Niacin, N-3 Fatty Acids and Insulin Resistance

Metabolic Syndrome Clinical Trial

Official title:

Niacin, N-3 Fatty Acids and Insulin Resistance

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00286234
• Other study ID #: DK61486 (completed)
• Secondary ID: R01DK061486
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Start date: October 2007
• Est. completion date: December 2008

Study information

• Verified date: September 2021
• Source: University of South Dakota
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This research study is being conducted to test the effects of two drugs on blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) and blood sugar (glucose) levels in patients with diabetes or "pre-diabetes" (both of which have a condition called "insulin-resistance"). These products are Niaspan (extended release nicotinic acid) and Omacor (omega-3 acid ethyl esters). We hypothesize that the combination of Niaspan and Omacor will reduce serum triglyceride levels, increase HDL-cholesterol levels and do so without altering glucose levels.

Description:

The insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) afflicts approximately 25% of the US adult population. Its principal components include some or all of the following: central obesity, elevated triglyceride levels, decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, a preponderance of small, dense low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and increased thrombotic tendency. Subjects with the IRS are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes and/or coronary heart disease (CHD). While lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) often improve many of the manifestations of the IRS, pharmacotherapy is often needed to normalize individual components.

In recent studies from our laboratory, niacin and fish oil (n-3 fatty acids, FA) used in combination in insulin resistant individuals led to an expected improved the lipid phenotype (reduced triglycerides, increased HDL-C, and fewer, small, dense LDL particles). What was not expected, however, was that an important marker of adipose tissue insulin resistance - meal-induced suppression of free fatty acid (FFA) flux - would be improved as well. Further, knowing that these agents (given as monotherapy) have been reported to worsen glycemia in diabetic subjects, we were surprised to find no significant deterioration in glycemic control. Further preliminary studies in patients with poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes confirmed the ability of this combination of over-the-counter natural agents to significantly improve the lipid profile without adverse effects on glycemia.

Our working hypothesis is that excessive FFA flux from adipose tissue raises serum triglyceride concentrations and leads to other manifestations of the IRS. FFA flux is chronically elevated in insulin resistant subjects due to the insensitivity (i.e., resistance) of their adipocytes to the anti-lipolytic effects of insulin. Released FFA (especially from visceral adipose depots) stimulate hepatic triglyceride synthesis, leading to elevated serum triglyceride levels which subsequently contribute to reduced HDL-C and increased small, dense LDL concentrations. In addition, a high FFA flux can interfere with whole body glucose disposal. If this hypothesis is true, then interventions that improve adipocyte insulin sensitivity may be expected to improve a spectrum of risk factors associated with the insulin resistant state.

Since our preliminary studies support this hypothesis, we propose the following four specific aims which will be tested in a 4-arm, randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial:

Specific Aim 1. To test the hypothesis that n-3 FA and niacin (given singly and in combination) will enhance insulin-mediated suppression of FFA rate of appearance (Ra; a surrogate for adipose tissue insulin sensitivity) in insulin resistant subjects.

Specific Aim 2. To test the hypothesis that n-3 FA and niacin (given singly and in combination) will improve insulin sensitivity in insulin resistant subjects.

Specific Aim 3. To test the hypothesis that n-3 FA and niacin (given singly and in combination) will reduce VLDL-triglyceride production rates in insulin resistant subjects.

Specific Aim 4. To test the hypothesis that n-3 FA and niacin (given singly and in combination) will improve the dyslipidemic profile (i.e., reduce serum triglyceride and small, dense LDL concentrations and elevate HDL-C concentrations) in insulin resistant subjects.

At the completion of these studies, we expect to have detailed information on the potential therapeutic efficacy and the kinetic mechanism of action of combined treatment with n-3 FA and niacin. A better understanding of the action of these agents should lead to a clearer appreciation of the relationship between FFA flux and insulin resistance, to more effective therapy for the dyslipidemia of insulin resistance and ultimately to reduced risk for CAD in this burgeoning patient population.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 68
• Est. completion date: December 2008
• Est. primary completion date: August 2008
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 40 Years to 69 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

40 and 69 years of age Male or female (without hormonal cycling as described below) BMI > 25 Fasting serum triglycerides > 150 mg/dL Ratio of TG/HDL-C > 3.5

Exclusion Criteria:

BMIs > 40 kg/m2 TG > 750 mg/dL HDL-C < 10 mg/dL Presence of other secondary causes of dyslipidemia or hyperglycemia such as hepatic, renal, thyroid or other endocrine diseases History of hypersensitivity to niacin or fish oils History of gout, hepatitis, peptic ulcer or cardiovascular disease Presence of diabetes mellitus, whether controlled by diet or drugs. (We will eliminate subjects with undiagnosed diabetes by screening for fasting glucose > 126 mg/dL) Use of any dietary supplements providing more than 50 mg of niacin or 100 mg of n-3 FA Use of any herbal preparations or weight-loss products Taking any lipid-lowering drugs for at least four weeks prior to screening for the study Medically-required treatment with nitrates, calcium channel blockers, or adrenergic blocking agents (per the Niaspan package insert) Hemoglobin < 12 g/dL (owing to the significant amount of blood being drawn) LDL-C > 145 mg/dL. (This restriction will prevent the randomization of any subject whose LDL-C levels, if assigned to an n-3 FA group, might rise by 10% and thus exceed 160 mg/dL) Known substance abuse Participation in a clinical drug trial anytime during the 30 days prior to screening Anyone whom the investigators judge to be a poor candidate

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hypertriglyceridemia
• Insulin Resistance
• Metabolic Syndrome

Intervention

Drug:
• omega-3 acid ethyl esters
4 q qd
• extended release niacin
2 g qpm
• placebo
omacor placebo plus niaspan placebo
• omega-3 acid ethyl esters
4 g qd
• combined treatment
omega-3 acid ethyl esters 4 g qd and extended release niacin, titrate up to 2 g Qpm

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Sanford Clinic Clinical Research Services	Sioux Falls	South Dakota

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of South Dakota	National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Serum TG	Change From Baseline to 4 Months in Serum Triglycerides	4 months
Secondary	Non-HDL-C	Change From Baseline to 4 Months in Serum Non-HDL cholesterol	baseline and 4 months

External Links

•   Abstract to Published Paper