Fasting, Exercise, and Diet to Activate Autophagy in Depression

Sponsor
University of Zurich
Study ID
NCT07664540
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Depression - Major Depressive Disorder
  • Overweight (BMI > 25)

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 40 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Performance test — PROCEDURE
    Standardized CPET on a bicycle ergometer. Venous and capillary blood sampling at baseline (rest), end of aerobic warm-up phase (15 min), peak exercise (ramp-protocoll, 8-12 min), 10 minutes post-exercise, and 30 minutes post-exercise.

Study Details

Depression is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of disability. Although current treatments can be effective, many patients do not fully recover or experience long-term improvement. This study aims to better understand how lifestyle factors such as physical activity and diet-related processes may influence biological mechanisms that could be linked to depression. The study focuses on a natural cellular process called autophagy, which helps cells remove damaged components and maintain healthy function. Autophagy is influenced by energy availability in the body and may be affected by behaviors such as physical exercise and caloric restriction. Early evidence suggests that changes in autophagy may also be linked to mood regulation and depression, but this relationship is not yet well understood in humans. In this exploratory study, we will investigate how physical activity influences autophagy and related metabolic and molecular processes in healthy adults. We will also examine whether these effects differ between individuals with different body weight and fitness levels, and between women and men. A total of approximately 120 healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years will participate. Participants will be divided into four groups based on sex and body weight (normal weight or overweight). Each participant will attend study visits at the University Hospital Zurich and perform a standardized cycling exercise test under medical supervision. During the exercise test, participants will perform a graded cycling protocol that gradually increases in intensity until exhaustion. We will collect small blood samples from a vein and from a fingertip at several time points before, during, and after exercise. Saliva samples will also be collected to measure stress-related hormones. Additional measurements include heart rate, breathing parameters, oxygen consumption, and physical performance. Blood and saliva samples will be analyzed using advanced laboratory techniques to study changes in metabolism, immune signaling, hormones, gene activity, and markers related to autophagy. These analyses will help identify biological pathways that are activated by exercise and may be relevant to brain health and depression. Participants will undergo medical screening before inclusion to ensure safety. Individuals with certain medical conditions or factors that could interfere with the study results will not be included. Participation is voluntary, and participants may withdraw at any time without consequences. The study involves minimal risks associated with blood sampling and intense physical exercise, which will be performed under close medical supervision. The expected benefit is improved scientific understanding of how lifestyle-related biological processes may be linked to mental health, which could support the development of new preventive or therapeutic strategies for depression in the future.

Key Dates

First listed
Jun 24, 2026
Start date
Sep 11, 2026
Status verified
Jun 2026
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2029
Completion
Sep 30, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment
120 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Healthy, normal weight women, regular menstrual cycle, no hormones, all fitness levels
  • Experimental: Healthy normal weight men, recreational fitness level
  • Experimental: Healthy, overweight women, regular menstrual cycle, no hormones, recreational fitness levels
  • Experimental: Healthy, overweight men, regular menstrual cycle, no hormones, recreational fitness levels

Primary Outcome Measure

Autophagic Flux in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) [ Time Frame: Baseline (rest), end of aerobic warm-up phase, peak exercise, 10 minutes post-exercise, and 30 minutes post-exercise (single study day). ]

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