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Ectopic Adipose Tissue, Exercise Training and IL-6

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Adiposity
Interventions
Behavioral: No Exercise
Behavioral: Endurance Exercise Training
Behavioral: Resistance Exercise Training
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT02901496
Lead Sponsor
Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Brief Summary

Aim: Exercise training improves the risk of cardiometabolic diseases; yet the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Exercise induces release of IL-6 from skeletal muscle. Acute elevations in IL-6 improve lipid and glucose metabolism, the latter partly through a delayed gastric emptying. Physical inactivity causes accumulation of visceral fat (VAT). Visceral and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is more inflamed than subcutaneous adipose tissue. Thus, the investigators hypothesize that exercise-induced IL-6 mediates the exercise-induced reduction in EAT and VAT. Secondly, the investigators hypothesize that exercise-induced adaptations in glucose metabolism and gastric motility are dependent on IL-6. Finally the investigators hypothesise that both endurance and resistance exercise training reduce VAT and EAT.

Primary aim: To investigate the effects of exercise training on VAT and to determine to what extend IL-6 mediates this effect.

Secondary aims: 1) To determine whether 12 weeks of endurance and strength training can reduce the amount of EAT. 2) To study whether the effects of exercise on glucose metabolism and gastric emptying are dependent on IL-6.

Methods: Inclusion: 70 inactive men and women, \>18 years, waist to height ratio \> 0.5 and/or waist circumference ≥ 88 cm (women); waist circumference ≥ 102 cm (men) Design: A 12-week, double-blinded randomised, placebo-controlled exercise intervention study.

Intervention: Subjects will be randomised to one of five groups: i) Tocilizumab (IL-6 receptor antibody) and endurance training, ii) Placebo to Tocilizumab and endurance training, iii) Tocilizumab, no exercise iv) Placebo to Tocilizumab and no training, and v) Placebo to Tocilizumab, and resistance training. Tocilizumab/placebo dose will be administered (according to standard recommendations) before the first training session, and maintained during the 12-week training program. Training will be supervised to ensure intensity and compliance. Subjects will be instructed not to change eating habits and informed that this study does not aim for a weight loss.

Statistical considerations: Study investigators are blinded to treatment allocation. Dropouts will be replaced. A sample size of 70 subjects is needed to detect a 10% change in visceral adipose, with a power of 80% and a significance level of 0.05.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
83
Inclusion Criteria
  • Men and women
  • Sedentary
  • Waist to height ratio ≥ ½ and/or waist circumference ≥ 88 cm (women); waist circumference ≥ 102 cm (men)
  • Age ≥ 18 y
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnancy
  • Diagnosed with diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 48 mmol/mol or fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l)
  • Diagnosed with ischemic heart disease
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Treatment with biologic rheumatic drugs, systemic prednisolone or other immunosuppressive treatments
  • Health conditions that prevents individuals from participating in the exercise training intervention e.g. severe obesity
  • Patients who cannot undergo MRI scans (e.g. kidney disease, metallic implants or claustrophobia)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
No exercise + infusion of TocilizumabNo ExerciseNo exercise + monthly infusion of Tocilizumab
Endurance exercise + infusion of placeboEndurance Exercise TrainingEndurance exercise training + monthly infusion of placebo
Endurance exercise + infusion of placeboPlaceboEndurance exercise training + monthly infusion of placebo
No exercise + infusion of TocilizumabTocilizumabNo exercise + monthly infusion of Tocilizumab
No exercise + infusion of placeboNo ExerciseNo exercise training + monthly infusion of placebo
No exercise + infusion of placeboPlaceboNo exercise training + monthly infusion of placebo
Resistance exercise + infusion of placeboResistance Exercise TrainingResistance exercise training + monthly infusion of placebo
Resistance exercise + infusion of placeboPlaceboResistance exercise training + monthly infusion of placebo
Endurance exercise + infusion of TocilizumabEndurance Exercise TrainingEndurance exercise training + monthly infusion of Tocilizumab
Endurance exercise + infusion of TocilizumabTocilizumabEndurance exercise training + monthly infusion of Tocilizumab
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in visceral fat mass0, 12 weeks

Visceral fat mass will be measured by MRI before and after the intervention. Difference in change in visceral fat mass from baseline to 12 weeks follow up will be compared between group: Endurancetraining + tocilizumab and group: Endurancetraining + placebo.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Epicardial adipose tissue0, 12 weeks

Cardiac fat volume will be measured by a cardiac MRI scan before and after the interventions. All groups will be compared.

Gastric emptying0, 12 weeks

Gastric emptying will be measured by paracetamol blood levels (mmol/l) before and after the interventions.

The paracetamol levels will be compared between groups as follows. Group: Endurancetraining + tocilizumab and group: Endurancetraining + placebo. Group: Endurancetraining + placebo and group: no training + placebo. Group: Endurancetraining + tocilizumab and group: no training + tocilizumab. Group: No training + placebo and group: no training + tocilizumab.

Changes in visceral fat mass0, 12 weeks

5. Difference in change in visceral fat mass from baseline to 12 weeks follow up will be compared between group: no training + placebo and group: no training + tocilizumab.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Rigshospitalet, Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism (CIM) Centre for Physical Activity Research (CFAS)

🇩🇰

Copenhagen, Denmark

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