Effects of Chronic Acid-Base Changes on Ventilatory and Perceptual Responses

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: placebo; Dietary Supplement: NH4Cl (ammonium chloride)

• Registration Number: NCT00946933
• Lead Sponsor: Queen's University

Brief Summary

Approximately 30% of people aged 65 years and older experience breathlessness (perceived respiratory difficulty) during daily activity. The main causes of increased breathlessness in the healthy elderly are poorly understood and are the main focus of the proposed study. Some possible contributing factors include abnormalities in the control and/or mechanics of breathing. To evaluate these possible contributory factors, the investigators will compare ventilatory and perceptual responses to: 1) exercise, 2) increased levels of inspired carbon dioxide, and 3) reduced levels of inspired oxygen under strictly-controlled experimental conditions where the investigators increase or decrease breathing requirements by altering dietary salt intake in healthy 40-80 year old men and women.

Exercise and rebreathing tests will be performed at baseline and at the end of each 3 day treatment period. Breathlessness intensity will be measured and compared at a standardized work rate, ventilation or end-tidal PCO2 during these tests.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2009-07-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-07-24
• Study First Posted: 2009-07-27
• Study Start: 2009-11
• Primary Completion: 2010-09
• Study Completion: 2010-09
• Status Verified: 2012-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-12-14
• Last Update Posted: 2012-12-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy, regularly active adults
• non-smoking
• BMI 18-30 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria

• history of lung and/or heart disease (including cardiac arrhythmias) or other comorbidity which could interfere with proper conduct of the intervention or tests
• hypotension or hypertension
• hypercholesterolemia
• sleep disordered breathing
• inability to perform cycle exercise or comply with other testing procedures

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	placebo	0.025 g/kg/day of NaCl (sodium chloride)
High salt diet	NH4Cl (ammonium chloride)	0.2 g/kg/day of NH4Cl (ammonium chloride)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Breathlessness intensity (10-point Borg scale)	Measured at the end of each 3 day treatment period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Exercise capacity (peak VO2)	Measured at the end of each 3 day treatment period

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Respiratory Investigation Unit at Kingston General Hospital; 🇨🇦 Kingston, Ontario, Canada