NCT06488638

Brief Summary

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a type of scarring (fibrotic) lung disease. Reduced exercise capacity is a key symptom experienced by patients. In previous research the investigators identified that an interval-based exercise programme led to significant improvements in exercise capacity (Wallis et al Antioxidants. 2023). An unexpected finding was that in patients with IPF, exercise led to a reduction in blood nitrite concentrations an observation the investigators did not see in non-affected individuals. Research has identified that nitrite concentrations are expected to increase after exercise and the size of this increase is related to an individual's exercise capacity. There is also evidence from healthy individuals and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that nitrate supplementation (a source of nitrite) improves response to exercise training. However, in both these groups an exercise-induced fall in blood nitrite concentrations has not been observed. Hence our finding of an exercise-induced fall in blood nitrite levels in IPF patients suggest that they may be especially sensitive to supplementation with nitrate, commercially available as nitrate-rich beetroot juice (NRBJ). This current study investigates this in a pilot placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised, cross-over study of NRBJ on exercise capacity in IPF patients. Aims In patients with IPF

  • Quantify the effect of nitrate supplementation on exercise capacity
  • Determine the effect of nitrate supplementation on blood markers of nitric oxide production/metabolism.
  • Determine the effect of nitrate supplementation on forearm blood flow. Sample size: n=8 IPF patients, aged 18-85years and medical research breathlessness scale 1-3 Intervention: 3-days (two-times daily) NRBJ or nitrate-depleted placebo juice (both commercially available) with subsequent constant-load exercise test (Primary outcome). Following at least 1 week wash-out period participants will cross-over and repeat. A cohort (n=8) of age, sex-matched controls without IPF will be enrolled for comparison of forearm blood flow and pre-exercise venous blood samples for biomarkers comparison only. Number of sites: 1

Trial Health

65
Monitor

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
16

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
4mo left

Started Sep 2024

Typical duration for not_applicable

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress84%
Sep 2024Sep 2026

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 26, 2024

Completed
9 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 5, 2024

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 1, 2024

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 1, 2025

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2026

Expected
Last Updated

July 5, 2024

Status Verified

July 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

1 year

First QC Date

June 26, 2024

Last Update Submit

July 3, 2024

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • endurance time

    fixed-load static cycle ergometry test

    From end of treatment period 1 to end of treatment period 2 (minimum 10 days)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations

    From end of treatment period 1 to end of treatment period 2 (minimum 10 days)

  • forearm blood flow

    From end of treatment period 1 to end of treatment period 2 (minimum 10 days)

Study Arms (2)

Group A

EXPERIMENTAL

Treatment period 1) nitrate-rich beetroot juice (70ml with approx. 400 mg nitrate) twice a day for 3 days Treatment period 2) placebo nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (70ml) twice a day for 3 days

Dietary Supplement: nitrate-rich beetroot juice (70ml with approx. 400 mg nitrate) twice a day for 3 days

Group B

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Treatment period 1) placebo nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (70ml) twice a day for 3 days Treatment period 2) nitrate-rich beetroot juice (70ml with approx. 400 mg nitrate) twice a day for 3 days

Dietary Supplement: nitrate-rich beetroot juice (70ml with approx. 400 mg nitrate) twice a day for 3 days

Interventions

commercially available beetroot juice dietary nitrate supplement

Group AGroup B

Eligibility Criteria

Age28 Years - 85 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients aged 18-85 years with a prior specialist multidisciplinary team diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) based on current established consensus guidelines.
  • Medical Research Council (MRC) breathlessness grade 1-3
  • Judged clinically stable for 3 months prior to recruitment by the investigator.

You may not qualify if:

  • Baseline spirometry with FEV1/FVC ratio \< 0.7.
  • Neoplastic disease undergoing treatment or active follow up.
  • Presence of infection or exacerbation requiring hospitalization, within last 3 months.
  • Current tobacco smoker or use of nicotine containing vapes (within 3months)
  • Current use of ambulatory or long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).
  • Peripheral oxygen saturations \<85% during 6-minute walk-test.
  • Any condition which would prevent completion of cycle-ergometer testing, pulmonary function testing (PFT) or 6-minute walk testing as judged by the investigator.
  • Participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program in the last 3 months.
  • Any condition excluding CPET based on the absolute contraindication as the ACCP/ATS guidelines 2003
  • Positive pregnancy test in females of childbearing age.
  • Symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
  • Inability to give informed written consent
  • Malignancy (except localized squamous or basal cell skin carcinoma) undergoing active investigation, treatment, or follow-up
  • Significant cardiorespiratory disease as judged by the investigator
  • Diabetes mellitus requiring treatment with pharmacology therapy
  • +2 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisLung Diseases, Interstitial

Interventions

Nitrates

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pulmonary FibrosisLung DiseasesRespiratory Tract Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

AnionsIonsElectrolytesInorganic ChemicalsNitric AcidNitrogen CompoundsOrganic Chemicals

Study Officials

  • Tim JM Wallis, MD, PhD

    University Hospital Southampoton

    STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Tim JM Wallis, MD, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Model Details: placebo-controlled, double blind, randomised controlled trial
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 26, 2024

First Posted

July 5, 2024

Study Start

September 1, 2024

Primary Completion

September 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Last Updated

July 5, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-07

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share