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Effect of High Caloric Diet on Brain Insulin Sensitivity and Inflammation

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Obesity
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Interventions
Other: High caloric diet
Registration Number
NCT03590561
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital Tuebingen
Brief Summary

Obesity if known to be associated with brain insulin resistance in humans and evidence is rapidly accumulating that brain insulin resistance influences peripheral metabolism, eating behavior and cognition. A reduced insulin response in the brain is found mainly in people with a metabolically unfavorable fat distribution - high visceral fat. Visceral fat produces inflammatory mediators and elevated inflammatory levels are closely linked to insulin resistance. Inflammation of the brain (i.e., neuroinflammation) has been proposed as a possible cause of brain insulin resistance. Interestingly, rodent models of a high calorie diet show that these inflammatory mechanisms occur rapidly in the brain, even prior to weight gain of the animals. Among other things, it has been shown in humans that a short-term increase in calories, especially carbohydrates and fats, reduces insulin sensitivity in the body and increases inflammatory parameters in the blood. Whether a high-calorie diet triggers insulin resistance or inflammation in the human brain is currently unknown.

Aim of study:

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of a five-day high calorie diet in healthy young male volunteers on peripheral and brain insulin sensitivity as well as on eating behavior, mood and cognition. Brain insulin sensitivity, peripheral metabolism and different behavioral assessments will be evaluated before, 1 week and 2 weeks after high caloric diet.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
32
Inclusion Criteria
  • BMI 19-24 kg/m2

    • Non smoking
    • normal glucose tolerance during 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
    • Exercise less than 2h per week
Exclusion Criteria
  • Vegetarians and Vegans
  • Food allergies
  • Working at night
  • Professional Athletes
  • Not removable metal parts in or on the body
  • manifest cardiovascular disease
  • claustrophobia
  • recent surgery (less than 3 months)
  • Simultaneous participation in other studies
  • Acute disease or infection within the last 4 weeks
  • neurological and psychiatric disorders
  • treatment with centrally acting drugs
  • hemoglobin Hb <13g / dl
  • Hypersensitivity to any of the substances used

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SEQUENTIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
High caloric dietHigh caloric dietParticipants will eat 1500 kcal more than their usual diet for five days.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in brain metabolitesOutcome measurements will be assessed at baseline (t0). Then, the 5-day high caloric diet or control dietwill start 5 to 30 days after t0. Outcome measurements will again be assessed on the 6th-7th day and on the 10th-15th day after start of diet.

The inflammatory processes in the brain will be measured through the determination of brain metabolites by MR spectroscopy

Change in brain insulin sensitivityOutcome measurements will be assessed at baseline (t0). Then, the 5-day high caloric diet or control dietwill start 5 to 30 days after t0. Outcome measurements will again be assessed on the 6th-7th day and on the 10th-15th day after start of diet.

fMRI measurement will be performed before and after administration of 160 U of human insulin as nasal spray. Changes in regional activity will be quantified to assess regional brain insulin sensitivity.

Change in quantitative proton densityOutcome measurements will be assessed at baseline (t0). Then, the 5-day high caloric diet or control dietwill start 5 to 30 days after t0. Outcome measurements will again be assessed on the 6th-7th day and on the 10th-15th day after start of diet.

The inflammatory processes in the brain will be measured through the quantification of the water content by means of proton density imaging.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in whole-body insulin sensitivityOutcome measurements will be assessed at baseline (t0). Then, the 5-day high caloric diet or control diet will start 5 to 30 days after t0. Outcome measurements will again be assessed on the 6th-7th day and on the 10th-15th day after start of diet.

Insulin sensitivity will be estimated from a frequent-sampling 75 g oral glucose tolerance test using the Matsuda formula.

Behavioral assessmentOutcome measurements will be assessed at baseline (t0). Then, the 5-day high caloric diet or control dietwill start 5 to 30 days after t0. Outcome measurements will again be assessed on the 6th-7th day and on the 10th-15th day after start of diet.

Memory function, food reward behavior and mood will be assessed by questionnaires, neuropsychological testing and a snack test.

Change in insulin secretionOutcome measurements will be assessed at baseline (t0). Then, the 5-day high caloric diet or control dietwill start 5 to 30 days after t0. Outcome measurements will again be assessed on the 6th-7th day and on the 10th-15th day after start of diet.

Insulin secretion will be estimated from a frequent-sampling 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.

Change in body fat distributionOutcome measurements will be assessed at baseline (t0). Then, the 5-day high caloric diet or control dietwill start 5 to 30 days after t0. Outcome measurements will again be assessed on the 6th-7th day and on the 10th-15th day after start of diet.

Body composition will be addressed by whole-body MRI and liver MRS.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Tuebingen, Department of Internal Medicine IV

🇩🇪

Tübingen, Germany

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