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Investigating the Effects of Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate on Glucose Handling in Older and Younger Men.

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Insulin Resistance
Age Problems
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate
Other: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT03018496
Lead Sponsor
University of Nottingham
Brief Summary

This study intends to examine the effect of a commercially available nutritional supplement, Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate(HMB) on whole-body responses to a sugar load.

Detailed Description

One change associated with human aging is a reduction in "fitness", both in terms of how far or quickly a person can run/cycle/swim and also in how well their blood vessels work. Additionally a person's metabolic fitness decreases; this is how well the body copes with nutrition and is why, for example, older people have a higher risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have shown that as people become less fit, they are at increased risk of suffering a complication whilst undergoing surgery. It has also been shown that measuring how fit someone is, is better at predicting the risk of a surgical complication than purely using a person's age alone. Lots of research has shown that exercise can potentially reverse some of the age-related declines in fitness, however most has used long sessions of continuous exercise over a long period of time. High-intensity interval training (HIT), whereby people cycle on an exercise bike very hard for a minute, followed by a short rest, repeated over the course of 15 minutes can rapidly improve a person's fitness. However not everyone will be able to, or indeed want to participate in exercise this strenuous; therefore this research seeks to explore whether other options, such as dietary supplements can improve aspects of fitness

This study intends to examine the effect of giving a dietary supplement on the way a person's body handles the glucose (from carbohydrates/ sugars) in a meal. Previous work has shown that taking a beta-hydroxy beta-methyl butyrate (HMB) supplement may improve may improve a patient's response to glucose, however the evidence is not clear. HMB is a commercially available nutritional supplement providing a compound that the body produces each time protein is consumed, and is most commonly used by bodybuilders to help gain muscle.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • Healthy volunteers
  • Aged 18-35 or 65-85
  • Male
Exclusion Criteria
  • Current participation in a formal exercise regime

  • A BMI < 18 or > 32 kg·m2

  • Active cardiovascular disease:

    o uncontrolled hypertension (BP > 160/100), angina, heart failure (class III/IV), Significant arrhythmia, right to left cardiac shunt, recent cardiac event

  • Taking beta-adrenergic blocking agents,

  • Cerebrovascular disease:

    o previous stroke, aneurysm (large vessel or intracranial), epilepsy

  • Respiratory disease including:

    o pulmonary hypertension, significant COPD, uncontrolled asthma,

  • Metabolic disease:

    o hyper and hypo parathyroidism, untreated hyper and hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, type 1 or 2 diabetes

  • Active inflammatory bowel or renal disease

  • Malignancy

  • Clotting dysfunction

  • Significant musculoskeletal or neurological disorders

  • Family history of early (<55y) death from cardiovascular disease

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Younger MenBeta-Hydroxy-Beta-MethylbutyrateHealthy male adults aged 65-85 Subjects will receive both HMB and placebo on separate visits in a crossover fashion
Older MenBeta-Hydroxy-Beta-MethylbutyrateHealthy male adults aged 18-35 Subjects will receive both HMB and placebo on separate visits in a crossover fashion
Older MenPlaceboHealthy male adults aged 18-35 Subjects will receive both HMB and placebo on separate visits in a crossover fashion
Younger MenPlaceboHealthy male adults aged 65-85 Subjects will receive both HMB and placebo on separate visits in a crossover fashion
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Matsuda Index of insulin sensitivity180 minutes after a 75g oral glucose load

Assessed from arterialised venous blood samples

Cederholm index of insulin sensitivity180 minutes after a 75g oral glucose load

Assessed from arterialised venous blood samples

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Area-Under-Curve Insulin Concentration180 minutes after a 75g oral glucose load

Assessed from arterialised venous blood samples

Area-Under-Curve Glucose Concentration180 minutes after a 75g oral glucose load

Assessed from arterialised venous blood samples

Femoral Artery Blood flow15 minutes, 60 minutes and 120 minutes after a 75g oral glucose load

Assessed using duplex ultrasonography of the superficial femoral artery of the right leg

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Of Nottingham

🇬🇧

Derby, United Kingdom

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