Leucine Enriched Essential Amino Acid Mixture to Reverse Muscle Loss in Cirrhosis

NCT03208868 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 12-916
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Loss of skeletal muscle mass or sarcopenia is the most common and potentially reversible complication in cirrhosis that increases morbidity and mortality before, during and after liver transplantation. No proven treatments exist for the prevention or reversal of sarcopenia in cirrhosis, primarily because the mechanisms responsible for this are unknown. Based on compelling preliminary studies and those of the co investigator, investigators hypothesize that the mechanism of reduced skeletal muscle mass in cirrhosis is due to a myostatin mediated impaired mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling resulting in reduced protein synthesis and increased autophagy. Investigators further postulate that leucine, a direct stimulant of mTOR, will reverse the impaired mTOR phosphorylation in the skeletal muscle of cirrhotics. The consequent increase in protein synthesis reduced autophagy will result in an increase in skeletal muscle mass. Investigators will test these hypotheses by quantifying the response to acute and long term (3 month) administration of leucine enriched essential amino acid (EAA/LEU) compared with an isonitrogenous isocaloric non-essential balanced amino acid mixture (does not stimulate protein synthesis) in cirrhotic patients. Fractional protein synthesis rate (FSR) in skeletal muscle, responses of the molecular regulatory pathways of skeletal muscle protein synthesis, and autophagy flux will be quantified in the acute and long term protocols. Tracer studies using L-\[D5\]-phenylalanine (Phe) as a primed constant infusion (prime 2µmol.kg-1.hr-1; constant 0.05 µmol.kg-1.hr-1) with and L \[ring-D2\] tyrosine, forearm plethysmography, and sequential skeletal muscle biopsies (total of 3 per study subject) will be used to quantify these outcomes. Anthropometric, clinical and body composition measures will be additional outcome measures for the long term intervention. Expression of regulatory signaling proteins, myostatin, IGF-1 (insulin like growth factor) , phospho-Akt, phospho-AMPK (activated protein kinase), phospho-mTOR and phospho-p70s6k will be quantified by Western immunoblots. Autophagy flux will be measured by quantifying expression of the autophagosome proteins.

Conditions

Cirrhosis, Liver

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Compare Fractional Synthesis Rate

  To test whether fractional synthesis of skeletal muscle proteins changes from baseline to 90 days with the administration of BAA or EAA/LEU. Fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of mixed muscle proteins will be calculated from the incorporation rate of the L- \[ring D5\] phenylalanine into the proteins and the free tissue phenylalanine enrichments using precursor product model: FSR= (∆Ep/t)/(∆Ec) x60x100 and expressed as %/hour. ΔEp is the increment in myofibrillar protein-bound L- \[ring D5\] phenylalanine enrichment, t is the time between the muscle biopsies. ∆Ec is the L- \[ring D5\] phenylalanine enrichments in the free intracellular pool in the muscle biopsies.

  Baseline to 90 days

Study Arms (2)

Leucine enriched essential amino acid

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients with cirrhosis that are given a leucine enriched essential amino acid (EEA/LEU) supplement.

Dietary Supplement: Leucine enriched essential amino acid (EEA/LEU)

Balanced amino acid supplement

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients with cirrhosis that are given a balanced amino acid (BAA) supplement.

Dietary Supplement: Balanced amino acid supplement (BAA)

Interventions

Leucine enriched essential amino acid (EEA/LEU) DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Patient with cirrhosis will be randomized to either take a Leucine enriched essential amino acid or a balanced amino acid supplement.

Leucine enriched essential amino acid

Balanced amino acid supplement (BAA) DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Patient with cirrhosis will be randomized to either take a Leucine enriched essential amino acid or a balanced amino acid supplement.

Balanced amino acid supplement

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Cirrhotic patients:
• Cirrhosis diagnosed by liver biopsy and/or clinical, biochemical and imaging evidence of cirrhosis.
• Abstinence from alcohol and/or other recreational drugs for at least 6 months
• Child's Pugh score 5-9 (inclusive).

You may not qualify if:

• Cirrhotic patients:
• Child's score \>9
• Pedal edema above the ankle
• Presence of concurrent illnesses (renal, cardiac, pulmonary, cerebrovascular, malignancy) or medication (anabolic steroids, corticosteroids) intake that affect skeletal muscle mass.
• Diabetes mellitus
• Active gastrointestinal bleeding
• Sepsis, encephalopathy
• Renal failure
• Hepatocellular carcinoma outside of Milan criteria
• Unwilling to sign informed consent or follow research procedures

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Cleveland Clinic: lead

Study Sites (1)

Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Liver Cirrhosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Liver Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Fibrosis; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Staff Physician

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 12, 2017
• First Posted: July 6, 2017
• Study Start: August 5, 2013
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: October 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Locations

US (1)