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ObesityNCT01894581

Effects of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Reproductive Hormones in Obese Women

A study testing LOVAZA and GnRH in people with Obesity and Fertility, run by University of Colorado, Denver at 1 site in United States.

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

The United States has the highest prevalence of obesity among all countries surveyed in 2012 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Maternal obesity is linked with anovulation, menstrual cycle abnormalities, subfertility, fetal loss, obstetrical complications and congenital anomalies. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 42 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Obesity, Fertility
What is being tested?
LOVAZA and GnRH
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
39 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jul 2014to Dec 2014
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 18 to 42 years
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18-42 at study entry
  • Regular menstrual cycles every 25-40 days
  • BMI at least 30 kg/m2 (obese) or between 18.5 and 25 kg/m2 (normal)
  • Good general health
  • Prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) within normal laboratory ranges at screening, baseline hemoglobin >11 gm/dl.

Who cannot join

  • Diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (by ultrasound or hyperandrogenic symptoms)
  • Fish or seafood allergy or hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylactic reaction) to omega-3-acid ethyl esters or any component of the formulation
  • Coagulopathy or receiving therapeutic anticoagulation (due to potential for interaction with omega-3 FA)
  • History of chronic disease affecting hormone production, metabolism or clearance (including diabetes mellitus)
  • Abnormal renal or liver function at screening
  • Current use of thiazolidinediones or metformin (known to interact with reproductive hormones)
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Use of hormones affecting hypothalamic output (HPO) axis (such as hormonal contraceptives) within three months of entry
  • Strenuous exercise (>4 hours of intense physical activity per week)
  • Pregnancy
  • Breast-feeding
  • Current active attempts to conceive
  • History of significant recent weight loss or gain

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus

    Aurora, Colorado, 80045

Other trials in United States

About this study

The United States has the highest prevalence of obesity among all countries surveyed in 2012 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Maternal obesity is linked with anovulation, menstrual cycle abnormalities, subfertility, fetal loss, obstetrical complications and congenital anomalies. Changes in reproductive hormones and diminished oocyte quality have also been demonstrated. A gap of knowledge exists as the mechanisms underlying these harmful effects are poorly understood and no specific treatments exist.

This proposal will test the hypothesis that dietary omega-3 fatty acids (FA) will improve the output of hypothalamicpituitary- ovarian axis in obese women. The investigators will perform paired assessments before and after supplementation in 10 obese and 10 normal weight women. To test the pituitary and hypothalamic output, the investigators will examine the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) responsiveness during frequent blood sampling. To test the corpus luteum function, the investigators will examine urinary reproductive hormones (E1c, estrone conjugates, and pregnanediol glucuronide (Pdg)) over an entire menstrual cycle. The investigators ultimate goal is to collect preliminary data for an adequately powered randomized control trial.

Conditions
Obesity, Fertility
Being tested
LOVAZA, GnRH
Medical subject headings
Obesity

What participants receive

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

  • LOVAZADietary supplement

    Also called Omega-3-acid ethyl esters

    Subjects will be instructed to take 2 grams twice daily of oral omega-3-acid ethyl esters (Lovaza) starting with day 1 to 3 of their menstrual period. Each capsule contains 60mg of other omega-3 FA. On day 1 of their subsequent menstrual period, subjects will be instructed to discontinue.

  • GnRHDrug

    Also called Gonadorelin (GnRH)

    An intravenous bolus of exogenous GnRH (75 ng/kg dosing based on total body weight) will be administered at 6 hours.

Study groups in NCT01894581
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Obese WomenExperimentalWomen with a BMI of greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 underwent all study interventions, including taking 5 g daily of LOVAZA. Women underwent 8 hours of frequent blood sampling every 10 minutes both at baseline and after LOVAZA supplementation. Each frequent blood sampling included IV administration of GnRH at 6 hours.
Receives: Dietary Supplement: LOVAZA; Drug: GnRH
Normal WeightActive comparatorWomen with a BMI of between 18-25 kg/m2 underwent all study interventions, including taking 5 g daily of LOVAZA for one cycle. Women underwent 8 hours of frequent blood sampling every 10 minutes both at baseline and after LOVAZA supplementation. Each frequent blood sampling included IV administration of GnRH at 6 hours.
Receives: Dietary Supplement: LOVAZA; Drug: GnRH

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in the Average LH Pulse Amplitude

    To test the pituitary and hypothalamic output, we examined LH secretion (unstimulated and in response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation) during 8-hour blood sampling studies at 10 min intervals. The primary outcome measure is the change in the average LH pulse amplitude for each patient from baseline to after supplementation.

    Measured: 10 minute intervals during 8 hour blood sampling studies. Subjects will undergo two menstrual cycles of study, one prior to dietary supplementation and one after supplementation.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted10 Jul 2013 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2014
  3. Primary completionDec 2014
  4. Study completionDec 2014

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 N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
39 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01894581
Sponsor's protocol ID
13-1420
Other IDs
U54HD058155-05
Status last verified
Dec 2016
First submitted
3 Jul 2013
Last updated
2 Feb 2017
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Bauer JL, Kuhn K, Bradford AP, Al-Safi ZA, Harris MA, Eckel RH, Robledo CY, Malkhasyan A, Johnson J, Gee NR, Polotsky AJ. Reduction in FSH Throughout the Menstrual Cycle After Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Young Normal Weight but not Obese Women. Reprod Sci. 2019 Aug;26(8):1025-1033. doi: 10.1177/1933719119828099. Epub 2019 Feb 17.

    PubMed 30773100
  • Al-Safi ZA, Liu H, Carlson NE, Chosich J, Harris M, Bradford AP, Robledo C, Eckel RH, Polotsky AJ. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Lowers Serum FSH in Normal Weight But Not Obese Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Jan;101(1):324-33. doi: 10.1210/jc.2015-2913. Epub 2015 Nov 2.

    PubMed 26523525

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing LOVAZA and GnRH in people with Obesity and Fertility, run by University of Colorado, Denver at 1 site in United States.

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 5 inclusion and 12 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 2 Feb 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

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

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 13 Jul 2016). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Change in the Average LH Pulse Amplitude (time frame: 10 minute intervals during 8 hour blood sampling studies. Subjects will undergo two menstrual cycles of study, one prior to dietary supplementation and one after supplementation.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01894581, which also lists 2 linked publications.

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 2 Feb 2017.

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