Clinical trial NCT01028976: Obesity, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Official title: Obesity, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: C-reactive Protein
Inflammation
Obesity
Oxidative Stress
Keywords: randomized controlled trial
primary prevention
Vitamin C
Antioxidants
C-reactive protein
inflammation
anti-inflammatory agents
obesity
Lead sponsor: University of California, Berkeley
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Kaiser Permanente
First posted: 2009-12-09
Enrollment: 512
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not Vitamin C (1000 mg/day) can reduce markers of inflammation, especially C-reactive protein (CRP), in obese persons with baseline CRP greater than 1 mg/dl.

Detailed description: The long-term objective of this project is to identify nutritional factors that can reduce the inflammatory component of obesity. Therapies to minimize obesity-related comorbidities are needed, and targeting inflammation may help slow the progression of obesity towards cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance.

Adipose tissue is a source of inflammatory cytokines, and obesity is now viewed as a chronic, low-grade inflammatory state. Inflammation itself is a contributor to the chronic diseases associated with obesity. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key marker of inflammation, and as a downstream marker it provides functional integration of upstream cytokine activation associated with inflammation. We have previously shown that vitamin C, but not vitamin E, reduces CRP in active and passive smokers and in nonsmokers. The reduction is seen primarily in persons with CRP ≥1.0 mg/L, the CDC threshold for elevated cardiovascular disease risk. We also found that 75% of obese nonsmokers had CRP ≥1.0 mg/L.

The important observation of reduction in elevated CRP by vitamin C now needs to be confirmed in a rigorous study with adequate sample size, to permit justifiable conclusions about the potential usefulness of this agent in reducing inflammation in the obese. We will conduct a placebo-controlled, randomized trial in 552 healthy obese individuals with moderate CRP elevations (CRP ≥1.0 mg/L). Participants will be randomized to either 1000 mg/day vitamin C or placebo for a period of 2 months. We will also characterize the pathways through which this effect takes place by measuring cytokines and oxidative stress.

This project is important because if our previous finding is confirmed in this population, it could offer a low-cost alternative to use of statins to reduce inflammation in persons without other risk factors.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* BMI ≥ 30
* hsCRP ≥ 1 mg/L
* Age 18+
* Member of Kaiser Permanente Health Plan of Northern California

Exclusion Criteria:

* Smoker
* Unwilling to discontinue vitamin supplements for study duration
* Unwilling/unable to use acetaminophen in place of OTC anti-inflammatory medications
* Use of certain medications
* History of certain medical conditions

Primary outcomes:
measure: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
timeFrame: After 8 weeks of intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: CRP-related markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, including cytokines and F2-isoprostanes.
timeFrame: After 8 weeks of intervention.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Oakland
country: United States
facility: Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, Division of Research
state: California
Study officials:
affiliation: University of California, Berkeley
name: Gladys Block, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Block G, Jensen CD, Dalvi TB, Norkus EP, Hudes M, Crawford PB, Holland N, Fung EB, Schumacher L, Harmatz P. Vitamin C treatment reduces elevated C-reactive protein. Free Radic Biol Med. 2009 Jan 1;46(1):70-7. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.09.030. Epub 2008 Oct 10.
citation: Block G, Jensen C, Dietrich M, Norkus EP, Hudes M, Packer L. Plasma C-reactive protein concentrations in active and passive smokers: influence of antioxidant supplementation. J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Apr;23(2):141-7. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2004.10719354.