaches, and even people just trying to understand how to fuel their bodies better for exercise.

Key takeaways

This study explores how your body uses sugar for energy during exercise.
It involves exercising on a stationary bike at different intensities.
A special, safe sugar (not harmful) is used to track energy use.
You need to be fit and regularly do endurance exercise.
There are no new medications involved in the study.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be an adult between 18 and 65 years old. We're looking for people who are already quite fit and regularly do endurance sports, like long-distance running or cycling.

However, there are some reasons why you might not be able to join. If a doctor has ever told you that you shouldn't exercise, or if you have any health conditions that make exercise risky, then this study wouldn't be safe for you. Also, you need to be able to cycle for two hours continuously without stopping or getting too tired, so if you can't do that, you wouldn't be suitable.

Both men and women can take part in this study, as long as they meet the other requirements.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Do you regularly take part in endurance sports (like long-distance cycling or running)?
Can you cycle continuously for two hours without stopping?
Has a doctor told you that it's safe for you to exercise intensely?
Do you have any serious health conditions that prevent strenuous exercise?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The study involves coming to a research facility for a few visits. On these visits, you'll be given a special type of sugar drink containing the 'labelled' glucose. You'll then be asked to perform exercise sessions on a stationary bike, first at a moderate level and then at a higher intensity. During and after the exercise, we'll collect samples like breath or urine to see how your body processed the sugar.

We don't expect you to take any new medications as part of this study. The main commitment is attending the study visits and completing the exercise sessions. The exact number of visits and the total duration aren't fully detailed here, but each visit involving exercise would likely take several hours. You would be given full details before deciding to take part.

Potential risks and benefits

While we don't expect any serious problems given the safe nature of the labelled glucose and the exercise, there's always a small risk with any physical activity, such as muscle soreness or fatigue. The 'labelled' sugar is very safe and won't harm you. You won't directly benefit from taking part in terms of a specific medical treatment, but you'll be contributing valuable information that helps us understand more about how the body uses energy during exercise. Remember, you can decide to stop taking part in the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

University of Bath
Verified postcode
Bath, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is 'deuterium-labelled glucose'?

It's a very safe, special type of sugar that we can track in your body to see how it's used for energy. It's not radioactive or harmful.

Do I need to be an athlete to join?

You don't need to be a professional, but you should be fit and regularly take part in endurance exercise like cycling or running.

What kind of exercise will I have to do?

You'll be cycling on a stationary bike, both at a steady, moderate pace and at a faster, harder pace.

Will I have to take any new medicines?

No, you won't be given any new medications as part of this study.

How long will the study visits take?

While not fully detailed, each visit involving exercise will likely take several hours to complete.