Optimizing Protein Intake in Older Americans With Mobility Limitations (OPTIMen)

July 27, 2021 updated by: Shalendar Bhasin, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital
This will be a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group, double blind, clinical trial in community dwelling, older men, 65 years of age or older, who have mobility limitation and low protein intake. The study will have a 2 X 2 factorial design, which will allow us to investigate the effects of dietary protein intake and testosterone separately and together.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein, set at 0.8 grams/kg/day for adult men and women, has engendered debate and many experts advocate protein intakes substantially above the RDA to help maintain muscle anabolism in older individuals. It is not known whether increasing protein intake in older Americans, whose current intake is below the RDA, increases skeletal muscle mass, muscle performance and physical function.

Our first aim is to determine whether administration of 1.3 g/kg/day of protein, compared to the RDA (0.8 g/kg/day), will result in greater improvements in lean body mass, maximal voluntary muscle strength and power, and self-reported and performance-based measures of physical function in older men. Our second aim is to determine whether the gains in lean body mass, maximal voluntary strength and self-reported and performance-based measures of physical function during testosterone administration are greater with 1.3 g protein than with the RDA in older men on a eucaloric diet.

We will conduct a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial using a 2 X 2 factorial design. Community dwelling men, 65 years or older, who have self-reported mobility limitation, a daily protein intake of <0.8 g/kg/day and no contraindications for testosterone therapy, will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: placebo injections plus protein 0.8 g/kg/day; placebo injections plus protein 1.3 g/kg/day; testosterone enanthate 100 mg weekly plus protein 0.8 g/kg/day; testosterone enanthate 100 mg weekly plus protein 1.3 g/kg/day. Treatment duration will be 6 months. The primary outcome is change in lean body mass from baseline to 6 months, measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Secondary outcomes include change in maximal voluntary strength in leg and chest press exercises, leg power, self-reported (physical function domain of SF-36) and performance-based measures of physical function (6-min walking distance and speed, stair climbing power, and load carrying), fatigue, well-being and affectivity balance. Safety measures include urinary calcium excretion, hematocrit, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate examination.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
92

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
        • Brigham and Women's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

61 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Community-dwelling men 65 years of age or older
  2. A score of 3-10 on the short physical performance battery (SPPB)
  3. Daily protein intake less than the recommended daily allowance of 0.83 g/kg/day (from 3 24-hour food recalls)
  4. Able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. History of prostate or breast cancer
  2. American Urological Association [AUA] symptom index score of >19
  3. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) >4 ng/ml in White men or >3 ng/ml in Black men
  4. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) > 4 ng/ml in non-Black men or >3 ng/ml in Black men. These subjects may be enrolled if they have a negative transrectal biopsy within the past year.
  5. Myocardial infarction or stroke within the last 6 months
  6. Uncontrolled congestive heart failure, based on the study physician's evaluation
  7. Serum creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL; men on any kind of dialysis will be excluded.
  8. History of celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis
  9. History of any malignancy requiring treatment within the previous 2 years, except non-melanic skin cancers. Men with cancers who have not required active treatment within the past two years and who have not had disease recurrence within the past two years may be enrolled at the discretion of the study physician.
  10. Neuromuscular diseases: motor neuron diseases, multiple sclerosis, adult muscular dystrophies, and myasthenia gravis
  11. History of stroke with residual limb weakness that affected the individual's ability to walk; subjects with history of stroke who do not have residual limb weakness may be enrolled.
  12. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or untreated diagnosed depression. Subjects with unipolar depression who are on an antidepressant medication are eligible.
  13. TSH levels <0.4 or >5 mlU/L
  14. Systolic blood pressure (BP) >160 or diastolic BP >100 mm Hg (average of 2 measurements taken at Visit 1)
  15. Hemoglobin A1c >8.0% or taking insulin. Men with diabetes mellitus whose A1C is less than 8.0% or who are not taking insulin will be eligible.
  16. Mini-Mental Status Exam [MMSE] <24
  17. Body mass index (BMI) less than 20 or greater than 40 kg/m2
  18. Not willing to eat all of the following: red meat, eggs, poultry, fish and shellfish
  19. Allergy to sesame, peanuts, soy, gluten or shellfish
  20. Current alcohol use >21 drinks/week based on self-report
  21. Confinement to a wheelchair
  22. Use of anabolic therapies (Testosterone, DHEA, androstenedione, rhGH) within the past year
  23. Current use of levodopa or anticoagulants
  24. Current enrollment in a structured weight management program or participation in any weight intervention studies in the last 90 days
  25. Serum ALT and AST greater than 3 x upper limit of normal
  26. Hematocrit < 30% or >48%
  27. Subject is not able to eat 3 frozen study meals per day for 6 months
  28. Subject is unwilling to stop current nutritional supplements
  29. Progressive intensive resistance training within 12 weeks of screening
  30. Non-compliant with run-in diet and/or supplement

