NCT04792320

Brief Summary

Taiwan has more chronic kidney disease (CKD) per capita than anywhere in the world, leading to the highest expense of National Health Insurance. By reviewing previous studies, uremic toxins contribute critically to the detrimental effects of CKD on atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease (PAD). When recognized early and managed appropriately, mortality and complications of the participants with CKD and established PAD can be minimized. It is critical to identify novel biomarkers and mediators, which can help identify those with potential poor outcomes and facilitate the discovery/development of novel therapeutics for the patients with CKD and PAD. The OMICs studies support the theory that gut microbiome is a major contributor to adverse cardiovascular outcomes and progression of CKD. However, successful integration of multi-omics approach remains sparse. There is no report on the impact of gut microbiota on the host circulating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) expression signature, other CAD/PAD potential marker, and the potential link between gut microbiota, circulating lncRNA levels changes and CKD/PAD. Additionally, although numerous studies indicated that probiotics or activated charcoal have benefits for CKD patients, few studies evaluated the effect of coadministration of activated charcoal/probiotics on the patients with CKD/PAD. The mechanisms of therapeutic effect on CKD/PAD patients with coadministration of activated charcoal/probiotics involving the cross talk among host, microbiota and metabolites still remain unclear. Thus, in the present study, investigators aim to develop novel diagnostic/prognostic markers and a new treatment with activated bamboo charcoal (ABC)/probiotics for therapeutic opportunities to prevent cardiovascular complications, amputation and death in CKD patients with established PAD. To identify the diagnostic/prognostic markers, the multi-omics (microbolome and metabolome) and lncRNA will be analyzed. The therapeutic impact of activated bamboo charcoal (ABC)/probiotics with optimal formulation, on the renal/endothelial/vascular function, cardiovascular (CV) outcome and mortality in CKD patients with PAD will be also determined to evaluate its therapeutic opportunities.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
180

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
48mo left

Started Jun 2020

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

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 Progress60%
Jun 2020Apr 2030

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 19, 2020

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 19, 2020

Completed
9 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 10, 2021

Completed
9.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 30, 2030

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 30, 2030

Last Updated

July 18, 2025

Status Verified

July 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

9.9 years

First QC Date

May 19, 2020

Last Update Submit

July 16, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

CKDPAD - Peripheral Arterial Diseasebamboo charcoal probioticsLncRNAmicrobolomicsmetabolomicsprobiotics

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

  • The change of 6-minute walking distance

    The 6 Minute Walk Test is a sub-maximal exercise test used to assess aerobic capacity and endurance. The distance covered over a time of 6 minutes is used as the outcome by which to compare changes in performance capacity.

    baseline, 3rd month, 6th month, 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year

  • The change of ABI

    The ABI value is determined by taking the higher pressure of the 2 arteries at the ankle, divided by the brachial arterial systolic pressure.

    baseline, 3rd month, 6th month, 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year

  • The change of vascular duplex

    Duplex ultrasound of peripheral artery

    baseline, 3rd month, 6th month, 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year

  • The change of serum lncRNA

    Long non-coding RNAs (long ncRNAs, lncRNA) are a type of RNA, defined as being transcripts with lengths exceeding 200 nucleotides that are not translated into protein.

    baseline, 3rd month, 6th month, 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year

Study Arms (4)

Active bamboo charcoal

EXPERIMENTAL

Eligible 120 participants (group I),The other 60 eligible controls (group II) will be also randomized into ABC-treatment (A) or no-treatment (B) with a 1:1 ratio. The participants will receive CharXenPlus 4g particles ( containing ABC 2g) thrice daily for 6 months in subgroups IA and IIA. While the patients in subgroups IB and IIB will not receive any ABC. The subgroups IA and IB will be further randomly subdivided into IAa, IAb, IBa, and IBb subsubgroups. All the patients will receive probiotics APL-MIX2 (CharXprob) 0.8 g powder once a day in the last 3 months except those in subsubgroups IAb and IBb.

Dietary Supplement: Active bamboo charcoal

Probiotics

EXPERIMENTAL

Eligible 120 participants (group I),The other 60 eligible controls (group II) will be also randomized into ABC-treatment (A) or no-treatment (B) with a 1:1 ratio. The patients will receive CharXenPlus 4g particles ( containing ABC 2g) thrice daily for 6 months in subgroups IA and IIA. While the patients in subgroups IB and IIB will not receive any ABC. The subgroups IA and IB will be further randomly subdivided into IAa, IAb, IBa, and IBb subsubgroups. All the patients will receive probiotics APL-MIX2 (CharXprob) 0.8 g powder once a day in the last 3 months except those in subsubgroups IAb and IBb.

