Active clinical trials for "Metabolic Diseases"

Around 10% has type 2 diabetes in Greenland, despite being a practically unknown disease only six decades ago. The drastic increase is of great concern, especially considering the transition that have occurred during the same decades going from a fisher-hunter lifestyle towards a more western lifestyle. Today, traditional marine foods are still increasingly being replaced by imported foods high in refined sugar (sucrose) and starch. Furthermore, recent studies discovered that the Greenlandic population harbors a different genetic architecture behind type 2 diabetes. Hence, obtaining more knowledge on interactions between lifestyle, genetics, and metabolism is therefore crucial in order to ameliorate the growing curve, or maybe even turn it around. Sucrose intolerance is in general rare; however, it is a common condition in Greenland and other Inuit populations. Here it is caused by a genetic variant in the sucrase-isomaltase (SI) gene, resulting in complete loss of enzyme function and hence an inability to digest sucrose and some of the glycosidic bonds in starch, both carbohydrates that are not part of the traditional Inuit diet. A recent, unpublished study found the variant to be associated with lower BMI, body fat percentage, bodyweight, and lipid levels independent of the lower intake of refined sugar. This might be explained by differences in the metabolism of carbohydrates and in the gut microbiota. The healthier phenotype was confirmed by a SI knockout mouse model, which furthermore interestingly indicated that the variant might alter food and taste preferences. It is anticipated that the drastic increase in type 2 diabetes in Greenland can be explained at least partly by the complex interaction between lifestyle and genetics. Therefore, the aim is to investigate if metabolic and microbial differences can explain the healthier phenotype of the homozygous carriers of the SI variant than wildtype individuals amd perform a 3-day cross-over dietary intervention using assigning subjects to a traditional Greenlandic diet and a Western diet. Moreover, the aim is to assess whether their food and taste preferences are different. The study will help us to understand the complex interactions between lifestyle, behavior, genetics, the microbiota and the host metabolism.

Rationale: Increased intakes of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), mainly found in fatty fish, are recommended for the prevention of coronary heart disease. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3n-3) is the most common vegetable-oil based n-3 fatty acid. Evidence exists that ALA supplementation can also have a protective effect on the development on cardiovascular disease, but may exert its cardio protective effects through different routes. The benefit may (partly) be due to blood pressure lowering. However, evidence for beneficial effects of ALA on blood pressure is conflicting. Therefore, we propose to investigate the effect of flaxseed oil, high in ALA, using a study powered on 24-hour blood pressure, in a population with high normal blood pressure and mild hypertension. Objective: To study the effects of flaxseed oil, rich in ALA on 24h-ambulatory mean arterial pressure (MAP) in men and women with high-normal blood pressure and mild hypertension compared to high oleic sunflower oil, poor in ALA. Study design: Using a double blind randomized, placebo-controlled parallel design, subjects will receive at random daily 10 g of flaxseed oil or a high-oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSF) as control for twelve weeks, with a run-in period of 14 days in advance. Study population: 72 men and women, aged 40-70 years, with untreated high-normal blood pressure and stage I hypertension and a body mass index between 25 and 35 kg/m2 will participate in the run-in and intervention period. It is estimated that 144 subject have to be screened to find 72 subjects that will enter the run-in period. Intervention: During the run-in period, subjects will receive daily 10 g of palm super olein oil. During the intervention period subjects receive either 10 g of HOSF or flaxseed oil. All oils are provided in bottles of 5 g, one will be consumed at breakfast or lunch and one at dinner. Main study parameters/endpoints: The main study parameter is the change in 24h-ambulatory mean arterial pressure (MAP)

This study examines the effect of meal frequency and meal composition on risk factors of cardiometabolic disease.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the use of alkali compounds, i.e. potassium citrate (K3C6H5O7, hereinafter KCitr) is effective in preventing the progression of osteopenia. A randomized clinical trial (RCT, placebo-controlled, double-blind) has been planned to evaluate the effect of the daily administration of KCitr (3 g/die, K 30 mEq). The efficacy will be evaluated by comparing the circulating levels of bone turnover markers at the baseline and after the treatment (3, 6 months).

The objectives of the proposed study are to assess whether the metabolic effects of walnut consumption depends on which food components the walnuts substitute (i.e. carbohydrates; saturated fatty acids) and whether it is important to consume walnuts as snacks or with meals.

The study hypothesis is that the bioactive compounds of sea buckthorn berries (Hippophaë rhamnoides), their fractions, and bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus). have positive effects on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and will thus reduce the risk of developing metabolic diseases.

The purpose of this open-label study is to assess liver iron concentration using MRI imaging in subjects with beta-thalassemia when administered with either SPD602 or deferasirox for the treatment of chronic transfusional iron overload.

Engraftment failure is a major obstacle to the success of cord blood transplantation in children with malignancies and inherited metabolic disorders, despite the fact that they receive relatively high doses of nucleated cells from UCB. TXA127 is pharmaceutically formulated Angiotensin 1-7 [A(1-7)], a non-hypertensive derivative of Angiotensin-II (which contains the 8th amino acid conferring receptor binding to blood pressure receptors). TXA127 has multilineage effects on hematopoietic progenitors in vitro and in vivo. Preclinical data show that TXA127 is a novel stimulator of early multilineage hematopoietic progenitors, increases engraftment of committed hematopoietic progenitors, and induces more rapid production of platelets and neutrophils in the peripheral circulation, especially in limited cell number transplants. Treatment with TXA127 following UCBT is expected to increase the numbers of hematopoietic progenitors and accelerate engraftment.

Background: The adrenal gland makes the hormone aldosterone. This helps regulate blood pressure. An adrenal gland tumor that makes too much aldosterone can cause high blood pressure and low potassium. The cause of these tumors is unknown, but sometimes they are inherited. Objective: To study the genes that may cause primary aldosteronism in Black individuals. Eligibility: People ages 18-70 who: Are Black, African American, or of Caribbean descent And have difficult to control blood pressure or primary aldosteronism Relatives of people with primary aldosteronism Design: Participants who are relatives of people with primary aldosteronism will have only 1 visit, with medical history and blood tests. Participants with primary aldosteronism or difficult to control blood pressure (suspected to possibly have primary aldosteronism) will be screened with a 1-2 hour visit. If they qualify, they will return for a hospital stay for 7-10 days. Tests may include: Medical history Physical exam Blood tests: Participants will have a small tube (IV catheter) inserted in a vein in the arm. They may drink a glucose-containing liquid or get a salt solution. If medically indicated, they may have invasive blood tests with a separate consent. Urine tests: Some require a high-salt diet for 3 days. Heart tests Scans: Participants lie in a machine that takes pictures of the body. A dye may be injected through a vein. Small hair sample taken from near the scalp. Kidney ultrasound Bone density scan: Participants lie on a table while a camera passes over the body. If the doctors feel it is medically necessary, they will offer participants treatment depending on their results. These treatments may cure the patient of their disease and may include: Having one adrenal gland removed by the Endocrine surgeon under anesthesia. Patients will have follow-up visits 2-4 weeks after surgery. Taking drugs to block the effects of aldosterone Participants may return about 1 year later to repeat testing.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether eight weeks of low-calorie sweetener (LCS) exposure exerts cardiovascular and/or metabolic effects among LCS-naïve overweight and obese adolescents and young adults. We will examine changes in gene expression in subcutaneous fat and will correlate these molecular changes with plasma biochemistry.