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STUDY PROTOCOL article

Front. Public Health

Sec. Public Health and Nutrition

This article is part of the Research Topic(Un)healthy lifestyles, Aging, and Type 2 Diabetes: Volume 2View all 10 articles

The effect of aerobic and resistance training in patients with type 2 diabetes on vitamin D (DIAVITEX): a study protocol

Provisionally accepted
Elnaz DardashtipourElnaz Dardashtipour1Sílvia CanivellSílvia Canivell2Mohammad Ali AzarbayjaniMohammad Ali Azarbayjani3Andrea Fuente-VidalAndrea Fuente-Vidal1Aina SurrocaAina Surroca4Pilar GascónPilar Gascón5Concepció MestresConcepció Mestres5Alícia AntónAlícia Antón5Maria José Peña-MateoMaria José Peña-Mateo6Elena Carrillo-AlvarezElena Carrillo-Alvarez7Anna Maria CanudasAnna Maria Canudas8*Myriam Guerra-BalicMyriam Guerra-Balic9Joel MontaneJoel Montane1
  • 1Blanquerna Ramon Llull University Facultat de Psicologia Ciències de l'Educació i de l'Esport, Barcelona, Spain
  • 2Centre d’Atenció Primària Adrià, Institut Catala de la Salut Gerencia Territorial de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • 3Department of Exercise Physiology, Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
  • 4Blanquerna Ramon Llull University Facultat de Ciències de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
  • 5Blanquerna Universitat Ramon Llull Facultat de Ciencies de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
  • 6Centre d’Atenció Primària Sant Rafael, Institut Catala de la Salut Gerencia Territorial de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • 7Blanquerna. Ramon Llull University. Facultat de Ciències de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
  • 8Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, University of Barcelona. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, Barcelona, Spain
  • 9Blanquerna. Ramon LLull University. Facultat de Psicologia, Ciències de l'Educació i de l'Esport, Barcelona, Spain

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Introduction Aerobic and resistance training can effectively improve clinical management in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Low vitamin D (VitD) levels are associated with T2D risk and metabolic disturbances, and may help reduce this risk, particularly in individuals with low VitD levels. In this line, many individuals with T2D, who may also be elderly or have osteoporosis, regularly include VitD treatment in their healthcare routines. Although the impact of exercise has been extensively studied, its effect on diabetic patients taking VitD remains limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of aerobic and resistance training on clinical parameters in patients with T2D already taking VitD. Methods The DIAVITEX study is a randomized controlled superiority trial, with four parallel arms, including 80 individuals with T2D. Patients will be selected at the Primary Care Centers and stratified according to their pre-existing VitD treatment. Participants will subsequently be randomized to the exercise intervention or control as follows: Group 1, Exercise + VitD users (n=20); Group 2, Exercise + VitD non-users (n=20); Group 3, VitD only (no exercise) (n=20); and Group 4, Control (No VitD & No Exercise) (n=20). In this study, a sarcoplasm stimulating training program will be carried out online, three sessions per week for a total of 16 weeks. Before and after the physical activity subjects will perform fitness and blood tests. Nutritional education programs will be provided to normalize their diets for study consistency. The primary endpoint of the trial is the change in HOMA-IR index from baseline to week 16. Secondary endpoints include changes in HbA1c, lipid profile, body composition, and inflammatory biomarkers Discussion Expected improvements in insulin resistance, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers are anticipated following a 16-week regimen of exercise in patients with T2D on VitD. Trial registration number: NCT06081387

Keywords: Resistance Training, Vitamin D, type 2 diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Clinicaltrial

Received: 27 Jul 2025; Accepted: 30 Oct 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Dardashtipour, Canivell, Azarbayjani, Fuente-Vidal, Surroca, Gascón, Mestres, Antón, Peña-Mateo, Carrillo-Alvarez, Canudas, Guerra-Balic and Montane. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Anna Maria Canudas, canudas@ub.edu

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