Trial of Lovaza in Adolescents With Mild to Moderately Elevated Triglycerides
Condition: Hypertriglyceridemia
MeSH terms: Hypertriglyceridemia
Intervention: Lovaza; Placebo
Intervention description: Lovaza , 4 grams/day orally for 6 months; Corn Oil Pill, 4 pills/day orally for 6 months
Phase: Phase 2
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Enrollment: 25.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 10 Years
Maximum age: 19 Years
Healthy volunteers: No
Keywords: Omega 3 Fatty Acids; Triglycerides; Lovaza; Trial

Summary:

      The investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Lovaza
      (formerly known as Omacor) in reducing triglyceride levels in youth ages 10-19 years old
      whose baseline triglycerides range from 150 mg/dl to 1000 mg/dl. Seventy subjects will be
      recruited at baseline and randomized to the treatment condition, Lovaza 4 grams/day for 6
      months or the control condition, a corn oil placebo, 4 tablets a day for 6 months.
      Participants in both the treatment and control groups will receive the standard of care,
      which is dietary advice to follow a low, refined carbohydrate and low saturated fat diet that
      emphasizes increasing intake of fruits and vegetables and eating 2 servings per week of
      fishes rich in omega-3 fatty acids, consistent with the American Heart Association
      recommendations. The primary outcome will be change in fasting triglycerides from baseline to
      3 months. The investigators hypothesize that patients who receive LOVAZA will have
      significantly greater reductions in plasma triglyceride levels when compared to patients on
      placebo at 3 months.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          -  Ages 10-19 years old

          -  Fasting Triglyceride levels of 150-1000 mg/dl at the screening and baseline visit

          -  Ability to swallow pills

          -  Informed consent from a parent or legal guardian of minors or adult subject

          -  Written assent from the adolescent to participate in the study

          -  English or Spanish speaking

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Food Allergy to Fish or any components of the pills which includes alpha tocopherol,
             partially hydrogenated vegetable oils including soybean oils and gelatin and glycerol
             or corn oil, and iron oxide or iron oxide containing food color additives.

          -  Pregnancy or positive urine pregnancy test for those females who have begun
             menstruating

          -  Breast feeding

          -  Alcohol Use: Patient is unable to abstain from alcohol use during the study. This will
             be assessed by asking the following questions: "During the past 30 days, on how many
             days did you have at least one drink of alcohol?"; "During the past 30 days, on how
             many days did you have 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row, that is, within a couple
             of hours?"; "This study requires that you abstain from alcohol use during the course
             of the study. Do you think you can do this?"

          -  Known Bleeding Disorder or Coagulopathy or treatment with anticoagulant medications or
             low platelet counts, abnormal PT, or PTT.

          -  Significant cognitive or psychosocial disorder or medical illness that would limit
             participation in the trial.

          -  Type 1 or 2 Diabetes or fasting glucose that is >=126 mg/dl

          -  Liver disease or an ALT greater than 2 times upper limit of normal

          -  Treatment with medications that affect triglyceride levels, including oral
             hypoglycemic agents or insulin.

          -  Be currently taking the same oral contraceptive pills for less than the past three
             months or intend to change or discontinue prescription oral contraceptive pills used
             in the next seven months

          -  Be currently taking any over-the-counter supplements that affect triglycerides or
             lipid metabolism including over the counter fish oil supplements.

          -  Treatment for or diagnosis of a thyroid disorder or an elevated TSH level at baseline