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Study on Exercise and Liraglutide for Metabolic Syndrome

This study is looking at how exercise, the medication Liraglutide, or a combination of both, affects adults with Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome is a group of conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Researchers want to see if these interventions can improve blood flow in tiny vessels (microvascular perfusion) and how your body uses insulin. The study aims to understand if these treatments can help grow new blood vessels (angiogenesis). You could be eligible if you are between 21 and 60 years old, have a BMI between 25 and 35, and meet specific criteria for Metabolic Syndrome. The main goal is to measure changes in microvascular blood volume after 24 weeks.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 80 participants. You would be randomly assigned to one of four groups: control, exercise training, Liraglutide treatment, or exercise plus Liraglutide.
What's involved
You would be studied at the beginning and again after 24 weeks of your assigned intervention.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoint is measured at 24 weeks, indicating the duration of the intervention period.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04575844

Effects of Exercise and GLP-1 Agonism on Muscle Microvascular Perfusion and Insulin Action in Adults With Metabolic Syndrome

Recruiting
PHASE4Ages 21–60InterventionalTreatment
University of Virginia
~80 participants
Updated 2026-05-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:LiraglutideExercise trainingLiraglutide + Exercise training

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Microvascular Blood Volume - change from baseline
Measured over 24 weeks

Conditions

Metabolic Syndrome

Explore related trials

Metabolic Syndrome

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Virginia1

Study leadership

  • Zhenqi Liu, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Virginia

Who to contact

Lee Hartline, MEd
[email protected]
434-924-5247
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Male or female ≥21 and ≤60 years old.
Body mass index \>25 and ≤35 kg/m2 and is weight stable (\<5 kg weight change in the past 6 months). BMI is limited to ≤35 kg/m2 for easier vascular access and cardiac imaging.
Meet 3 of 5 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Metabolic Syndrome criteria:
Increased waist circumference (≥102 cm in men; ≥88 cm in women)
Elevated triglycerides (≥150 mg/dl)
Reduced HDL-cholesterol (\<40mg/dl in men, \<50 mg/dl in women)
High blood pressure (≥130 mmHg systolic or ≥85mmHg diastolic)
Elevated fasting glucose (≥100 mg/dl)
Subject may participate if on the following drugs, provided the drug doses have been stable for at least 3 months.
Ace inhibitor
ARB
HMG CoA reductase inhibitor
Beta blocker
Calcium channel blockers
Alpha-adrenergic antagonist
Statin

Exclusion

A diagnosis of any type of diabetes or history of diabetes medication use
Recently active (\>20 min of moderate/high intensity exercise, 2 times/week)
Subjects who are smokers or who have quit smoking \<5 years
Subjects with hypertriglyceridemia (\>400 mg/dl) or hypercholesterolemia (\>260 mg/dl)
Subjects with BP\>160/90
Subjects with a history of significant metabolic, cardiac, cerebrovascular, hematological, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, liver, renal, or endocrine disease or malignancy
Pregnant (as evidenced by positive pregnancy test) or nursing women
Subjects with contraindications to participation in an exercise training program
Allergic to perflutren
A prior use of Liraglutide

What this trial measures

  • Microvascular Blood Volume - change from baseline24 weeks

    measured at baseline and 24 weeks