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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03697928

Markers of Carnitine Acetyltransferase (CrAT) Protein Activity and Carnitine Availability

This study aims to measure skeletal muscle metabolism in vivo during exercise using the non-invasive Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) technique. Specifically, phosphocreatine (PCr) kinetic and Acetylcarnitine levels will be determined at resting, during exercise and during the recovery post exercise. The target population is adult healthy men, with a wide range of maximal physical capacity.

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Key information

Conditions

Metabolism and Nutrition Disorder Disease Attributes Disease Progression Metabolic Disturbance Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Pathologic Complete Response Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Maastricht University

Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

About this study

Skeletal muscle mitochondrial activation during the transition from resting metabolism to exercise may modulated by CrAT activity. Furthermore, dynamic changes in acetylcarnitine during the transition from exercise to resting metabolism (acetylcarnitine off-kinetic) may also reflect the action of CrAT protein. To date, the only possibility to get information on CrAT activity is by taking a muscle biopsy and perform enzyme activity assays ex vivo. By dynamic MRS scanning, it might be possible to deduce information that reflects CrAT activity, thereby making the biopsy sampling unnecessary.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Males, Generally healthy
  • Age 18-40 years old
  • BMI 18 - 25 kg/m2
  • No medication use that interfere with the aims of the study
  • Stable level of daily physical activity or training for at least 6 months

Exclusion criteria

  • Females
  • Regular smokers, drug abuse
  • Participation in other studies
  • Weight gain/loss > 3 kg in the last 6 months
  • Contraindications for MRS scans:
  • Vegetarian eating behavior

Treatment and study plan

Exercise metabolism

Other

Participants will perform a series of exercises inside and outside the MRS/MRI scanner.

Primary outcomes

  1. Skeletal muscle PCr on-kinetic during exercise and carnitine acetyltransferase (CrAT) protein content/activity

    Time frame: MRS+Exercise test day 2

    The correlation between skeletal muscle PCr on-kinetic during one-legged exercise and CrAT protein activity will be determined.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine recovery after one-legged exercise and carnitine acetyltransferase (CrAT) protein content/activity

    Time frame: MRS+Exercise test day 2

    The correlation between skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine off-kinetic after one-legged exercise and CrAT protein activity will be determined.

  2. Skeletal muscle CrAT protein activity, from muscle biopsy, and PCr breakdown rate during one-legged exercise

    Time frame: MRS+Exercise test day 1

    The correlation between CrAT protein activity and PCr hydrolysis/breakdown will be determined

  3. Skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine formation capacity upon exercise and total carnitine availability in skeletal muscle

    Time frame: MRS+Exercise test day 2

    The correlation between acetylcarnitine formation upon exercise and total carnitine availability will be determined

  4. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in vitro

    Time frame: MRS+Exercise test day 2

    The association between Skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in vitro and in vivo

  5. Skeletal muscle oxygen availability

    Time frame: MRS test day 1

    in vivo assessment of oxygen availability in muscle tissue upon hypoxic stimulus during resting

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Maastricht University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Searching for Non-invasive Magnetic Resonance-based Markers for CrAT Protein Activity and Carnitine Availability in Skeletal Muscle

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Oct 5, 2018
Registry last updated
Oct 19, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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