Effects of Fish Oils on Inflammation and Insulin Resistance

April 16, 2018 updated by: Philip Kern
The purpose of this study is to determine whether improvement in fat and muscle metabolism after the treatment with Omacor (fish oils) provides insight into the link between obesity, fat and muscle function leading to metabolic syndrome, which is a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

The development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) represents a complex series of events, involving abnormalities in adipose tissue lipid distribution and insulin action. Along with an increase in adipose tissue mass is an increase in inflammation brought about by macrophages that infiltrate adipose tissue. These macrophages express inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and Interleukin -6 (IL-6) which are correlated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, and suggest that metabolic syndrome and diabetes are conditions characterized by a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) improve insulin sensitivity via activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) , and there is much evidence that PPAR agonists also have anti-inflammatory properties.

Fish oils are rich sources of Omega-3 fatty acids and there is a large literature on the potential benefits of fish oils on lowering serum triglycerides, cardiovascular protection, and immune modulation, and there is evidence that fish oils also activate PPAR . Hence, the focus of this study will be on subjects with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, but who do not yet have diabetes. We plan to treat insulin resistant subjects with fish oils and ask the following questions.

Hypothesis 1. The treatment of insulin resistant subjects with fish oils will reduce adipose tissue inflammation.

Aim 1. From blood samples drawn before and after treatment, we will measure levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines.

Aim 2. Adipose tissue biopsies will be performed before and after fish oil treatment. From the adipose biopsies, we will quantitate cytokine expression, macrophage number, and we will look for evidence of macrophage apoptosis.

Aim 3. We will determine whether fish oil treatment increases the adipose tissue secretion and serum level of the high molecular weight form of adiponectin.

Hypothesis 2. The reduction in inflammatory markers occurs through an activation of PPAR by the fish oils.

Aim 4. Adipose tissue and macrophages will be treated in vitro with fish oils in the presence and absence of a PPAR inhibitor. We will determine whether fish oils stimulate the secretion of the high molecular weight adiponectin isoform from adipose tissue and whether they induce apoptosis from macrophages, and whether this process is inhibited by the PPAR inhibitor.

Hypothesis 3. Fish oils improve peripheral insulin sensitivity through a reduction in intramyocellular lipid, and an improvement in muscle insulin signal transduction.

Aim 5. Before and after treatment with fish oils, insulin sensitivity will be measured, along with intramyocellular lipid and genes involved in insulin action and muscle lipid oxidation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

33

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

    • Kentucky
      • Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40475
        • University of Kentucky Medical Cener

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

35 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • BMI 27-45 kg/m2
  • age 35-65 years
  • abnormal carbohydrate metabolism

Exclusion Criteria:

  • triglycerides over 700 mg/dl
  • renal disease
  • liver disease
  • congestive heart failure
  • history of heart disease or stroke
  • chronic aspirin or NSAID use (anti-coagulant)
  • history of a bleeding disorder
  • use of statins, fibrates, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers and glucocorticoids
  • diet heavy in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, sardines, flaxseeds)

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Fish oil group
4g Lovaza (omega-3 fatty acid) daily.
4g of omega-3 fatty acid daily by mouth for 12 weeks.
Other Names:
  • Lovaza
Placebo Comparator: Control group
placebo (4 non-active capsules daily)
4 inert capsules daily by mouth for 12 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Baseline Adipocyte Size
Time Frame: baseline
Prior to starting the fish oil regiment, participants will undergo an incisional abdominal biopsy to remove approximately 4g of adipose tissue to determine adipocyte size
baseline
Adipocyte Size After Fish Oil Treatment
Time Frame: week 12
After completing the fish oil regiment, participant will undergo an incisional abdominal biopsy to remove approximately 4g of adipose tissue to determine individual adipocyte size
week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Baseline Insulin Resistance
Time Frame: baseline
Insulin sensitivity (Si) was measured with a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. Participants received a bolus of glucose at Time Zero, then a bolus of insulin 20 minutes later. Blood was collected through an IV catheter at multiple time points over the course of 4 hours. Glucose levels were plotted on a time course curve and analyzed using the MIDMOD algorithm.
baseline
Insulin Resistance After Fish Oil Regiment
Time Frame: week 12
Insulin sensitivity (Si) was measured with a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. Participants received a bolus of glucose at Time Zero, then a bolus of insulin 20 minutes later. Blood was collected through an IV catheter at multiple time points over the course of 4 hours. Glucose and Insulin levels will be plotted on a time course curve and analyzed using the MINMOD algorithm.
week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Philip A. Kern, M.D., University of Kentucky

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.

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)

March 27, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

January 15, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 20, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 20, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

December 24, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 16, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 16, 2018

Last Verified

April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 74457
  • P20RR021954 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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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