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A Pilot Study of Intermittent Calorie Restriction in Multiple Sclerosis

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Interventions
Other: Diet
Registration Number
NCT02647502
Lead Sponsor
Johns Hopkins University
Brief Summary

Experimental studies of the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, indicate that the number of calories fed to mice prevent EAE and are also associated with less severe disease in mice who do develop the disease. Currently, whether these results translate favorably in humans is unknown. This is a pilot trial of testing two caloric restriction (CR) diets versus a control diet in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients: one continuous caloric restriction (CR) diet where a small number of calories will be restricted every day or another intermittent CR diet where a caloric intake will be restricted more severely 2 days per week. Participants are randomized to one of the diets, and for the first 8 weeks, will receive standardized, prepared meals tailored to the specific diet. At the conclusion of the controlled feeding study, all participants will transition to an unblinded phase for an additional 40 weeks where they are provided with instructions to follow an intermittent CR diet.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
36
Inclusion Criteria
  • Aged 18-50
  • Capable of storing food safely, willing to follow diet/eat provided food, and able to receive shipments at home or work
  • Meets 2010 criteria for McDonald MS;
  • Relapse or new lesion in previous 2 years
  • Expanded disability status score (EDSS) < 6
  • Disease duration ≤15 years
  • Untreated or on stable on first-line MS therapy [injectable] for at least 6 months, with no anticipated changes in the next 10 weeks
  • Unchanged vitamin D dose or thyroid replacement dose (for those on it) with no anticipated changes or in supplement use for the next 10 weeks.
  • Non-regular smoker (average no more than 1 cigarette/day) for at least 2 months
  • Stable weight, by self report, for past 3 months (± 8 lbs)
  • Body mass index (BMI) > 23 kg/m2
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnant or nursing, or unwilling to prevent pregnancy (if of childbearing to potential)

    • History of gastrointestinal disease causing malabsorption
    • History of diabetes requiring medication
    • History of stage IV/V chronic kidney disease or vascular disease
    • History of major surgery in past 3 months
    • Current use of warfarin
    • History of eating disorder
    • Currently on a special diet for MS/other diet (provided diet will be pork free)
    • Chemotherapy within the past year

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intermittent calorie restrictionDietParticipants will be provided a diet that with a daily calorie intake required to maintain current BMI, except only 25% of this calorie intake will be provided for 2 days a week.
Control calorie intakeDietParticipants will be assigned to consume enough calories each day required to maintain current BMI
Continuous calorie restrictionDietParticipants will be provided with a diet that includes approximately 78% of calories each day that would be needed to maintain current BMI.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Adverse events8 weeks

Adverse events will be categorized by organ system and by the blinded neurologist's assessment of the relation to the diet.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
NIH Patient-Reported-Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS )Fatigue Questionnaire48 weeks

PROMIS Fatigue results will be assessed during the study

Quality of Life Questionnaire48 weeks

"Functional Assessment in MS" results will be assessed during the study

Change in concentration of measures of metabolism8 weeks

The impact of each calorie restriction diet versus control diet on fasting glucose, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, C-reactive protein, lipids, and long-chain ceramides will be assessed.

Adverse Events48 weeks

Adverse events will be categorized by organ system and by the blinded neurologist's assessment of the relation to the diet.

Change in metabolite ratios8 weeks

The impact of each calorie restriction diet versus control diet on the metabolomics profile will be assessed.

Change in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration (BDNF)8 weeks

The impact of each calorie restriction diet versus control diet on fasting BDNF will be assessed.

Adherence to Calories Assigned48 weeks

Adherence during the "advice-only" phase will be compared to adherence in each diet group during the first 8 weeks using paired t-tests, where the grouping is done naturally by subject.

Immune cell subsets/cytokines8 weeks

The impact of each calorie restriction diet versus control diet on ratios of immune cell subsets (e.g. T-helper (TH)17, TH1, TH2, T regulatory) and related cytokines will be assessed.

Change in serum lipid concentration8 weeks

The impact of each calorie restriction diet versus control diet on fasting lipids and long-chain ceramides will be assessed.

Change in levels of oxidative stress biomarkers8 weeks

The impact of each calorie restriction diet versus control diet on protein carbonyls, 8-isoprostane, nitrotyrosine, and 4-hydroxynonenal adducts will be assessed.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Johns Hopkins University

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

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