NCT04042142

Brief Summary

The investigators propose that the sensitivity to glucagon in hepatic lipid metabolism is impaired in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH). Moreover, they propose a dys-coordinated, reduced glucagon sensitivity in hepatic lipid metabolism and endogen glucose production in patients with NAFLD and NASH compared with healthy subjects and patients with simple steatosis. This reduced sensitivity may be the basis of a more severe dyslipidemia and the production of increased concentrations of toxic lipid intermediates in plasma and muscle tissue. The study will include healthy subjects with obesity and subjects with simple steatosis and NASH, tested at basal glucagonemia and moderate hyperglucagonemia to mimic insulin resistant levels during simultaneous somatostatin infusion and replacement doses of insulin and growth hormone. Infusion of palmitate, VLDL-triglyceride and glucose tracers in combination with indirect calorimetry as well as skeletal and adipose tissue biopsies will be employed to assess free fatty acid and VLDL-triglyceride kinetics (turnover, and oxidation) and hepatic fatty acid-esterification.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
28

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2019

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

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 23, 2019

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 1, 2019

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 5, 2019

Completed
2.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 30, 2022

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 18, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

November 4, 2022

Status Verified

November 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

2.7 years

First QC Date

May 23, 2019

Last Update Submit

November 3, 2022

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • VLDL-triglyceride kinetics (appearance rate (µmol/min) and oxidation (µmol/min))

    Ex vivo labeled VLDL \[14C\]-triolein tracer technique. Oxidation is measured by specific activity in exhaled air.

    30 minutes at steady-state

  • Endogen glucose production (mmol/kg/min)

    3-3H glucose tracer technique

    30 minutes at steady-state

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • LPL-activity (lipoprotein lipase, µmol/h)

    30 minutes at steady-state

  • VLDL-triglyceride-fatty acid uptake in muscle and fatty tissue (%)

    30 minutes at steady-state

  • Expression of relevant genes in tissues

    30 minutes at steady-state

  • Fatty acid turnover (µmol/min)

    30 minutesat steady-state

Study Arms (3)

Healthy overweight subjects

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

MR spectroscopy verified no steatosis

Other: glucagon

Subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

MR spectroscopy verified steatosis, no steatohepatitis on liver biopsy

Other: glucagon

Subjects with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

MR spectroscopy verified steatosis, steatohepatitis on liver biopsy

Other: glucagon

Interventions

Infusion of low dose glucagon and high dose glucagon during simultaneous somatostatin infusion and replacement doses of insulin and growth hormone. Infusion of palmitate, VLDL-triglyceride and glucose tracers.

Healthy overweight subjectsSubjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseSubjects with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Eligibility Criteria

Age38 Years - 68 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • BMI \> 28 kg/m2
  • steatosis FF% \> 5,6% on MR spectroscopy for NAFLD and NASH groups

You may not qualify if:

  • active smoking
  • pregnancy
  • comorbidity other than hypertension and hyperlipidemia
  • participation in other radioactive isotope studies within the past 3-5 months (depending on radiation dose)
  • blood donation (within 3 months)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Aarhus University Hospital

Aarhus, Danmark, 8200, Denmark

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Heeboll S, Wegener G, Gronbaek H, Nielsen S. Comparable glucagon-stimulated amino acid suppression in individuals with and without hepatic steatosis or steatohepatitis. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Dec 1;327(6):E679-E685. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00187.2024. Epub 2024 Sep 18.

  • Heeboll S, Risikesan J, Ringgaard S, Kumarathas I, Sandahl TD, Gronbaek H, Sondergaard E, Nielsen S. Impaired Glucagon-Mediated Suppression of VLDL-Triglyceride Secretion in Individuals With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). Diabetes. 2022 Nov 1;71(11):2402-2411. doi: 10.2337/db22-0313.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseGlucose Metabolism Disorders

Interventions

Glucagon

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Fatty LiverLiver DiseasesDigestive System DiseasesMetabolic DiseasesNutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

ProglucagonPancreatic HormonesPeptide HormonesHormonesHormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone AntagonistsPeptidesAmino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins

Study Officials

  • Sara Heebøll

    Aarhus University Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 23, 2019

First Posted

August 1, 2019

Study Start

October 5, 2019

Primary Completion

June 30, 2022

Study Completion

August 18, 2022

Last Updated

November 4, 2022

Record last verified: 2020-11

Locations