Clinical trial NCT01252979: Ketones & Mitochondrial Heteroplasmy
Official title: Ketones & Mitochondrial Heteroplasmy
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: EARLY_PHASE1
Conditions: MELAS Syndrome
Mitochondrial Diseases
Keywords: MELAS
Ketones
Medium Chain Triglycerides
MCT oil
Mitochondrial Disorder
Heteroplasmy
3243AG
Subject is informed and given ample opportunity to consider his/her participation and has given his/her written consent.
Subject is willing and able to comply with all trial requirements.
Subject harbors the 3243 A>G mtDNA mutation at a level detectable in blood.
Female subjects of child-bearing potential must not be pregnant.
Subjects must not have Diabetes Mellitus.
Lead sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2010-12-03
Enrollment: 13
Sex: ALL
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The current study is a prospective evaluation of the ability of ketosis to shift mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) heteroplasmy in subjects harboring a known mutation in their mtDNA at position 3243 (A\>G). Subjects will be given supplemental medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) for a period of 6 months. mtDNA heteroplasmy will be measured 3 months prior to treatment, at treatment initiation, and 6 months after initiation.

The primary objective of the current study is to determine if there is a shift in heteroplasmy in patients harboring the 3243 A\>G mtDNA mutation to a more favorable (higher wild-type) profile while in a state of ketosis.

Detailed description: The current study is a prospective evaluation of the ability of ketosis to shift mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) heteroplasmy in subjects harboring a known pathogenic mutation in their mtDNA at position 3243 (A\>G). Subjects will be induced in to ketosis by administration of supplemental medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) for a period of 6 months. mtDNA heteroplasmy will be assessed 3 months prior to treatment, at treatment initiation, and 6 months after initiation.

The primary objective of the current study is to determine if there is a shift in heteroplasmy in patients harboring the 3243 A\>G mtDNA mutation to a more favorable (higher wild-type) genotypic profile while in a state of ketosis.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is informed and given ample opportunity to consider his/her participation and has given his/her written consent.
2. Subject is willing and able to comply with all trial requirements.
3. Subject harbors the 3243 A\>G mtDNA mutation at a level detectable in blood.
4. Female subjects of child-bearing potential must not be pregnant. Female subjects of child-bearing potential (not surgically sterile or 2 years post-menopausal) must also agree to use appropriate contraceptive methods (abstinence, oral, injectable, implantable, or barrier) for the duration of the trial.
5. Subject must not have diabetes mellitus.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is currently participating or has participated within the last 2 months in any clinical trial involving treatment of mitochondrial disorders with MCT supplementation or induction of ketosis.
2. Subject has a medical condition that could reasonably be exacerbated by ketone supplementation (including diabetes mellitus).
3. Subject is unable to give reasonable informed consent/assent.
4. Subject is a pregnant or nursing female.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Heteroplasmy
timeFrame: 9 months
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Houston
country: United States
facility: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
state: Texas
Study officials:
References: