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NCT Number: NCT00968747

Regulation of FGF21 by Nutritional Challenges

The purpose of this study is to examine how acute nutritional challenges affect levels of several proteins involved in metabolism. These proteins will be measured in blood and fat tissue.

This study will have several aims.

One aim is to examine the effect of 72 hours of fasting on fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) levels. Participants will spend 3 days and nights in the Clinical Research Center at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA. Daily blood samples will be taken. Two fat samples will be taken prior to and at the end of the fast. A subset of participants will also have two MRIs, one prior to and one at the end of the fast. We will study healthy adults and obese adults with liver-biopsy-diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). THIS STUDY ARM IS CURRENTLY NOT RECRUITING

Another aim is to examine the effect of low-calorie diet on FGF-21 levels. Subjects will follow a hypocaloric diet that will be designed to achieve 3-5% weight loss. We will enroll participants with liver-biopsy-diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Participants will report weekly to the Clinical Research Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for weight measurements. Blood will be drawn before and after the weight loss. Participants will also have an MRI before and after the weight loss.

THIS ARM IS CURRENTLY NOT RECRUITING

Another aim of the study is to examine the effect of acute ingestion of glucose, fructose, and other sugars on serum FGF21 levels. Subjects in this study will be lean volunteers and individuals with metabolic syndrome.

THIS ARM IS CURRENTLY RECRUITING

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Key information

Conditions

Fasting Behavior Digestive System Diseases Fatty Liver Feeding Behavior Liver Diseases Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Platelet Glycoprotein IV Deficiency

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

About this study

Participation in this study involves fasting overnight, drinking a sweet beverage, and several blood draws through an IV line. Each subject may drink up to 5 different sweet beverages, separated by 2 weeks.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

72-hour fast in healthy volunteers (Study Arm A):

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-50 years
  • Body Mass Index 21-26 kg/m^2
  • Ability to give informed consent
  • Ability to follow verbal and written instructions in English

Exclusion criteria

  • Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosed according to the American Diabetes Association criteria
  • Coronary heart disease (history of myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, or congestive heart failure)
  • Tobacco, marijuana, or intravenous drug use within 1 year of screening visit
  • Recent weight change (>3 kg within 6 months of screening visit)
  • Malignancy treated with chemotherapy within past 3 years
  • History of depression, psychosis, or other psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization
  • History of hyperthyroidism
  • Renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min)
  • Transaminases > 2X above the normal range
  • Known liver disease
  • Pregnancy within 12 months of screening visit
  • Lactation within 12 months of screening visit
  • Failure to use medically approved contraceptive methods (oral contraceptive, 2 barrier methods, surgical sterilization)
  • History of an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, or laxative abuse)
  • History of surgery for the treatment of obesity (gastric banding, gastric bypass, gastric stapling)
  • New diagnosis of hypothyroidism within 1 year of screening visit or change in dose of thyroid hormone within 3 months of screening visit
  • History of alcohol abuse within the past 3 years
  • History of keloid formation
  • History of allergy to lidocaine or marcaine
  • Use of plavix, coumadin, or heparin

72-hour fast or hypocaloric diet in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (Study Arms B & C):

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-60
  • BMI 25-45 kg/m^2
  • Known nonalcoholic fatty liver disease based on liver biopsy
  • Ability to give informed consent
  • Ability to follow verbal and written instructions in English

Exclusion criteria

  • Type I diabetes mellitus diagnosed according to the American Diabetes Association criteria or Type II diabetes mellitus with A1c > 7.5% or taking metformin or thiazolidinediones
  • Coronary Heart Disease (history of myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, or congestive heart failure)
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (BP > 150/90 mmHg on or off antihypertensive medication)
  • Tobacco, marijuana, or intravenous drug use within 1 year of screening visit
  • Recent weight change (> 3 kg within 6 months of screening visit)
  • Malignancy treated with chemotherapy within the past 3 years
  • History of depression, psychosis, or other psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization
  • History of hypo or hyperthyroidism
  • Renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min)
  • Pregnancy within 12 months of screening visit
  • Lactation within 12 months of screening visit
  • Failure to use medically approved contraceptive methods (oral contraceptive, 2 barrier methods, surgical sterilization)
  • History of an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, or laxative abuse)
  • History of surgery for the treatment of obesity (gastric banding, gastric bypass, gastric stapling)
  • New diagnosis of hypo or hyperthyroidism within 1 year of screening visit or change in dose of thyroid hormone within 3 months of screening visit
  • History of alcohol abuse within the past 3 years
  • Cardiac pacemaker or aneurysm clips
  • Metal implants in the body (pins, plates, shrapnel, intact bullets, IUD)
  • Claustrophobia

Treatment and study plan

Fasting

Behavioral

Participants will fast for 72 hours and may consume only water and vitamins.

Diet

Behavioral

Participants will follow a low-calorie diet until they lose 3-5% of their body weight.

oral carbohydrate challenge

Dietary Supplement

Participants will fast for 16 hours and then drink a beverage containing glucose, fructose or a mixture of both

Primary outcomes

  1. Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 levels in serum and fat

    Time frame: before and after dietary intervention

    Change in FGF21 levels following nutritional intervention.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Polymerase 1 and Transcript Release Factor levels in fat

    Time frame: Prior to fasting and at the end of the 72-hour fast in healthy participants and participants with NAFLD

  2. Urine and serum ketosis

    Time frame: Daily during the 72-hour fast for healthy participants and participants with NAFLD

  3. Hepatic fat content

    Time frame: Before and after the 72-hour fast or hypocaloric diet in participants with NAFLD

  4. change in serum triglyceride levels

    Time frame: following fructose and glucose ingestion

  5. change in glucose and insulin levels

    Time frame: following fructose and glucose ingestion

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Acute Nutritional Challenges on FGF21 Levels in Humans

Important dates

Study start
2009
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Aug 31, 2009
Registry last updated
Aug 14, 2023

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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