Active clinical trials for "Metabolic Syndrome"

The investigators previously characterized a phenotype with non-suppressed glucagon at 120 minutes after standardized oral glucose load. This phenotype is associated with healthy metabolic traits such as lower BMI, higher insulin sensitivity and lower liver fat content. Glucagon is a pleiotropic hormone that, besides its main action on increasing endogenous glucose production, also reduces appetite and increases basal energy expenditure. The aims of this study are to i. detect functional differences in the appetite-related central nervous system (CNS) areas between the suppressed and non-suppressed glucagon phenotype ii. mimick the non-suppressed glucagon phenotype in those participants who suppress glucagon by administering a very-low-dose glucagon infusion and retest them.

The investigators examined the effects of 4-week dietary protein intake in mixed meals at two levels of protein amount on whole body glucose metabolisms in older adults with metabolic syndrome.

The objective of this study is to identify insulin-specific cerebral blood flow (CBF) control mechanisms, and establish cerebrovascular responsive baseline in younger (18-45 yrs) metabolic syndrome adults (MetSyn) who are at substantial risk of stroke and other types of cardiovascular mortality even if they never develop diabetes. The central hypothesis is that vasodilator actions of insulin are impaired in MetSyn due to loss of dilator and gain of constrictor signals. This study will focus on 2 mechanisms that likely limit CBF in MetSyn: 1) Disruption of nitric oxide (NO) vasodilation, and 2) Exaggerated endothelin (ET-1) constriction. Three specific aims will be addressed: Aim 1: To test the hypothesis that physiologic surges of insulin acutely increase CBF in young adults, but adults with MetSyn exhibit paradoxical insulin-mediated vasoconstriction. Aim 2: To test the hypotheses that key mechanisms responsible for poor CBF in MetSyn are shifts in NO and ET-1 signaling. Specifically, in healthy controls, NO mediates robust dilation, with little to no ET-1 constriction. In contrast, adults with MetSyn exhibit uncoupled NO synthase (NOS) and exaggerated ET-1 constriction. Aim 3: To test the hypothesis that insulin regulation of CBF is regionally distinct (e.g. Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) reactive than Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA) or basilar), and the negative effects of insulin resistance (IR) are similarly regionally specific.

The objectives of this proposal are to address the gaps in knowledge regarding the metabolic effects of consuming orange juice, the most frequently consumed fruit juice in this country, compared to sugar-sweetened beverage.

HDL in obese non-diabetic patients show major alterations in their function and thus their cardio-protective effects. These alterations could be explained by the quantitative and qualitative anomalies in the phospholipids and sphingolipids in the HDL. These molecules play a major role in HDL function and probably present early modifications in obesity, even before the onset of glycaemia deregulation. The aim of this study is to show the presence of qualitative and quantitative modifications of phospholipids and sphingolipids in HDL from obese patients compared with HDL from non-obese controls.

There is an ongoing and worsening problem with obesity in the developed, and much of the developing world. Although it has long been realized that Western diets that are rich in sugar and fat play an important role in this, it has only recently been realized that exposure to these diets, particularly in childhood, can damage the part of the brain that determines how much fat there is in the body. The result of this damage is that the so-called "set-point" for fat in this part of the brain is pushed upwards. There is a lot of evidence from animals that activating the brain's balance (vestibular) system pushes this set-point for fat downwards to cause fat loss, probably because this "tricks" the brain into thinking that there is increased physical activity. The aim of this study is to see whether non-invasive electrical stimulation of the vestibular system in human participants causes a change in metabolism of fat and/or energy expenditure, which, if regulated upwards, would suggest this could be used as a means of reducing body fat in humans.

The objective of this trial is to compare the effects of a healthy, lean beef diet and an average American, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) style diet, that is low in saturated fatty acids (SFA), on insulin sensitivity in men and women with risk factors for diabetes mellitus.

10 healthy male volunteers will be studied after a 6 day weight maintenance, balanced diet a 6 days weight maintenance, balanced diet supplemented with 3 grams fructose/kg body weight/day a 6 days weight maintenance, balanced diet supplemented with 3 grams fructose/kg body weight/day and 20g amino-acids per day At the end of each 6 days period, the following measurements will be obtained intrahepatic lipids (1H-MRS) metabolic effects of fructose ingestion (measurement of substrate oxidation, gluconeogenesis from fructose, palmitate synthesis from fructose, plasma VLDL-kinetics) This is a randomized, double blinded study

This study will test the hypothesis that reducing the release of free fatty acids (FFA) from fat cells will restore insulin-mediated, endothelium-dependent vasodilation in people with the metabolic syndrome.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages on blood triglycerides and cholesterol, cholesterol concentrations, and the body's sensitivity to insulin.