Izola

This research aims to explore the immediate effects of consuming a cold water extract made from Crocus sativus tepals on blood sugar levels and other metabolic health indicators in adults with obesity and/or prediabetes. The study focuses on whether this extract, taken before a meal, can improve blood sugar response, influence insulin and other metabolic markers, and increase resting energy expenditure. The trial is conducted as an early phase 1 study. Participants will attend two visits to the research facility. During one visit, they will consume 200 mL of cold aqueous extract made from 2 g of Crocus sativus tepals infused overnight in water at 4 °C. On the other visit, they will consume 200 mL of cold water kept overnight at 4 °C. The order of these interventions will be randomized, and each will be taken 5 minutes before a standard meal of 100 g white bread. There will be at least a 7-day washout period between visits. At each visit, participants will have body measurements taken upon arrival. Blood samples will be collected three times: before eating (fasting), and then 60 and 120 minutes after the meal. Resting metabolic rate and blood pressure will also be measured before blood sampling. Researchers will monitor glucose levels from enrollment through the second measurement at 2 weeks to assess the effects of the extract on metabolic health.

Researchers are investigating how continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) affects blood sugar fluctuations, lifestyle habits, and metabolic health in adults with prediabetes who are overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m²). This randomized, crossover interventional study compares the impact of having real-time access to glucose data (open CGM) versus masked data (blinded CGM). The goal is to determine if seeing glucose levels in real time encourages behavioral changes and improves metabolic outcomes in this population. Participants will experience both study phases: 12 weeks using open CGM where they can view glucose readings as they happen, and 12 weeks using blinded CGM where glucose data are hidden from them. These two phases are separated by a 30-day washout period. During each phase, continuous glucose monitors will track glucose levels, and participants will attend baseline and follow-up visits at the Diabetes Outpatient Clinic for assessments. Throughout the study, researchers will measure changes in glucose variability using continuous glucose monitoring data, monitor post-meal glucose spikes, and track daily calorie intake. Participants will undergo weight, metabolic, biochemical, and behavioral evaluations at each visit. The study also monitors participant experiences with CGM devices, adherence to wearing the devices, and the sustainability of lifestyle changes over the intervention periods.

Researchers are investigating the immediate effects of unloading maneuvers during a protocol involving repeated spinal flexion on changes in trunk mechanical and neuromuscular properties. This experimental study targets occupational workers with mostly non-static jobs, aiming to better understand how specific unloading movements may influence trunk muscle stiffness and function. Participants will complete a 60-minute protocol of intermittent spinal flexion. During the rest periods, those in the intervention group will perform unloading maneuvers that include self-traction on a box for 5 seconds and sustained standing trunk extension for 8 seconds, each repeated twice at four separate times during the protocol. Measurements of trunk mechanical and neuromuscular properties will be taken before and after the protocol to assess changes. Throughout the study, researchers will evaluate changes in muscle stiffness within 90 minutes. Participants will be monitored for their trunk mechanical and neuromuscular responses to the intervention. This study will include 30 male participants aged 30 to 55 who meet the eligibility criteria, with assessments focused on the acute impact of the unloading maneuvers during spinal flexion exposure.