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
No Intervention: Placebo/Low Protein
Placebo injections weekly; 0.8 g/kg/day protein
No Intervention: Placebo/High Protein
Placebo injections weekly; 1.3 g/kg/day protein
Other: Testosterone/Low Protein
Testosterone enanthate 100 mg intramuscularly weekly; 0.8 g/kg/day protein
Drug: Testosterone enanthate
Testosterone enanthate 100 mg intramuscularly weekly
Other: Testosterone/High Protein
Testosterone enanthate 100 mg intramuscularly weekly; 1.3 g/kg/day protein
Drug: Testosterone enanthate
Testosterone enanthate 100 mg intramuscularly weekly

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Lean Body Mass as Measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
Primary outcome is change in lean body mass, measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
6 months from baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change of Maximal Voluntary Strength
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
Tests of Muscle Performance: (1) Maximal voluntary strength measured by 1-repetition maximum method in leg press; (2) Maximal voluntary strength in chest press; this exercise was chosen because it involves the large muscle groups of the upper extremities.
6 months from baseline
Change of Leg Press Power
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
Muscle Performance measured using Power of hip and knee extension by Bassey's leg rig.
6 months from baseline
Change of 6-minute Walking Distance
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
Tests of Physical Function and Task-Specific Performance measured by 6-min walking distance
6 months from baseline
Change of Stair Climbing Tests
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
Tests of Physical Function and Task-Specific Performance measured by Stair-climbing power +/- 20% load carry. Physical Function was evaluated using two tests of stair climb power using an indoor 12-step staircase. One test consisted of ascending the 12-steps as rapidly as possible without running (unloaded stair climb) while the second test required participants to carry a load equivalent to 20% of their baseline body weight evenly distributed in two canvas tote bags (loaded stair climb). Time to ascend the stairs was measured electronically with a digital clock and switch mats placed at the base of the steps and on the 12th step. Power in watts is calculated by the following: [body weight (kilograms) * distance (meters)/ (time/60)] /6.12.
6 months from baseline
Change of 50-meter Loaded Walking Test
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
Tests of Physical Function and Task-Specific Performance measured by 50-meter timed walk + 20% load carry. Physical Function was evaluated using test of 50-meter loaded walking speed. The test required participants to carry a load equivalent to 20% of their baseline body weight evenly distributed in two canvas tote bags. Time was measured electronically with a digital clock. Speed in meters per second is calculated by the following: 50/time.
6 months from baseline
Change of Self-reported Physical Function Domain of Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) is a set of generic, coherent, and easily administered quality-of-life measures. Physical function domain of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) contains 10 items with the score range of 0-100. Higher score yields better performance.
6 months from baseline
Change of Psychological Well Being Index (PGWBI)
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
The PGWBI is a 22-item health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) questionnaire developed in US which produces a self-perceived evaluation of psychological well-being expressed by a summary score. The 22 items are grouped in 6 dimensions. A global score is computed as the sum of all items with range of 0-110. A higher score yields better performance.
6 months from baseline
Change of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) Fatigue Scale
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
The FACIT Fatigue Scale is a 13-item questionnaire that measures an individual's level of fatigue during their usual daily activities over the past week. The level of fatigue is measured on a four point scale (4 = not at all fatigued to 0 = very much fatigued). Score ranges 0-52. The higher the score, the better the quality of life.
6 months from baseline
Change of Derogatis Affective Balance Scale (DABS)
Time Frame: 6 months from baseline
The Derogatis Affects Balance Scale (DABS) is a multidimensional self-report mood and affects inventory comprised of 40 adjective-items using a 5-point Likert style scale. The DABS global scores consist of the Positive Total score (PTOT), Negative Total score (NTOT), where The Positive Affects Total (PTOT) is defined as the sum of all scores on the four positive affects dimensions of joy, contentment, vigor and affection, ranging 0-80. Similarly, the Negative Affects Total (NTOT) is represented as the sum of scores on the four negative dimensions of anxiety, depression, guilt and hostility, ranging 0-80. The Affects Expressiveness Index (AEI) is defined as the sum total of PTOT and NTOT, ranging 0-160. Higher score yields stronger affective intensity.
6 months from baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 19, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 19, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 11, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 11, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 12, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 29, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 27, 2021

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2012P001321
  • 7R01AG037547 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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