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NCT Number: NCT00917449

Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by L-Arginine in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

Aim

The principal objective of this project is:

• To evaluate the efficacy of long term (18 months) L-Arginine therapy in preventing or delaying clinical onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and Metabolic Syndrome.

Secondary end points are:

1. To define if a long term treatment with L-arginine is able to ameliorate insulin sensitivity and endothelial dysfunction in this population. 2. To find new risk profiles and candidate genes able to define the sub-group of patients at higher risk to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methodology This is a double blind, parallel, one centre study to determine if long term oral L-arginine administration is able to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with Metabolic Syndrome. Two hundred and ninety four subjects were recruited at the Cardio-Metabolic and Clinical Trials Unit of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute. One hundred and forty two patients were randomized to enter the study and assigned to two arms: oral L-arginine (6.4 g/die) or placebo, in addition to diet and physical exercise. The treatment were maintained for 18 months. Visits were performed every 3 months for clinical evaluation, blood samples, treatment supply and collection of data on adverse events. Furthermore, patients were contacted every month by telephone to evaluate the accurate continuation of the study and they were instructed to phone to the centre in case of possible adverse events.

An OGTT were performed before the enter into the study and at the end of the study period. An additional OGTT were performed at an intermediate visit if fasting glucose levels were more than 126 mg/dl. A diabetic response caused the end-point of the patient. Metabolic, hormonal and endothelial activation and inflammation parameters were measured. Evaluation of endothelium-mediated and non-endothelium-mediated vasodilatation were performed by strain gauche plethysmography evaluating forearm blood at the basal state. in post-ischemic conditions and after nitroglycerine administration.

Before the enter into the study, an additional blood sample were drawn for DNA extraction and candidate genes variants evaluation. Before the enter into the study and at the end of the study period, gene expression for inflammation were measured on mRNA extraction on endothelial progenitor cells.

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Key information

Conditions

Metabolic Syndrome Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Endocrine System Diseases Endothelial Dysfunction Glucose Intolerance Glucose Metabolism Disorders Hyperglycemia Hyperinsulinism Impaired Glucose Tolerance Insulin Resistance Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Age range

35 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Scientific Institute San Raffaele

Milan, 20132, Italy

About this study

This is a double blind, parallel, one centre study to determine if long term oral L-arginine administration is able to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with IGT and Metabolic Syndrome. Two hundred and ninety four subjects were recruited at the CardioMetabolic and Clinical Trials Unit of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute. One hundred and fourty two patients were randomized to enter the study. Patients were randomly assigned to two arms: oral L-arginine (6.4 g/die) or placebo in blind scheme. The treatment were maintained for 18 months. Visits will be performed every 3 months for clinical evaluation, blood samples, treatment supply and collect data on adverse events, if any. Furthermore, patients were contacted every month by telephone to evaluate the accurate continuation of the study and they were instructed to phone to the centre in case of possible adverse events.

Inclusion criteria

  • Written informed consent must be obtained before any procedure of the study is done.
  • Male or Female aged more than 35 years.
  • Diagnosis of IGT after a standard Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT, 75 g)
  • Moreover, in order to be considered affected by Metabolic Syndrome, they must have two or more of the following criteria:
  • Abdominal obesity (waist>120 cm for man, >88 cm for women)
  • Hypertriglyceridemia (>150 mg/dl)
  • Low HDL cholesterol (<40mg/dl in man, <50 mg/dl in woman)
  • Hypertension (>130 / >85 mmHg) Exclusion criteria
  • Presence of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • Fasting glucose levels >126 mg/dl
  • Sitting Systolic Arterial Pressure >140mmHg, and Sitting Diastolic Arterial Pressure >90mmHg
  • Pregnancy
  • Known renal insufficiency or creatinine levels more than 1.8 mg/dl,
  • Presence of chronic hepatopathy or levels of ALT and AST more than two standard deviations from normality levels
  • Presence of malignancy
  • Abuse of alcohol or abuse substances
  • Psychiatric disorders

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Written informed consent must be obtained before any procedure of the study is done.
  • Male or Female aged more than 35 years.
  • Diagnosis of IGT after a standard Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT, 75 g)
  • Moreover, in order to be considered affected by Metabolic Syndrome, they must have two or more of the following criteria:
  • Abdominal obesity (waist>120 cm for man, >88 cm for women)
  • Hypertriglyceridemia (>150 mg/dl)
  • Low HDL cholesterol (<40mg/dl in man, <50 mg/dl in woman)
  • Hypertension (>130 / >85 mmHg)

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • Fasting glucose levels >126 mg/dl
  • Sitting Systolic Arterial Pressure >140mmHg, and Sitting Diastolic Arterial Pressure >90mmHg
  • Pregnancy
  • Known renal insufficiency or creatinine levels more than 1.8 mg/dl,
  • Presence of chronic hepatopathy or levels of ALT and AST more than two standard deviations from normality levels
  • Presence of malignancy
  • Abuse of alcohol or abuse substances
  • Psychiatric disorders

Treatment and study plan

L-arginine

Drug

Oral L-arginine (3.2 gr bid)for 18 months

Other names: bioarginine

Placebo

Drug

Oral Placebo BID for 18 months

Primary outcomes

  1. To evaluate the efficacy of long term (18 months) L-Arginine therapy in preventing or delaying clinical onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and Metabolic Syndrome.

    Time frame: 18 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Define if the treatment with L-arginine can ameliorate insulin sensitivity and endothelial dysfunction and find new risk profiles and candidate genes able to characterize the sub-group of patients at higher risk to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    Time frame: 18 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

IRCCS San Raffaele

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Interventional Pharmacological Study With L-Arginine in the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

Acronym: L-arginine

Important dates

Study start
2005
Primary completion
2009
Study completion
2009
First posted
Jun 10, 2009
Registry last updated
Jun 10, 2009

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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