NCT01244399

Brief Summary

Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) are multifactorial (genetic/environmental) diseases that arise from failure of embryonic neural tube closure. Several studies have demonstrated that periconceptional administration of folic acid can prevent approximately 70% of all NTDs cases. The finding of several NTDs cases in a single family, despite prophylactic therapy with folic acid, suggested that a proportion of human NTDs are folate-resistant. So far, no preventive therapy for folate-resistant NTDs is available. Studies performed on folate-resistant NTDs animal models have shown that inositol is effective in preventing NTDs occurrence. Preliminary results in patients with at least two previous pregnancies affected by NTDs, despite folic acid supplementation, indicate that periconceptional treatment with 500 mg/day of inositol (three months before conception and two months after) is able to prevent NTDs recurrence in humans. Recently, caffeine intake (more than 10 mg/day) has been associated with an increased risk of NTDs, especially for subgroups of people that carry genetic variants for enzymes involved in caffeine metabolism. The teratogenic effects of caffeine are known since the 70s. Indeed, gynecologists suggest to pregnant women to avoid/reduce caffeine intake. It is still unknown, however, whether pre-conception caffeine intake interferes with prophylactic therapy for NTDs. In the proposed study, we aim to evaluate the effect of "espresso" consumption (corresponding to about 100 mg caffeine) on the pharmacokinetics of oral administered myo-inositol (MI), in order to highlight any possible negative effects of caffeine on MI adsorption and excretion before conception. The study will consist of two phases and will be carried on twelve healthy volunteers. During phase 1, volunteers will be kept for 15 days under inositol-poor diet; at the end of this period, 20 g of MI will be administrated in a single dose. Basal levels of serum and urinary concentration will be evaluated before MI administration (t0); subsequently, sampling will be performed 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after MI administration. Phase 2 will consist of 15 additional days of inositol-poor diet: basal levels of MI will be again measured before MI administration. In phase 2, MI administration will be concomitant to caffeine exposure through single"espresso" consumption. Samples will be collected at the same time points as in phase 1.

Trial Health

80
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
12

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for all trials

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

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 1, 2010

Completed
17 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 18, 2010

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 19, 2010

Completed
Last Updated

July 20, 2023

Status Verified

June 1, 2011

First QC Date

November 18, 2010

Last Update Submit

July 19, 2023

Conditions

Keywords

inositolcaffeineNTDs

Interventions

InositolDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

Age20 Years - 40 Years
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

Volunteers

You may qualify if:

  • BMI 18 to 24

You may not qualify if:

  • on going pregnancies
  • pharmacological treatment in the last 2 weeks
  • chronic diseases
  • Diabetes

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Agunco Obstetrics & Gynecology Center

Rome, 00155, Italy

Location

Related Publications (5)

  • Lorenzo AM, Leon D, Castillo CA, Ruiz MA, Albasanz JL, Martin M. Maternal caffeine intake during gestation and lactation down-regulates adenosine A1 receptor in rat brain from mothers and neonates. J Neurosci Res. 2010 May 1;88(6):1252-61. doi: 10.1002/jnr.22287.

    PMID: 19908252BACKGROUND
  • De Castro SC, Leung KY, Savery D, Burren K, Rozen R, Copp AJ, Greene ND. Neural tube defects induced by folate deficiency in mutant curly tail (Grhl3) embryos are associated with alteration in folate one-carbon metabolism but are unlikely to result from diminished methylation. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2010 Aug;88(8):612-8. doi: 10.1002/bdra.20690.

    PMID: 20589880BACKGROUND
  • Cavalli P, Tedoldi S, Riboli B. Inositol supplementation in pregnancies at risk of apparently folate-resistant NTDs. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2008 Jul;82(7):540-2. doi: 10.1002/bdra.20454. No abstract available.

    PMID: 18418886BACKGROUND
  • Cavalli P, Copp AJ. Inositol and folate resistant neural tube defects. J Med Genet. 2002 Feb;39(2):E5. doi: 10.1136/jmg.39.2.e5. No abstract available.

    PMID: 11836374BACKGROUND
  • van Straaten HW, Copp AJ. Curly tail: a 50-year history of the mouse spina bifida model. Anat Embryol (Berl). 2001 Apr;203(4):225-37. doi: 10.1007/s004290100169.

    PMID: 11396850BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neural Tube Defects

Interventions

Inositol

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nervous System MalformationsNervous System DiseasesCongenital AbnormalitiesCongenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sugar AlcoholsAlcoholsOrganic ChemicalsCarbohydrates

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
CASE ONLY
Time Perspective
CROSS SECTIONAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 18, 2010

First Posted

November 19, 2010

Study Start

November 1, 2010

Last Updated

July 20, 2023

Record last verified: 2011-06

Locations