Dietary Nitrate Supplements and Ischemic Stroke Recovery

March 12, 2018 updated by: Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Dietary Nitrate Supplements and Ischemic Stroke Recovery: A Pilot Study

This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study. Participants will be randomized to receive either beetroot juice or a beetroot juice placebo, as a dietary supplement, for 30 days. Beetroot juice is high in nitrates, a chemical when ingested is found to increase blood flow to the brain. The purpose of this research study is to determine the safety and feasibility of using this nutritional intervention in (ischemic)stroke survivors, and prove that plasma levels of nitrate and nitrite increase as expected. Secondary outcomes includes measuring a comprehensive set of outcomes related to functional status post-stroke, including mobility, upper extremity strength, cognition, depression, and disability. Patients will also be randomized to MRI perfusion scanning in the region of the stroke to measure cerebral blood flow.

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

In this proof of concept study, the investigators will for the first time, determine whether dietary nitrate (commercially available beetroot juice) is safe and feasible to administer in ischemic stroke patients, and whether its use is associated with increased plasma nitrate and nitrite levels and trends toward improvement during the standard 30-day rehabilitation period after a stroke. The investigators will test the hypotheses using a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial of Beet It® shots once daily for 30 days for patients enrolled within 5 days of stroke onset. This novel study will provide key safety and feasibility data on dietary nitrate supplementation and preliminary information on the magnitude of its effect on improving mobility and functional status, cognition and cerebral blood flow. These data are needed to accelerate the pace of development of this novel therapeutic strategy: using a non-pharmacological approach for improving stroke outcomes. The specific aims are to: Aim 1) Test the proof of concept that beetroot juice consumption is feasible and safe in ischemic stroke patients when given during the post-acute rehabilitation period. Primary outcomes are adherence to the intervention, measurement of outcomes and follow-up (feasibility), as well as adverse events (safety), reported as proportions in each group and across the entire study cohort. Hypothesis: Beetroot juice is safe and feasible in this population, and leads to increased plasma nitrate and nitrite levels at 30 days. Secondary outcomes of interest include change in gait speed (m/sec), Modified Rankin score (disability scale), NIHSS, EuroQOL-5D (quality of life),Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression), Stroke Impact Scale-16 (SIS-16), Barthel Index, Short Physical Performance Battery, grip strength and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Aim 2) Determine whether beetroot juice consumption increases cerebral blood flow vs. placebo juice. Cerebral blood flow will be determined from MRI collected 2 hours following ingestion of the beetroot juice on day 30. Anatomic and perfusion imaging (PASL) will be performed. A region of interest will be used to measure blood flow in a 20mm sphere placed adjacent to the ischemic stroke and in the contralateral hemisphere. Hypothesis: Ischemic stroke patients randomized to the beetroot juice intervention will show increased cerebral blood flow as measured by MRI perfusion scanning in the region of the stroke compared with the placebo group at 30 days.

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.
18

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 2

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
    • North Carolina
      • Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27157
        • Wake Forest School of Medicine

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

14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients 18 years old and over
  • Diagnosed with an ischemic stroke (acute focal neurological deficit resulting from an ischemic cause, verified by CT or MRI)
  • Symptom onset within 5 days of admission
  • National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score of 2 or more (but less than 20)
  • A rating of fair or good on static sitting balance scale on a global balance scale
  • A score of more that 0 on the hip flexion on the short Fugl-Myer
  • Passed dysphagia screening for unrestricted or thickened liquids

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with severe stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score of 20 or more)
  • A score of 0 on hip flexion on the Short Fugl-Myer as a result of weakness from the stroke
  • A rating of poor on static sitting balance scale on a global balance scale
  • Patients who received intravenous or intra-arterial recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA)
  • Patients who are receiving citicoline
  • Patients who have had a hemorrhagic stroke (including intraparenchymal, subarachnoid or subdural hemorrhage)
  • A gait speed of more > 0.8 m/s
  • Patient with evidence of brain tumor or other psychiatric or neurological condition that would interfere with outcome measures
  • Patients who will undergo carotid endarterectomy or other surgery during the study period
  • Patients not living independently prior to stroke
  • Survival is expected to be less than 6 months
  • Any patient on organic nitrate-containing medications; some examples of the medications that are exclusions include nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate, sildenafil (Viagra), and tadalafil (Cialis)
  • Patients with atrophic gastritis
  • Patients with hypotension (blood pressure less than 100/60 mmHg)
  • Patients who do not pass the dysphagia screening test

