Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders & Body Weight Regulation Grant

Completed

Conditions: Trifunctional Protein Deficiency

Registration Number: NCT00654004

Lead Sponsor: Oregon Health and Science University

Brief Summary: Several hormones involved in body weight regulation increase the subject's ability to burn fat for energy. The purpose of this study is to investigate how burning fat for energy may affect those hormones and body weight in children. The study will also determine if eating a diet higher in protein alters the amount of fat you burn and how these hormones control body weight.

Detailed Description: A role for mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in the peripheral signaling cascade of leptin, adiponectin and insulin has recently been proposed from animal studies but has not been investigated in humans. Children with trifunctional protein (TFP, including deficiency of long-chain hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) and very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency, inherited disorders of long-chain fatty acid ß-oxidation, lack an ability to oxidize fatty acids for energy. They have increased levels of body fat and circulating leptin and a high incidence of obesity. Current therapy for children with these disorders is based on frequent meals and consuming a low fat, very high carbohydrate diet. Despite treatment, exercise induced rhabdomyolysis is a common complication of TFP and VLCAD deficiency that frequently leads to exercise avoidance. The effects of these genetic defects on body composition and weight regulation have not been investigated. The contribution of fatty-acid oxidation during moderate intensity exercise in children has also not been reported.

Two groups of subjects were recruited: one group of subjects had a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder (n=13). The other group is a group of controls (n=16). We studied peripheral signals of body weight regulation, glucose tolerance, body composition, and exercise metabolism in subjects with a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder compared to normal controls.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 26

Inclusion Criteria

confirmed diagnosis of TFP, LCHAD, CPT2 or VLCAD deficiency
at least 7 years of age
willingness to complete overnight admission
generally healthy

Exclusion Criteria

inclusion in another research project that alters macronutrient intake
diabetes, thyroid disease or other endocrine dysfunction that alters body composition.
pregnancy
anemia

Study & Design

Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
An Outcome of This Study is the Difference in Percent Body Fat (%BF) Between Subjects With a Long-chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorder and Normal Controls.	Subjects will be compared to controls at one point in time.	Body composition by DEXA was measured in subjects with a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder (n=13). Twelve age, sex and BMI matched controls and 4 heterozygotes for a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder were recruited who also completed body composition measures. The difference in body composition between subjects and age matched controls was compared by t-test.
An Outcome of This Study is the Difference in Glucose Tolerance Between Subjects With a Long-chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorder and Normal Controls.	Subjects will be compared to controls at one point in time.	Glucose tolerance was estimated by the Matsuda Index using glucose and insulin values from a standard oral glucose tolerance test. The Matsuda Index is calculated by the following formula: 10,000/ sq root of (fasting glucose mg/dl X fasting insulin in units/ml) X (mean glucose (mg/dl) X mean insulin (units/ml) and correlates with insulin sensitivity measured by the gold standard method of a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Values of 2.5 or greater are considered insulin sensitive. Values of 2.4 or less are considered insulin resistance. The Matsuda Index of Insulin Sensitivity was measured in subjects with a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder (n=12). Twelve age, sex and BMI matched controls and 4 heterozygotes for a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder were recruited who also completed an oral glucose tolerance test. The difference in Mastuda Index between subjects and age matched controls was compared by t-test.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Difference in Plasma Insulin Between Subjects With a Long-chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorder and Matched Controls Was Compared by T-test	Fasting insulin levels uUnits/ml	Fasting insulin levels in uU/ml were measured in both groups. The differences between groups were compared with a t-test
The Difference in Plasma Adiponectin Levels Between Subjects With a Long-chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorder and Matched Controls Was Compared by T-test	Fasting total adiponectin (ug/ml)	Fasting total adiponectin levels in ug/ml were measured in both groups (subjects with a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder). The differences between groups were compared with a t-test
The Difference in Plasma Leptin Between Subjects With a Long-chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorder and Matched Controls Was Compared by T-test	Fasting leptin levels ng per kg of fat mass	Fasting leptin in ng/kg fat mass were measured in both groups (subjects with a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder; controls). The differences between groups were compared with a t-test