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Acute Consequences of Glucocorticoid Secretion in Overweight and Obese Individuals During Maximum Calorie Intake

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Overeating
Glucocorticoids
Overweight and Obesity
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT06556277
Lead Sponsor
Eleonora Seelig
Brief Summary

The investigator aim to understand whether food-induced glucocorticoids influence fat mass in overweight and obese people.

In a randomized, cross-over study, 23 overweight and obese volunteers will receive a block and replace therapy that mimics physiological glucocorticoid (GC) rhythm (metyrapone plus hydrocortisone) or placebo. Participants will undergo two identical overfeeding periods with each treatment. With the block and replace therapy food-induced GC peak will be suppressed. Metabolic and immunological parameters will be compared to reveal the effects of GCs during excessive overfeeding, particularly to understand changes in body fat.

Detailed Description

Obesity is one of the most serious health problems of the 21st century, and new therapies are urgently needed.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) increase with acute food intake. Several clinical studies have found that glucocorticoids contribute to common obesity, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, the investigator aim to understand whether GCs influence the total body fat in obese and overweight study participants during excessive overfeeding.

In a randomized, cross-over study, 23 overweight and obese individuals will receive a block and replace therapy that mimics physiological GC rhythm (Metyrapone plus hydrocortisone) or placebo. Participants will undergo two identical overfeeding periods with each treatment. With the block and replace therapy, food-induced GC peak will be suppressed. Metabolic, autonomic, and immunological parameters will be compared.

A) Participants will receive hydrocortisone 19.9mg/d day 1 to day 6 and 12mg on day 7 subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion (eight times/day) and metyrapone per os (starting with a dose of 750mg/d on day 1 to 2500mg on day 3, which will be kept constant until day 6 and then reduced to 750mg on day 7)

B) Participants will receive placebo (0,9% NaCl solution) 19.9mg/d day 1 to day 6 and 12mg on day 7 subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion (eight times/day) and placebo pills per os (starting with a dose of 750mg/d on day 1 to 2500mg on day 3, which will be kept constant until day 6 and then reduced to 750mg on day 7)

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
23
Inclusion Criteria
  • Males aged 18 to 50 years
  • BMI≥ 25 kg/m² with a stable weight within past three months before study initiation
Exclusion Criteria
  • Any severe acute or chronic disease, including diabetes mellitus type 2
  • Intake of GLP-1 agonists or hormone therapy
  • Hypercortisolism
  • Casual smoking (more than 6 cigarettes per day)
  • Frequent, heavy alcohol consumption (more than 30g/day)
  • Frequent, heavy caffeine consumption (more than 4 caffeinated drinks/day)
  • Regular physical exercise (more than 4hrs per week)
  • Shift work
  • Participation in an investigational drug trial within the past two months
  • Intake of any steroid-containing drugs, including topical steroids and inhalers, within 4 weeks of the study initiation
  • Known allergy to metyrapone
  • Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Metyrapone And HydrocortisoneMetyrapone And HydrocortisoneDuring one of the study periods, subjects receive hydrocortisone 19.9 mg/d day 1 to day 6 and 12 mg/d on day 7 subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion (eight times/day) and metyrapone per os (starting with a dose of 750 mg/d, then the dose will be increased on day 3, where 2500mg/d is achieved and reduced on day 7 to 750mg).
PlaceboPlaceboDuring the other study period, subjects receive placebo (0,9% NaCl solution) the same dose of placebo instead of hydrocortisone subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion and the same dose of placebo tablets p.o instead of metyrapone.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total body fatTwo 7-day intervention periods

Change in total body fat assessed with a Dual-Energy-X-Ray-Absorptiometry (DXA)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total lean massTwo 7-day intervention periods

Change in total lean mass assessed with DXA

InsulinTwo 7-day intervention periods

Change in Insulin assessed with a mixed meal tolerance test

Energy expenditureTwo 7-day intervention periods

Basal metabolic rate measured with indirect calorimetryy

Immune cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells)Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

SatiationTwo 7-day intervention periods

Amount of food intake with ad libitum buffet

IL-6 (Inflammatory markers)Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

Insulin sensitivityTwo 7-day intervention periods

Change in insulin sensitivity assessed with a mixed meal tolerance test

Systolic and diastolic blood pressureTwo 7-day intervention periods

Assessment of blood pressure with a standard blood pressure monitor.

GLP-1Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

GlucagonTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

GlucoseTwo 7-day intervention periods

Change in Glucose assessed with a mixed meal tolerance test

C-peptideTwo 7-day intervention periods

Change in C-peptide assessed with a mixed meal tolerance test

Substrate utilizationTwo 7-day intervention periods

Respiratory quotient assessed with indirect calorimetry

WeightTwo 7-day intervention periods

Measurement of weight with a standard scale

MotivationTwo 7-day intervention periods

Motivation to eat measured with a speed clicking test

IL-1RA (Inflammatory markers)Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

CRP (Inflammatory markers)Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

Thyroid hormonesTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

LeptinTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

IGF1Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

Lipids (mmol/l) ((total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides)Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

SatietyTwo 7-day intervention periods

Appetite rating with visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0mm-100mm (0mm=not at all and 100mm=extreme)

IL-8 (Inflammatory markers)Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

Growth hormoneTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

GhrelinTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

GDF15Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

PYYTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

ReninTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

ACTHTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

ProgesteroneTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

17-hydroxyprogesteroneTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

11-deoxycorticosteroneTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

CorticosteroneTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

18-hydroxycorticosteroneTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

17-hydroxypregnenoloneTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

11-deoxycortisolTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

OxytocinTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

CatecholaminesTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

GIPTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

CCKTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

FGF21Two 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

CortisolTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

AldosteroneTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

PregnenoloneTwo 7-day intervention periods

Blood sample

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospital Basel

🇨🇭

Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland

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