Volunteers are being sought for a study into high-intensity exercise regimes and nutritional supplements.

Health researchers at the Robert Gordon University (RGU) are looking for healthy men aged between 18 and 40 from across the north-east of Scotland.

Volunteers must have a body mass index (BMI) over 25 kg/m2 and currently be doing less than one hour of structured exercise per week.

The study aims to assess the body's oxidative stress and inflammation response after either high-intensity interval training (HIIT), selenium supplements or a combination of both.

Participants in the eight-week study will be randomly split into three groups; one will be given the high-intensity exercise three times a week, one will be given the supplements and the third group will receive a combination of both.

Research student Dean Leighton said: "Sedentary and overweight individuals tend to have higher levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, with prolonged high levels suggested as the initial triggers for heart disease development later in life.

"High-intensity interval training comprises repeated brief bursts of vigorous exercise interspersed with rest periods and is a very time-efficient and feasible exercise strategy for overweight adults to reduce heart disease risk and improve their health.

"This type of time-efficient exercise, requiring as little as 15 to 30 minutes of accumulative HIIT exercise per week, can induce similar or greater fitness and muscle benefits compared to two or three hours of traditional moderate-intensity jogging or cycling exercise each week.

"However, very little is known about how HIIT exercise changes the oxidative stress and inflammation status of sedentary adults."

Dr Giovanna Bermano said: "Selenium is an essential micro-nutrient which increases the antioxidant activity of particular enzymes in the body.

"However, the majority of adults in the UK population have an inadequate intake of selenium, hence have sub-optimal antioxidant defence from oxidative stress and inflammation.

"This study will investigate the effectiveness of both HIIT exercise and selenium supplementation to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation status.

"It will also provide vital information to inform the effectiveness of HIIT exercise and selenium supplementation to reduce future cardiovascular disease risk in sedentary overweight adults."

Anyone who wishes to take part in the study can contact Dean Leighton on 07793 766191 or email d.s.leighton@rgu.ac.uk.