Low Sodium Diet and Behavioral Intervention for Reversing Arterial Stiffening in Overweight Individuals (SAVE)

March 5, 2016 updated by: Emma Barinas-Mitchell, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Clinical Trial to Reverse Early Arterial Stiffening

Obese individuals are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increasing physical activity, losing weight, and reducing sodium intake may reverse arterial stiffness and blood vessel damage that is linked to obesity. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a low sodium diet and a behavioral weight loss intervention in reducing arterial stiffness in overweight young adults.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

CVD includes diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels. Arterial stiffness, in which arteries harden and become less flexible, increases the risk of developing CVD. Arterial stiffness increases both with age and in certain disease states, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Young adults who are obese prematurely place themselves at risk for developing arterial stiffness and CVD. Physical activity and weight loss may reverse arterial stiffness in these individuals. Reducing sodium intake, which has been proven to decrease blood pressure, may also improve blood vessel function and arterial stiffness. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a low sodium diet and a behavioral weight loss intervention in reducing arterial stiffness in young, moderately overweight individuals.

Participants will first attend a baseline study visit, at which time blood will be collected, and height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure will be measured. Questionnaires to assess medical history, physical activity levels, and dietary habits will be completed. An ultrasound will be used to evaluate blood vessel function and arterial stiffness. All participants will then take part in a 12-month behavioral and dietary intervention. The intervention will emphasize increasing physical activity and decreasing caloric intake by modifying lifestyle choices, physical and social environments, and attitudes toward food and exercise. Participants will be randomly assigned to follow either a low sodium diet or a normal sodium diet. During Months 1 through 4, participants will attend weekly study visits for group counseling sessions; during Months 4 through 8, study visits will occur once every two weeks; and during Months 8 through 12, they will occur once a month. At each study visit, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure will also be measured. If necessary, individual counseling sessions will be scheduled. Participants will also document daily physical activity and caloric intake in a diary. Baseline evaluations will be repeated at Months 6, 12, and 24.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

349

Phase

  • 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
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15260
        • University of Pittsburgh

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

Ages Eligible for Study

20 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 35

Exclusion Criteria:

  • High blood pressure currently being treated with medication
  • Blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg on two consecutive study visits
  • Diabetes, defined as either a fasting glucose test result of .126 or current use of hypoglycemic medications
  • Currently taking hyperlipidemia medication
  • Currently taking vasoactive medications
  • History of known atherosclerotic disease (e.g., angina, heart attack, lower extremity arterial disease)
  • Underlying inflammatory condition (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Chronic infection
  • Current participation in a formal exercise or weight loss program
  • Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: weight loss and sodium intake reduction
Behavioral and weight loss intervention, including a low sodium diet. Study goals are a 10% weight loss, 200 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, such as walking, and a 50% reduction in sodium intake.
Behavioral: Low Sodium Diet
Group sessions once a week for 16 weeks, bi-weekly for 16 weeks, and monthly for 16 weeks on behavioral & weight loss topics with a focus on lowering sodium intake.
Placebo Comparator: weight loss and normal sodium intake
Behavioral and weight loss intervention, with regular sodium intake. Study goals are a 10% weight loss, 200 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, such as walking.
Behavioral: Regular Sodium Intake
Group sessions once a week for 16 weeks, bi-weekly for 16 weeks, and monthly for 16 weeks on behavioral & weight loss topics.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Arterial stiffness
Time Frame: Measured at Month 6
Measured at Month 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Arterial stiffness and remodelling
Time Frame: Measured at Months 6, 12 and 24
Measured at Months 6, 12 and 24
Endothelial function
Time Frame: Measured at Months 6, 12, and 24
Measured at Months 6, 12, and 24

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Collaborators

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Emma Barinas-Mitchell, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

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

January 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2009

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 18, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 18, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

August 22, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 8, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 5, 2016

Last Verified

March 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 415
  • 5R01HL077525 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

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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