NCT00592072

Brief Summary

At present, there are no therapeutic agents that can minimize severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and its effects on long-term brain function. The aim of this study is to determine whether the human brain is able to use medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) and/or their metabolites as an alternative fuel source during acute hypoglycemia in patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). The hypothesis is that medium chain fatty acids will provide a rapidly absorbed, non-carbohydrate fuel that will improve cognitive performance during episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar.)

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
12

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2005

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 1, 2005

Completed
2.5 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

December 26, 2007

Completed
16 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 11, 2008

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 1, 2008

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 1, 2008

Completed
6.5 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

January 5, 2015

Completed
Last Updated

January 22, 2015

Status Verified

January 1, 2015

Enrollment Period

3 years

First QC Date

December 26, 2007

Results QC Date

February 4, 2013

Last Update Submit

January 8, 2015

Conditions

Keywords

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1Medium Chain Fatty AcidHypoglycemia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (9)

  • Immediate Verbal Memory

    Results of cognitive function in diabetic patients using tests such as digit symbol substitution (a test of memory), tests of everyday attention, telephone book searching and map searching during either administration of medium chain triglyceride oil or a control solution. The goal was to determine whether the human brain is able to use medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) and /or their metabolites as an alternative fuel source and thus improve brain function during acute hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes. The lowest score is 0 and the highest score is 25. A higher score is an improvement.

    90 minutes

  • Delayed Verbal Memory

    The highest score is 25 and the lowest score is 0. The higher scored indicate an improvement.

    90 minutes

  • Verbal Memory Recognition

    The highest score is 15. The lowest score is 0. Higher scores indicate an improvement.

    90 minutes

  • Digit Span Backward

    The highest score is 35. The lowest score is 0. The higher the score indicates an improvement.

    90 minutes

  • Letter/Number Sequencing

    The highest score is 21. The lowest score is 0. Higher scores indicate an improvement.

    90 minutes

  • Digit Symbol Coding

    The highest score is 133. The lowest score is 0. Higher scores indicate an improvement.

    90 minutes

  • Map Search (2min)

    The highest score is 80. The lowest score is 0. Higher scores indicate an improvement.

    90 minutes

  • Map Search (1min)

    The highest score is 80. The lowest score is 0. Higher scores indicate an improvement.

    90 minutes

  • Telephone Search

    This is a ratio of how many symbols are found during a certain period of time. The highest ratio is the best result.

    90 minutes

Study Arms (2)

Medium chain fatty acid (Octanoic and Decanoic acid)

EXPERIMENTAL
Dietary Supplement: Medium chain fatty acid (Octanoic and Decanoic acid)

Splenda (Placebo Control)

PLACEBO COMPARATOR
Other: Splenda (Placebo Control)

Interventions

Octanoic acid(67%) and Decanoic acid (27%); MCFA 50g total at 25 minute intervals with front loading of 20g then 10g for three administrations.

Also known as: Medium Chain Triglycerides, Octanoic and Decanoic acid, Fractionated coconut oil
Medium chain fatty acid (Octanoic and Decanoic acid)

Placebo drink will consist of dietary sweetener Splenda mixed in water at a concentration of 1g/100mL. An unsweetened cherry flavor Koolaid mix will be added at a concentration of 0.3g/100mL of the Splenda drink to enhance flavor.

Splenda (Placebo Control)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 55 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus for greater than 5 years (C-peptide negative)
  • Age 18-55 years
  • Subject is on intensive insulin therapy resulting in a Hemoglobin A1c of less than 7.5%
  • History of frequent hypoglycemic events as defined as having at least one blood glucose of less than 60 mg/dl in the last four weeks

You may not qualify if:

  • History of hypoglycemia induced seizures
  • Pregnancy
  • Significant baseline anemia (hemoglobin \< 11.0g/dl or hematocrit \< 33%)
  • A history of liver cirrhosis or porto-caval shunt surgery

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Yale University School of Medicine

New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1Hypoglycemia

Interventions

decanoic acidtrichlorosucrose

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Diabetes MellitusGlucose Metabolism DisordersMetabolic DiseasesNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesEndocrine System DiseasesAutoimmune DiseasesImmune System Diseases

Limitations and Caveats

No technical limitations were seen.

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr Robert Sherwin
Organization
Yale School of Medicine

Study Officials

  • Robert Sherwin, M.D.

    Yale University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
Yes

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

December 26, 2007

First Posted

January 11, 2008

Study Start

July 1, 2005

Primary Completion

July 1, 2008

Study Completion

July 1, 2008

Last Updated

January 22, 2015

Results First Posted

January 5, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-01

Locations