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: Parallel 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.
Experimental: Beet It Beetroot Juice
70 cc (3.8 millimoles nitrate) Beet It organic beetroot juice once a day for 30 days. Vitamin C 500 mg (tablets) will be given along with each dose of the juice.
Drug: Beet it Beetroot juice
Concentrated organic beetroot (98%) and lemon juice (2%); 70ml bottle
Other Names:
  • beetroot juice
Placebo Comparator: Beet It Beetroot Juice Placebo
70 cc Beet It organic beetroot juice (placebo) once a day for 30 days. The placebo beet juice is identical in appearance and taste with nitrate removed. Vitamin C 500 mg (tablets) will be given along with each dose of the juice.Beet It Placebo Beetroot juice.
Drug: Beet It Placebo Beetroot juice
Concentrated organic beetroot (98%) and lemon juice (2%) with nitrate extracted; 70ml bottle. Beet It Placebo Beetroot juice.
Other Names:
  • beetroot juice placebo

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
Adherence With Intervention
Time Frame: 30 days
The primary outcome for this trial is feasibility, which will be measured by how well the participants followed instructions on taking Beet It organic beetroot juice or placebo once a day for 30 days.
30 days
Number of Participants With Adverse Treatment-altering Events
Time Frame: 30 days
Adverse events that lead to treatment discontinuation
30 days
Change in Plasma Nitrate Levels, Micromoles/Liter
Time Frame: after 30 days of treatment
This is the proof-of-concept to see if plasma levels change in those randomized to the active beet juice compared to placebo. Comparing baseline values against values at 30 days.
after 30 days of treatment
Change in Plasma Nitrite Levels, Micromoles/Liter
Time Frame: after 30 days of treatment
This is the proof-of-concept to see if plasma levels change in those randomized to the active beet juice compared to placebo. Comparing baseline values against values at 30 days.
after 30 days of treatment

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
Gait Speed Change From Baseline
Time Frame: baseline, 30, and 90 days
Gait speed is measured by the time it takes to walk 10 meters. Baseline was reported.Change in gait speed from baseline was assessed at 30 and 90 days. Non-ambulatory at baseline is defined as gait speed less than 0.1 m/s.
baseline, 30, and 90 days
Cerebral Perfusion Imaging
Time Frame: 30 days
Participants from each group who had an MRI at baseline will be randomly selected to have a repeat MRI perfusion scan at 30 days. Cerebral blood flow will be measured by MRI perfusion scanning (arterial spin labeling) in the region of the stroke.
30 days
Upper Extremity Grip Strength
Time Frame: 30 days
The hand grip strength test is designed to replicate the grip strength required to undertake officer survival and firearms training. The test is completed using a dynamometer which measures grip strength in kilograms (kg). The score ranges from 0-90kg, higher score denotes better outcomes.
30 days
Upper Extremity Grip Strength
Time Frame: 90 days
The hand grip strength test is designed to replicate the grip strength required to undertake officer survival and firearms training. The test is completed using a dynamometer which measures grip strength in kilograms. The score ranges from 0-90kg, higher score denotes better outcomes.
90 days
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Score
Time Frame: 30 days
Cognition is measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. MoCA is a 30 question test that assesses different types of cognitive abilities, including orientation, short-term memory, executive function, language abilities, attention and visuospatial ability. Scores on the MoCA range from zero to 30, higher scores denotes better outcomes.
30 days
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Score
Time Frame: 90 days
Cognition is measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Cognition is measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. MoCA is a 30 question test that assesses different types of cognitive abilities, including orientation, short-term memory, executive function, language abilities, attention and visuospatial ability. Scores on the MoCA range from zero to 30, higher scores denotes better outcomes.
90 days
Modified Rankin Score
Time Frame: 30 days
Modified Rankin Scale is a measure of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke or other causes of neurological disability. The scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 5 (bedridden in a nursing home). Lower scores denotes better outcomes.
30 days
Modified Rankin Score
Time Frame: 90 days
Modified Rankin Scale is a measure of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke or other causes of neurological disability. The scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 5 (bedridden in a nursing home). Lower scores denotes better outcomes.
90 days

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.
Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Cheryl Bushnell, MD, Wake Forest University Health Sciences

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.
June 1, 2012

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.
June 1, 2016

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.
June 1, 2016

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).
June 19, 2016

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.
July 16, 2016

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.
July 20, 2016

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.
April 10, 2018

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.
March 12, 2018

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.
March 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • IRB00020739

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Yes

IPD Plan Description

Participants will be notified as to which arm of the study they were randomized to. The de-identified participant data will be presented as an abstract, if accepted, and published as a manuscript.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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