NCT02797483

Brief Summary

There is existing evidence to show that vegetable oils having unsaturated fatty acids in the sn-2 position with predominantly palmitic acid (C16:0) or stearic acid (C18:0) in the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of fat molecules do not raise serum cholesterol levels. These observations have come to be known as or explained by the "sn-2 hypothesis". New evidence have also emerged to show that saturated fatty acids (C16:0, C18:0) in the sn-1 and -3 positions reduces fat deposition in a rat model. Therefore, further studies in humans are warranted to confirm these earlier findings. Fats and oils are made up of \>90% triacylglycerol (TAG)- fat molecules which consist of a glycerol backbone to which 3 esterified fatty acids are attached. The positions of fatty acid attachment are referred to by stereospecific numbers, sn -1, -2 and -3. Early evidence shown that the unique stereospecificity of fatty acid distribution on the palm fat molecule conferred health benefits in that it inhibited experimental atherosclerosis in the rabbit model. In vegetable oils, oleic acid \[a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)\] is predominantly situated at the sn-2 position, while in animals fats it is predominantly palmitic acid or stearic acid (C16:0 or C18:0-saturated fat) that is situated there. Even though palm olein and lard have similar proportions of saturated fatty acid (SFA), MUFA and polyunsatuared fatty acid (PUFA), they differ significantly in their positional distribution on the TAG molecule. Palm olein TAG contains only 7-11 % palmitic acid at the sn-2 position while about 87% is unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid and linoleic acid). Lard has the highest amount of palmitic acid in the sn-2 position at 70%. On the other hand, in human milk, palmitic acid is predominantly in sn-2 (53-57 %) while cow milk fat contains less palmitic acid (38 %) there. It is now believed that the distribution of fatty acids in the TAG is more important than the fatty acid composition alone in conferring the oils' 'saturated' or 'unsaturated' properties. In this proposed study, the effects on the outcome measures investigated of different fatty acids (palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid) at the sn-1, sn-2 and sn-3 positions of the TAG molecule in three different test fats will be investigated.

Trial Health

100
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
102

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable healthy

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2016

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

January 1, 2016

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 1, 2016

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 1, 2016

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 2, 2016

Completed
11 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 13, 2016

Completed
Last Updated

June 13, 2016

Status Verified

June 1, 2016

Enrollment Period

5 months

First QC Date

June 2, 2016

Last Update Submit

June 10, 2016

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change of liver fat content

    measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan

    week 0 (baseline) and week 16

Secondary Outcomes (23)

  • Change of body mass index (BMI)

    week 0 (baseline), week 4, week 8, week 12 and week 16

  • Change of waist circumference

    week 0 (baseline), week 4, week 8, week 12 and week 16

  • Change of body fat distribution/content

    week 0 (baseline), week 4, week 8, week 12 and week 16

  • Change of visceral adiposity index (VAI)

    week 0 (baseline), week 4, week 8, week 12 and week 16

  • Change of body adiposity index (BAI)

    week 0 (baseline), week 4, week 8, week 12 and week 16

  • +18 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

Test Fat Blue

EXPERIMENTAL

16 weeks interventions

Other: Test Fat Blue

Test Fat Green

EXPERIMENTAL

16 weeks interventions

Other: Test Fat Green

Test Fat Red

EXPERIMENTAL

16 weeks interventions

Other: Test Fat Red

Interventions

Each subject received a palm olein-based run in diet for 2 weeks, followed by random assignment Test Fat Blue which incorporated into daily snacks (\~50g of test fats, 2 experimental cupcakes (\~15g test fat each) for breakfast and 4 pieces experimental cookies (\~5g test fat each) for afternoon tea together with a palm olein-based background diet for 16 weeks.

Test Fat Blue

Each subject received a palm olein-based run in diet for 2 weeks, followed by random assignment Test Fat Green which incorporated into daily snacks (\~50g of test fats, 2 experimental cupcakes (\~15g test fat each) for breakfast and 4 pieces experimental cookies (\~5g test fat each) for afternoon tea together with a palm olein-based background diet for 16 weeks.

Test Fat Green

Each subject received a palm olein-based run in diet for 2 weeks, followed by random assignment Test Fat Red which incorporated into daily snacks (\~50g of test fats, 2 experimental cupcakes (\~15g test fat each) for breakfast and 4 pieces experimental cookies (\~5g test fat each) for afternoon tea together with a palm olein-based background diet for 16 weeks.

Test Fat Red

Eligibility Criteria

Age20 Years - 60 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Healthy adult male or female, aged 20-60 years
  • BMI 18-5-27.5 kg/m2

You may not qualify if:

  • History of any one of these chronic diseases - type 2 DM, hypertension, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, liver disease, cancer
  • Current problem with indigestion or constipation or bowel movement
  • On medication/nutraceutiucals to reduce blood lipids or blood pressure or weight
  • Pregnant or lactating women or taking COCP
  • Habitual smokers (\>2 sticks per day)
  • Alcoholism (\>21 units per week for men \& \>14 units per week for women)
  • Mean screening blood pressure \>140/90 mmHg
  • Screening TC\>6.2 mmol/L or TAG \>2.0 mmol/L
  • Planned trip abroad/overseas during period of study
  • Unable to adhere to at least 90% of the prescribed oil \& recommended energy and fat per day per research protocol

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Officials

  • Choo Yuen May, PhD

    MPOB

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Augustine Ong Soon Hock, PhD

    MPOB

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Voon Phooi Tee, PhD

    MPOB

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Tony Ng Kock Wai, PhD

    IMU

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Verna Lee Kar Man, PhD

    IMU

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Norhaizan Mohd Esa, PhD

    UPM

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Teh Soek Sin, PhD

    MPOB

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Yap Sia Yen, PhD

    MPOB

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Ng Yen Teng, Bsc

    MPOB

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER GOV
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 2, 2016

First Posted

June 13, 2016

Study Start

January 1, 2016

Primary Completion

June 1, 2016

Study Completion

June 1, 2016

Last Updated

June 13, 2016

Record last verified: 2016-06