microRNA Testing for Identification of Personalized Weight Management

May 24, 2022 updated by: North Dakota State University

Efficacy of microRNA Testing for Identification of Personalized Weight Management Strategy in Obese and Overweight Individuals.

Certain blood markers are related to one's ability to successfully lose weight by diet and exercise. Currently, the laboratory tests used to measure these blood markers are expensive and time-consuming. Recently, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, at NDSU, invented a device that may be able to measure these blood markers much more quickly and affordably. This study is designed participate, to compare our new device to previous methods. If the new sensor is successful, it will be used as diagnostic tool to personalize weight loss strategies.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

Obesity is increasing exponentially in the United States (US), and over 160 million Americans are either overweight or obese. A combined diet and exercise program is the most cost-effective alternative for weight management, but there is a considerable inter-individual variability in losing weight via this method, which leaves many individuals frustrated and unable to adhere to programs throughout the lifespan. Therefore, the inability to identify the individuals who will likely succeed with diet and exercise for weight management is a critical roadblock to treating obesity. Recent studies have shown that significant variability in weight loss response to diet and exercise could be attributed in part to individual epigenetic makeup. One potential approach for monitoring the epigenetic response during weight-loss interventions is small non-coding circulating RNAs, called microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs), in the circulating blood. Studies have shown that miR-140 and 935 could be used as blood biomarkers to identify individuals who will succeed in managing their weight through diet and exercise. Moreover, during a short diet and exercise intervention, fluctuations of expression levels of biomarker miRNAs pre- and post-intervention have produced unique signature changes only in the individuals who continued the intervention for an extended period of time and attained a healthy body weight. Thus, if implemented early in a medical weight loss program it could allow for the patient to have a focused individualized treatment.

A major barrier that prevents the use of miRNAs in weight loss interventions is the inability of accurately quantifying miR-140 and 935 levels in blood samples. To minimize the miRNA contamination from red-blood cell lysis, miRNA analysis must be performed within 30 minutes of blood draw. Current miRNA detection and quantification technologies take hours/days to quantify miRNAs, require bulky equipment, and are expensive. In addition, current miRNA detection methods do not have sufficient sensitivity, detection span and specificity for clinical sample analysis. To address this need, PI. Nawarathna has recently developed a highly sensitive disposable miRNA sensor that can quantify miRNAs in point-of-care settings within 15 minutes with an assay cost of $50 per test. However, the effectiveness of the developed miRNA sensor to accurately quantify the variations of target miRNA levels (miR-140 and 935) pre- and post-diet and exercise intervention is unknown.

The objective of the proposed work is to investigate the efficacy of this miRNA sensor as a potential diagnostic device in weight management. If successful, the impact of proposed the research is two-fold: first, development of a point-of-care diagnostic device (miRNA sensor) for providing a personalized strategy for weight management (diet and exercise or bariatric surgery) and second, ability to immediately expand miRNA detection to measure other factors that can impact overall well-being (e.g.: mental and emotional health, stress, and fatigue) and diseases (e.g.: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and others). The objective of the proposed research will be achieved through following this specific aim:

Aim: To investigate if the miRNA sensor is capable of identifying individuals who will consistently lose weight with energy restricted diet and exercise intervention.

The proposed research will develop a pilot study with overweight individuals as participants. Subjects will participate in the diet and exercise intervention for 12 weeks and miRNA analysis will be performed at 3 time points during the intervention (pre-mid-post). We will then investigate the effectiveness of the sensor.

The miRNA sensor technology, once fully developed, will be similar to a finger prick glucose monitor. Once commercially available, miRNA sensors can be purchased and used for diagnostic applications in clinics or self-testing at home or remote and rural area clinics and hospitals. Therefore, the outcomes will fundamentally advance how the individualized weight management method is selected. For this reason, this research has a positive translational impact on human health.

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.
26

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.
  • Not Applicable

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 Dakota
      • Fargo, North Dakota, United States, 58102
        • North Dakota State University

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

18 years to 60 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • generally healthy
  • body mass index 25-34.9
  • able to do physical activity and exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

  • currently participating in a structured diet or excise program,
  • pregnant,
  • currently use any nicotine product
  • diagnosed neuromuscular disease
  • diabetes,
  • uncontrolled high blood pressure,
  • diagnosed cancer,
  • previously had a heart attack or other chronic heart related conditions that are not controlled with medicine
  • difficulty moving without assistive devices or walking one-quarter mile
  • are taking medications that influence muscle size (testosterone, growth hormone, etc.),
  • have had bariatric surgery
  • have a body mass greater than 350lbs,
  • fear blood, blood draws, or needles
  • adverse reaction to a blood draw in the past.

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: DIAGNOSTIC
  • Allocation: NA
  • Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
  • Masking: NONE

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: 500 kcal Energy Deficit
The goal of the nutrition and exercise intervention will be to induce an energy deficit of approximately 500 kcals/day over the 12-week period in order to induce an approximate 5% weight loss in all participants.
Other: 250 kcal Dietary Energy Restriction
The nutrition intervention will be individualized and implemented as a free-living energy-restricted eating plan where energy intake will be based on a mild restriction (approx. 250 kcal/day).
Other: Aerobic Exercise
Supervised aerobic exercise will be combined with the energy restriction. Individuals will perform aerobic exercise (treadmill, cycle, or rower or combination) 4-5 days per week for 12 weeks. At each session they will expend 250 or more calories to further meet or exceed the 500 kcal energy deficit.

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
micro RNA 140
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Venous blood concentrations (M) of micro RNA 140 will be measured using our sensor.
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
micro RNA 935
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Venous blood concentrations (M) of micro RNA 935 will be measured using our sensor.
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Body Composition
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Change in body composition (% fat) derived from dual x-ray absorptiometry
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Lean body mass
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Change in lean body mass (kg) derived from dual x-ray absorptiometry
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Fat mass
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Change in fat mass (kg) derived from dual x-ray absorptiometry
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Body mass
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Change in body mass (kg) derived from scale
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13

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
High-density lipoprotein
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Change in high density lipoprotein (mg/dL) from Piccolo Xpress Blood Chemistry Analyzer
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Total cholesterol
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Change in total cholesterol (mg/dL) from Piccolo Xpress Blood Chemistry Analyzer
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Triglycerides
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Change in triglycerides (mg/dL) from Piccolo Xpress Blood Chemistry Analyzer
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Low-density lipoprotein (calculated)
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Change in low-density lipoprotein (mg/dL) from Piccolo Xpress Blood Chemistry Analyzer
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Very low-density lipoprotein (calculated)
Time Frame: Change across weeks 0, 6, 13
Change in very low-density lipoprotein (mg/dL) from Piccolo Xpress Blood Chemistry Analyzer
Change across weeks 0, 6, 13

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.
North Dakota State University

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 (ACTUAL)

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.
January 13, 2020

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.
May 4, 2020

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 30, 2020

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 2, 2020

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 2, 2020

First Posted (ACTUAL)

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 3, 2020

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.
May 31, 2022

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.
May 24, 2022

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.
May 1, 2022

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.
  • EN20014

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

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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Conditions

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