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Metabolic SyndromePhase 2AlphaNCT00857376

Dose Ranging Study of the Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid on Oxidative Stress

A Phase 2 study of Metabolic Syndrome, run by Johns Hopkins University.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States and it is commonly found in people with diabetes and high cholesterol. Inflammation is one mechanism by which diabetes and elevated cholesterol damage blood vessels. Inflammation can be increased by oxidative stress. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 40 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Metabolic Syndrome
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
77 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Mar 2008to Sep 2012
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 40 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 40 or more yrs,
  • Are able to give informed consent
  • Diabetic on stable doses of oral medications or diet or
  • Metabolic syndrome defined as having 3 or more of the following:
  • Impaired or fasting glucose > or = 100 mg/dL) or impaired glucose tolerance
  • Waist circumference > 40 inches in men and > 35 inches in women,
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Hypertension (> or = 130/85 mmHg) or are on antihypertensive medication,
  • LDL < or = 50 mg/dL in females and < or = 40 mg/dL in men,
  • Triglyceride > or = 150 mg/dL

Who cannot join

  • Are on oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin with HbA1c > 7.5,if diabetic,
  • On antioxidant supplementation and are unable or unwilling to stop,
  • A woman on hormone replacement therapy,
  • On medications that may have antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects or effects on insulin sensitivity, e.g. HMGCo-A reductase inhibitor that cannot be discontinued for the duration of the study,
  • Current smoker (within 3 months prior to enrollment),
  • Have known coronary artery disease or stroke,
  • Have other diseases associated with active inflammation e.g. connective tissue disease, malignancy,
  • have a CRP > or = 10 mg/dl on screening blood with clinical evidence of inflammation

About this study

Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States and it is commonly found in people with diabetes and high cholesterol. Inflammation is one mechanism by which diabetes and elevated cholesterol damage blood vessels. Inflammation can be increased by oxidative stress. This study will see if Alpha Lipoic acid, a potent antioxidant and over the counter product, reduces blood levels of markers of oxidative stress and inflammation when compared with placebo. Placebo is a substance that looks like the real product, but contains no active product.

Read the detailed description

This is a randomized study. A randomized study means you will be assigned by chance (like the toss of a coin) to one of four groups and receive either alpha lipoic acid (ALA or placebo (an inactive substance that looks like the real drug). In this study, there is a 1 out of 4 chance you will receive placebo. Three of the groups will receive different doses of ALA and one group will receive placebo only. The groups are: placebo only, 600 mg ALA, 1200 mg ALA, and 1800 mg ALA a day. At some point all study participants will receive placebo; sometimes the pills will be ALA and sometimes they will be placebo. You will not know which you are taking on any given day.

This study is also double-blinded, which means that you, the study doctor, and the Sponsor will not know until the end of the study whether you are receiving ALA or placebo only. Your study doctor can find out if you are receiving ALA or placebo if needed in an emergency.

If you agree to be in this study, you will be asked to come in for up to 6 visits in 12 weeks. You should be fasting before some of these visits. Fasting means that you should have nothing to eat or drink, except water with your usual morning medications, for 10 hours before your scheduled study visit. The study staff will go over this with you each time.

Visit 1-Screening: (about 3 hours)

  • Please fast before this visit

In order to find out if you qualify to take part in the study, you will have the following tests and procedures done during this visit including:

  • Your health history will be taken
  • Your height, weight, and blood pressure will be measured
  • You will have an electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • You will give fasting blood samples of about 3-5 tablespoons and urine samples
  • If you are female and can have children, you will be given a urine pregnancy test
  • You will take a glucose tolerance test (GTT) A dietitian will briefly discuss your diet and exercise. An ECG will be done to measure your heart function. ECG measures the electrical activity of your heart. You will be asked to lie down and small sticky pads will be placed on your arms, legs, and across your chest.

The GTT test involves collecting 1 blood sample before, and 4 samples up to 2 hours after, you drink a measured amount of glucose (a sugar) in a pleasant tasting liquid. You will have 2 tablespoons of blood drawn. An indwelling intravenous (IV) needle will be inserted into your vein for the 2-hour period so that individual needle sticks will not be needed.

Depending on the results of your blood and urine tests, you may be asked to come in for a second visit in about 1 week. The screening blood tests may provide you with information on your health that could be important to you, for example diagnosing diabetes.

VISIT 2: (about 1 hour)

  • You do not have to fast for this visit and may take your morning medications as usual

You will have the following tests and procedures done during this visit including:

  • You will meet with a dietician for an assessment of your eating habits. The dietitian will advise you on how to maintain a stable diet during the study.
  • If your blood tests indicate that you have diabetes, you will receive instructions on diet and exercise to improve your blood sugar levels.
  • If your HbA1c level is high, you will be given a home glucose monitoring device (glucometer) with instructions on its use for daily testing. HbA1c is a measure of average glucose levels over the prior few weeks.
  • You will be given a 2-week supply of study drug and asked to stop any over- the-counter vitamins that you are taking until you have completed this study. We will provide 3 bottles of study medicine at a time. Each bottle will be uniquely identified for use in the morning, midday or evening. You will be asked to take 2 tablets from the morning bottle, then 2 from the midday bottle and 2 from the evening bottle. You will also be given a daily multivitamin to take. This will be a total of 7 tablets a day for 10 weeks.

