Adipose Cellular Kinetics of Lipedema

NCT05394467 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PBRC 2021-051
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 17
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Lipedema is characterized by an abnormal deposition of adipose tissue, resulting in fluid accumulation, limb enlargement, and pain. Lipedema is often misdiagnosed as simply obesity. A major challenge with diagnosis is the poorly understood biology underlying the disease. Limited studies suggest that the development of lipedema may involve adipocyte hypertrophy, increased commitment of adipose progenitor cells, hypoxia, adipocyte necrosis and macrophage recruitment. There remains an urgent need to investigate novel characteristics of adipose remodeling that may contribute to the pathogenesis of lipedema. The study investigators have reported quantitative measures of in vivo adipose kinetics using an 8-week incorporation of deuterium (administered as 2H2O) into the adipose tissue of women with obesity. The objective of this proposal is to utilize the metabolic 2H-labeling approach to measure, for the first time, in vivo adipocyte formation and triglyceride synthesis in the adipose tissue of participants with lipedema. Imaging approaches will provide a range of measurements to characterize the lipedema depots. The investigators hypothesize that lipedema adipose depots will have higher rates of adipocyte formation and triglyceride synthesis than both non-lipedema depots and those of women with traditional obesity. Lipedema may involve adipose tissue remodeling, characterized by adipocyte hypertrophy and increased commitment of preadipocytes and differentiation of adipocytes (adipogenesis), yielding an abundance of adipocytes with limited capacity to expand and accommodate lipid, resulting in hypoxia, macrophage recruitment, and local/systemic inflammation. Findings from this proposal will contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of lipedema and may provide insight for the future development of therapeutic targets.

Conditions

Lipedema

Keywords

Adipose tissue; Lipedema; Subcutaneous abdominal; Subcutaneous femoral; Adipocyte; Adipose turnover; Adipose kinetics; Adipogenesis; Deuterium; Obesity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Assess in vivo adipocyte formation in lipedema adipose depots (femoral) and non-lipedema depots (abdominal,) from patients with lipedema.

  Following the consumption of deuterium-labeled water (2H2O; heavy water), adipose tissue biopsies from the subcutaneous abdominal and femoral depots will be collected. The 2H from the heavy water is enriched into the DNA of newly formed adipocytes. Lipedema adipose depots (femoral) will be compared to non-lipedema depots (abdominal) in these women with lipedema.

  8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Assess in vivo triglyceride formation in lipedema adipose depots (femoral) and non-lipedema depots (abdominal,) from patients with lipedema.

  8 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Lipedema

Women with diagnosed lipedema

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: female
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Women with diagnosed lipedema will be recruited and enrolled at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. A racially/ethnically diverse population will be recruited based on the local demographics

You may qualify if:

• BMI ≤50 kg/m2
• Waist/hip ratio \<0.86 (standing position)
• Clinical diagnosis of lipedema (mostly Stage 3 but Stage 2 will not be excluded)
• Willing to drink deuterated water (2H2O)

You may not qualify if:

• Chronic use of systemic glucocorticoids, atypical anti-psychotic medications, or medications that cause clinically significant changes in weight
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding in the next 3 months
• Partial and/or full hysterectomy (due to estrogen effects on adipogenesis)
• PCOS
• Self-reported positive test for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C
• Smoking or use of tobacco products in the last 6 months
• Any medical, psychiatric or behavioral factors that may interfere with study participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pennington Biomedical Research Center: lead
• Lipedema Foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Lipedema; Obesity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Connective Tissue Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 23, 2022
• First Posted: May 27, 2022
• Study Start: April 7, 2022
• Primary Completion: November 25, 2025
• Study Completion: November 25, 2025
• Last Updated: April 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

US (1)