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CIRcadian Rhythms and CortisoL. Effects on Substrate Metabolism and Clock Gene Expression and Functioning

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Healthy
Interventions
Other: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT06035081
Lead Sponsor
University of Aarhus
Brief Summary

The aim of this project is to study the effects of exogenous glucocorticoid exposure on substrate metabolism, energy expenditure and correlates of circadian rhythmicity in healthy adults. The hypotheses are:

Short-term high dose glucocorticoid exposure in healthy subjects disrupts:

* The inherent circadian pattern of the respiratory exchange ratio and REE

* Sleep quality, appetite and food intake

* Clock gene expression and function in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and blood leukocytes

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
10
Inclusion Criteria
  • Male sex
  • BMI 20-30 kg/m2
  • Written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Any chronic disease requiring daily medication excluding atopic skin or hay fever
  • Alcohol consumption >21 units per week
  • Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers
  • Use of glucocorticoid (GC) formulations: Inhaled corticosteroids, intra-articular or intramuscular injections, steroid creams European steroid group IV-V used in the genital area
  • Permitted glucocorticoid formulations: eye-drops, nasal spray, GC creams European steroid group I-III, and European steroid group IV-V used in the non-genital area only
  • Shift work
  • Severe claustrophobia
  • Use of melatonin
  • Previous diagnosis of a sleep disorder
  • Known severe sleep apnea (>30 respiration breaks/hour over 10 seconds)
  • Deemed unable to complete the study safely by investigator

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Prednisolone first, then placeboPrednisolonePrednisolone 12.5 mg twice daily for 5 days. Placebo twice daily for 5 days
Prednisolone first, then placeboPlaceboPrednisolone 12.5 mg twice daily for 5 days. Placebo twice daily for 5 days
Placebo first, then prednisolonePrednisolonePlacebo twice daily for 5 days Prednisolone 12.5 mg twice daily for 5 days.
Placebo first, then prednisolonePlaceboPlacebo twice daily for 5 days Prednisolone 12.5 mg twice daily for 5 days.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Sleeping RERStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during sleep between placebo and prednisolone

Change in TEEStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in Total Energy Expenditure between placebo and prednisolone

Change in REEStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in Resting Energy Expenditure between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in RER from fasting to feedingStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in respiratory exchange ratio (RER) after standard meal between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in DITStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in diet-induced thermogenesis between placebo and prednisolone and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in clock gene mRNA levels leukocytesStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in mRNA expression levels in blood leukocytes between placebo and prednisolone and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in clock gene mRNA levels adipose tissueStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in mRNA expression levels in adipose tissue biopsies between placebo and prednisolone and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in GIP levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured in serum before and after ad libitum meals and standard meals; between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in Insulin levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured in serum before and after ad libitum meals and standard meals; between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in Glucagon levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured in serum before and after ad libitum meals and standard meals; between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in Gastrin levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured in serum before and after ad libitum meals and standard meals; between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in clock gene mRNA levels skeletal muscleStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in mRNA expression levels in skeletal muscle tissue biopsies between placebo and prednisolone and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in PAEEStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in Physical Activity related Energy Expenditure (PAEE) between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in SEEStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Change in Sleeping Energy Expenditure (PAEE) between placebo and prednisolone

Change in fasting lipid oxidation ratesStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by whole room Indirect calorimetry between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in fasting glucose oxidation ratesStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by whole room Indirect calorimetry between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in protein oxidation rates from fasting to fedStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by whole room Indirect calorimetry between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in sleep qualityStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by polysomnography

Change in HADSIntervention period 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a 14-question instrument with 7 questions measuring anxiety and 7 measuring depression. Each is scored between 0 (no impairment) and 3 (severe impairment)

Change in appetiteStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by numerical rating scale on parameters hunger, fullness, satiety, desire and prospective consumption with values 1 (not at all) to 10 (maximally present) before and after ad libitum meal and standard meal, and between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening. The scale is adapted from PMID: 20122136

Change in ad libitum food intakeStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by caloric intake between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in food intake at homeIntervention period 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by dietary registration during prednisolone and placebo

Change in lipid oxidation rates from fasting to fedStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by whole room Indirect calorimetry between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in glucose oxidation rates from fasting to fedStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by whole room Indirect calorimetry between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in LEAP-2 levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured in serum before and after ad libitum meals and standard meals; between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in fasting protein oxidation ratesStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by whole room Indirect calorimetry between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in ghrelin levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured in serum before and after ad libitum meals and standard meals; between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in GLP-1 levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured in serum before and after ad libitum meals and standard meals; between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in Glucose levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured in serum before and after ad libitum meals and standard meals; between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in CCK levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured in serum before and after ad libitum meals and standard meals; between placebo and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in cortisol levelsStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured successively over 24 hours in serum during study days

Change in FAP cells in skeletal muscleStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells levels and characteristics in skeletal muscle tissue biopsies between placebo and prednisolone and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in FAP cells in adipose tissueStudy day 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells levels and characteristics in adipose tissue biopsies between placebo and prednisolone and prednisolone and morning/evening

Change in physical activity levelsIntervention period 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by actigraph during study periods

Change in IPAQ-7Intervention period 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by Internation Physical Activity Questionnaire

Change in sleep quality (measured)Intervention period 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by actigraph during study periods

Change in sleep quality (reported)Intervention period 1 and 2 (7 weeks apart)

Measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine

🇩🇰

Aarhus, State, Denmark

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