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Postprandial VLDL-triglyceride Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes Patients With and Without NAFLD

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Type 2 Diabetes
NAFLD
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: High-fat mixed-meal tolerance test (HF-MMTT)
Registration Number
NCT05044130
Lead Sponsor
University of Aarhus
Brief Summary

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) covers a spectrum from simple reversible hepatic steatosis to inflammation and fibrosis termed steatohepatitis (NASH). The mechanisms behind why some subjects progress from NAFLD to NASH are not clear and the responsible mechanism for storage of excess amounts of liver fat in patients with NAFLD are poorly understood.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and abdominally obese subjects very often have accumulation of liver fat (NAFLD).

T2D is also associated with abnormal lipid metabolism (dyslipidemia), including free fatty acids (FFA), hypertriglyceridemia and excessive postprandial hyperlipidemia which increases the risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and heart failure.

In healthy, insulin sensitive subjects the postprandial increase in triglycerides (TG) is primarily caused by meal derived chylomicrons, whereas endogenously produced TG (VLDL-TG) and decreased peripheral TG clearance only becomes quantitatively important in insulin resistant subjects .Thus, postprandial lipidemia in T2D results from both chylomicronemia as well as a reduction in both insulin mediated suppression of VLDL-TG secretion and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mediated peripheral clearance. A recent study demonstrated that the ability of insulin to suppress hepatic VLDL-TG after a fat-enriched meal and the duration of the postprandial hyperlipidemia was similar in patients with T2D compared with age- and BMI matched individuals without T2D, indicating that the degree of insulin mediated VLDL-TG secretion and hyperlipidemia primarily depends on insulin sensitivity and not the presence of T2D diabetes per se.

In these studies, the investigators want to examine the effect of a fat enriched mixed-meal on hepatic VLDL-TG handling and adipose storage capacity in patients with T2D with and without NAFLD. Investigators will address these questions using carboxyl-14C triolein labeled VLDL-TG, magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy of liver, muscle and fat biopsies in combination with state-of-the art muscle and adipose tissue enzyme kinetics, gene- and protein expression.

The overarching goals are to define abnormalities and differences between patients with T2D with and without NAFLD in terms of hepatic lipid metabolism.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
17
Inclusion Criteria
  • Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes with and without NAFLD (steatosis FF% > 5,6% on MR spectroscopy for NAFLD and NASH groups)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Active smoking
  • Comorbidity other than hypertension and hyperlipidemia
  • Fixed medical drug consumption (including insulin) except statins and anti-diabetic medications. However, statins must be paused 2 weeks before the examination date and other antidiabetic medication on examination date.
  • Patients with cancer or former cancer patients
  • Blood donation within the last 3 months prior to the study
  • Participation in experiments involving radioactive isotopes within the last 3 months
  • Alcohol abuse (over 21 items per week for men and over 14 for women)
  • Pregnancy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Type 2 Diabetes without NAFLDHigh-fat mixed-meal tolerance test (HF-MMTT)Patients with Type 2 Diabetes without NAFLD MR spectroscopy verified no steatosis
Type 2 Diabetes with NAFLDHigh-fat mixed-meal tolerance test (HF-MMTT)Patients with Type 2 Diabetes with NAFLD MR spectroscopy verified steatosis
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
VLDL-triglyceride secretion - Ex vivo labeled VLDL - [14C]-triolein tracer technique.1 day

(μmol/min)

VLDL-triglyceride uptake in muscle - Measurement of fatty acid concentration and specific activity in muscle biopsies1 day

(percent)

VLDL-triglyceride uptake in adipose tissue - Measurement of fatty acid concentration and specific activity in adipose tissue biopsies1 day

(percent)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Adipose cell size measurement1 day

(μl)

VLDL-triglyceride oxidation - Oxidation is measured by specific activity in exhaled air.1 day

(μmol/min)

Insulin sensitivity1 day

(mg/kg/min)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine

🇩🇰

Aarhus N, Denmark

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