All unused study drug should be returned when you come in for the next visit in 2 weeks. It is important that you are able to take all the study drug. If we find that you are unable to take most of the study drug, you will be removed from the study.

VISIT 3: (about 6-8 hours)

•

  • Please be fasting and do not have alcohol or exercise for 48 hours prior to the visit. You may be asked to withhold some of your usual medicines on this day but bring the doses to the visit with you to be taken at a later time. You will have the following tests and procedures done during this visit including:
  • Brachial artery ultrasound: This is a way to see how the walls of your arteries respond to change in blood flow. For this test, you will lie on a bed and we will take sound wave pictures of the artery in your elbow area. After the initial pictures, we will then inflate a blood pressure cuff on your upper arm for 5 minutes. As soon as the cuff is deflated more pictures of the same artery are taken. We will give then give you a pill called nitroglycerine to dissolve under your tongue. When the pill dissolves in a few minutes, final pictures of the same artery will be taken.
  • The brachial test will be repeated 2 hours after a high fat meal is eaten. We will give the meal to you It will contain known amounts of fat,carbohydrates, and protein.
  • Augmentation index: This is a test to see how stiff the walls of your artery may be. A small microphone will record the signal from the artery in your wrist for about 5 minutes.
  • Several samples of blood (2 tablespoons) will be taken before you eat the high fat meal and when the second brachial test is completed. An indwelling IV needle may be inserted into your vein during this period so that individual needle sticks will not be needed.
  • DEXA scan. DEXA is a 4-5 minute x-ray body scan that provides accurate body fat mass measurements.If you are a woman who can have children, you will have a urine pregnancy test. If you are pregnant you will NOT be able to have the DEXA scan.
  • A dietician will assist you with food questionnaire about your usual diet.
  • A 4-week supply of study drug will be given to you with instructions on how to take it. Please bring any remaining study drug bottles with you to your next visit.

Visit 4: telephone call. You will also be asked about your ability and willingness to continue to take the study medicine until the end of the study.

We will also ask if you are having any new symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar such as hunger, shakiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty speaking, feeling anxious or weak.

You should notify the study team at any time by telephone to report these symptoms. You may be asked to come in for an extra visit if these are occurring.

Visits 5(day 1 and 2 final visits): (about 4 hours each day for 2 days)

  • Please be fasting and do not have alcohol or exercise for 48 hours prior to these visits. You may be asked to withhold some of your usual medicines on both days but bring the doses to the visit with you to take at a later time.

These 2 visits may be done on 2 consecutive mornings.

Visit 5 day 1

You will have a brachial artery ultrasound with nitroglycerine, a DEXA scan, a 2 hour GTT blood test with an indwelling IV needle in your vein, height, weight, blood pressure.

  • If you are a woman who can have children, you will be given a urine pregnancy test. If you are pregnant, you will NOT be able to have the DEXA scan that is part of this visit.

Visit 5 day 2

The brachial ultrasound will be repeated after a high fat meal is eaten which is provided by the study center.

You will have blood samples taken before and after the test and you will also meet with a dietitian for a final food questionnaire.

  • You will return any unused study drug bottles.
Being tested
Alpha lipoic acid at 3 doses compared to placebo
Keywords
Heart disease risk factors, Risk factor management, Pre-Diabetes, Hypertension, obesity, glucose intolerance, high cholesterol, abdominal obesity, enlarged waist
Medical subject headings
Metabolic Syndrome, Glucose Intolerance, Hypertension, Obesity, Hypercholesterolemia, Obesity, Abdominal

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Alpha lipoic acid at 3 doses compared to placeboDietary supplement

    This is a randomized study comparing the antioxidant effects of 3 doses of alpha lipoic acid (total of 600 mg daily, 1200 mg daily and 1800 mg daily) compared to placebo. These doses will be taken as 2 pills 3 times a day for 8 to 10 weeks.

Study groups in NCT00857376
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
placeboPlacebo comparatorPlacebo 2 tabs three times daily
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Alpha lipoic acid at 3 doses compared to placebo
Alpha lipoic acid 1ExperimentalAlpha lipoic acid 600 mg daily
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Alpha lipoic acid at 3 doses compared to placebo
Alpha lipoic acid 2ExperimentalAlpha Lipoic acid 1200 mg daily
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Alpha lipoic acid at 3 doses compared to placebo
Alpha lipoic acid 3ExperimentalAlpha lipoic acid 1800 mg daily
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Alpha lipoic acid at 3 doses compared to placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. This study will provide information on the effect of a dose range of ALA on oxidative stress biomarkers.

    Measured: 3 months

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. To determine whether ALA improves vascular function through its effects on oxidative stress

    Measured: 3 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Mar 2009 (estimated)
  2. Study startMar 2008
  3. Primary completionAug 2012
  4. Study completionSep 2012

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
77 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00857376
Sponsor's protocol ID
NA00016646
Other IDs
Grant # 1R21 AT003862-01A2
Acronym
Alpha
Status last verified
Sep 2012
First submitted
4 Mar 2009
Last updated
1 Oct 2012
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study of Metabolic Syndrome, run by Johns Hopkins University.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Oct 2012. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

This study will provide information on the effect of a dose range of ALA on oxidative stress biomarkers. (time frame: 3 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Oct 2012.

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