Dietary Supplement: probiotics

Active bamboo charcoal+Probiotics

EXPERIMENTAL

Eligible 120 participants (group I),The other 60 eligible controls (group II) will be also randomized into ABC-treatment (A) or no-treatment (B) with a 1:1 ratio. The patients will receive CharXenPlus 4g particles ( containing ABC 2g) thrice daily for 6 months in subgroups IA and IIA. While the patients in subgroups IB and IIB will not receive any ABC. The subgroups IA and IB will be further randomly subdivided into IAa, IAb, IBa, and IBb subsubgroups. All the patients will receive probiotics APL-MIX2 (CharXprob) 0.8 g powder once a day in the last 3 months except those in subsubgroups IAb and IBb.

Dietary Supplement: Active bamboo charcoalDietary Supplement: probiotics

No invervention

NO INTERVENTION

Eligible 120 participants (group I),The other 60 eligible controls (group II) will be also randomized into ABC-treatment (A) or no-treatment (B) with a 1:1 ratio. The patients will receive CharXenPlus 4g particles ( containing ABC 2g) thrice daily for 6 months in subgroups IA and IIA. While the patients in subgroups IB and IIB will not receive any ABC. The subgroups IA and IB will be further randomly subdivided into IAa, IAb, IBa, and IBb subsubgroups. All the patients will receive probiotics APL-MIX2 (CharXprob) 0.8 g powder once a day in the last 3 months except those in subsubgroups IAb and IBb.

Interventions

Active bamboo charcoalDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

4g particle

Also known as: CharXenPlus
Active bamboo charcoalActive bamboo charcoal+Probiotics
probioticsDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

0.8g powder

Also known as: Charxprob
Active bamboo charcoal+ProbioticsProbiotics

Eligibility Criteria

Age20 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • I. CKD/PAD group Patients (Group I)
  • Age \> 20 years old on the day of screening.
  • CKD patients with eGFR 15 \< eGFR \< 60 ml/min/1.73m2 in a stable status, creatinine elevated less than 0.3 mg/dL in at least 30 days before enrollment.
  • Symptomatic PAD with Rutherford Stage ≥ 2 and ABI ≤ 0.9 (or documented by CT-angio, vascular duplex, etc.). II. non-CKD/PAD group Patients (Group II)
  • \. Age \> 20 years old on the day of screening. 2.With eGFR \> 60 ml/min/1.73m2 3.No clinical PAD.

You may not qualify if:

  • Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) \< 15 ml/min/1.73m2 according to MDRD equation.
  • Patients in severe malnutrition status, albumin less than 2.0 g/dL
  • Patients in severe anemia or active gastrointestinal bleeding with hemoglobulin \< 8 g/dL.
  • Peptic ulcer, esophageal varices, ileus or under fasting status
  • Previous gastrointestinal operation.
  • Chronic constipation, as defined with less than 3 bowel movements per week, straining, hard stools, incomplete evacuation and inability to pass stool. If usage of oral laxatives can achieve bowel movement, this patient will not be excluded.
  • Patients with major hemorrhage, as defined with acute hemorrhage and requirement of blood transfusion during index admission.
  • Patients with a biopsy proved or clinically diagnosed advanced liver cirrhosis, Child classification B or C.
  • Solid organ or hematological transplantation recipients.
  • Patients with oliguric kidney injury, as defined with less than 500 cc/day.
  • Evidence of obstructive kidney injury or polycystic kidney disease.
  • Antibiotics or probiotics treatment within the last 2 weeks before enrollment and during follow-up period.
  • Presence or history of malignant neoplasms within the past 5 years prior to the day of screening.
  • Patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
  • Patients with recent acute coronary syndrome, acute myocardial infarction, or severe heart failure.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

NTUH

Taipei, Taiwan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Probiotics

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dietary SupplementsFoodDiet, Food, and NutritionPhysiological PhenomenaFood and Beverages

Study Officials

  • Chau chung Wu

    National Taiwan University Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Mei-Chang Huang

CONTACT

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 19, 2020

First Posted

March 10, 2021

Study Start

June 19, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2030

Last Updated

July 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations