NCT02909686

Brief Summary

The overall objective of this protocol is to test if Gulf War Illness (GWI) involves chronic inflammation that cannot be measured with typical techniques. The investigators will be observing the effects of nine different botanical compounds (supplements) that are known to suppress inflammation. If one of those supplements helps the symptoms of GWI, it will give the investigators information about what is wrong in people with GWI.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
36

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2016

Longer than P75 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, 2016

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 13, 2016

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 21, 2016

Completed
2.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 1, 2019

Completed
3 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2022

Completed
2.4 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

January 24, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

January 24, 2025

Status Verified

December 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

3.2 years

First QC Date

September 13, 2016

Results QC Date

April 4, 2024

Last Update Submit

December 9, 2024

Conditions

Keywords

Gulf War SyndromeChronic Multisymptom IllnessesMedically Unexplained Illnesses

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change From Baseline in Overall Gulf War Illness Disease Severity

    Self reported Gulf War Illness symptom severity evening reports were collected for the duration of the study. Scale= change from baseline in overall GWI Disease severity (-100 to +100, with positive numbers indicating how much the symptom improved).

    Week 17

Secondary Outcomes (7)

  • Change From Baseline in Pain Severity

    Week 17

  • Change From Baseline in Fatigue Severity

    Week 17

  • Change From Baseline in Cognitive Symptom Severity

    Week 17

  • Change From Baseline in Mood Symptom Severity

    Week 17

  • Change From Baseline in Dermatological Symptom Severity

    Week 17

  • +2 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (10)

Boswellia Serrata

EXPERIMENTAL

400-800mg in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Boswellia Serrata

Curcumin

EXPERIMENTAL

1000-2000mg in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Curcumin

Epimedium

EXPERIMENTAL

1000-2000mg in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Epimedium

Fisetin

EXPERIMENTAL

200-800mg in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Fisetin

Luteolin

EXPERIMENTAL

200-400mg in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Luteolin

Nettle

EXPERIMENTAL

435-1305mg in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Nettle

Pycnogenol

EXPERIMENTAL

200-400mg in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Pycnogenol

Reishi Mushroom

EXPERIMENTAL

1600-3200mg in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Reishi Mushroom

Resveratrol

EXPERIMENTAL

200-600mg in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Resveratrol

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

in capsule form by mouth every day

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Interventions

Boswellia SerrataDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Also known as: Indian frankincense
Boswellia Serrata
CurcuminDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Also known as: Curcumasorb, Turmeric extract, Meriva
Curcumin
EpimediumDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Also known as: Barrenwort, Bishop's Hat, Fairy Wings, Horny Goat Weed, Yin Yang Huo
Epimedium
FisetinDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Fisetin
LuteolinDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Luteolin
NettleDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Also known as: Common Nettle, urtica dioica, Stinging Nettle
Nettle
PycnogenolDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Also known as: Maritime Pine Extract, Pine Bark Extract
Pycnogenol
Reishi MushroomDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Reishi Mushroom
ResveratrolDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Also known as: Red Wine Extract
Resveratrol
PlaceboDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

Age39 Years - 65 Years
Sexmale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Male
  • Age 39-65, inclusive
  • Present in Persian Gulf between 1990 and August 1991
  • Patient completes daily report during 2 week baseline period (at least 80% completion rate)
  • Able to receive a venous blood draw

You may not qualify if:

  • Positive rheumatoid factor at screening
  • Positive anti-nuclear antibody at screening
  • C-reactive protein\> 3mg/L at screening
  • Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate\> 40mm/hr at screening
  • Auto-immune disorder
  • Diagnosed Rheumatologic Condition
  • Major PTSD symptoms
  • Hypotension (under 90/60 mm Hg) or history of cardiovascular disease
  • Antihypertensive, anticoagulant medication, nitroglycerine, lithium medication use
  • Diabetes with Hemoglobin A1C \>9%
  • History of anaphylaxis to study botanical compounds
  • Current daily use of opioid medication
  • Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Depression subscale score of 16 or higher at baseline
  • Current litigation of worker's compensation claim
  • Blood or clotting disorder
  • +3 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Younger J, Donovan EK, Hodgin KS, Ness TJ. A Placebo-Controlled, Pseudo-Randomized, Crossover Trial of Botanical Agents for Gulf War Illness: Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), and Epimedium (Epimedium sagittatum). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 1;18(7):3671. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073671.

  • Hodgin KS, Donovan EK, Kekes-Szabo S, Lin JC, Feick J, Massey RL, Ness TJ, Younger JW. A Placebo-Controlled, Pseudo-Randomized, Crossover Trial of Botanical Agents for Gulf War Illness: Resveratrol (Polygonum cuspidatum), Luteolin, and Fisetin (Rhus succedanea). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 3;18(5):2483. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052483.

  • Donovan EK, Kekes-Szabo S, Lin JC, Massey RL, Cobb JD, Hodgin KS, Ness TJ, Hangee-Bauer C, Younger JW. A Placebo-Controlled, Pseudo-Randomized, Crossover Trial of Botanical Agents for Gulf War Illness: Curcumin (Curcuma longa), Boswellia (Boswellia serrata), and French Maritime Pine Bark (Pinus pinaster). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 3;18(5):2468. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052468.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Persian Gulf Syndrome

Interventions

FrankincenseCurcuminturmeric extractfisetinLuteolinstinging nettle lectinpycnogenolsResveratrol

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Occupational DiseasesWar-Related InjuriesWounds and Injuries

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Resins, PlantBiopolymersPolymersMacromolecular SubstancesPlant ExudatesBiological ProductsComplex MixturesDiarylheptanoidsHeptanesAlkanesHydrocarbons, AcyclicHydrocarbonsOrganic ChemicalsCatecholsPhenolsBenzene DerivativesHydrocarbons, AromaticHydrocarbons, CyclicFlavonesFlavonoidsChromonesBenzopyransPyransHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-RingHeterocyclic CompoundsHeterocyclic Compounds, 2-RingHeterocyclic Compounds, Fused-RingStilbestrolsStilbenesBenzylidene CompoundsPolyphenols

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr. Jarred Younger
Organization
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study Officials

  • Jarred W Younger, PhD

    University of Alabama at Birmingham

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
OTHER
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 13, 2016

First Posted

September 21, 2016

Study Start

July 1, 2016

Primary Completion

September 1, 2019

Study Completion

September 1, 2022

Last Updated

January 24, 2025

Results First Posted

January 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-12

Locations