Choline Nutrition in Children With Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

June 6, 2011 updated by: University of British Columbia

To Investigate Whether Choline Supplementation in Children With CF Will Correct Biochemical Markers of Choline Deficiency and Improve Plasma Indices of Methylation Capacity and Redox Status and Result in Decreased Pro-inflammatory Cytokines

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a complex disease with a wide range of clinical problems. Despite enzyme replacement therapy, children with cystic fibrosis (CF) may still have problems absorbing some nutrients. Detailed studies of the nutrient status of children with CF and have found low amounts of choline, an essential dietary nutrient, and altered levels of some amino acids in almost all patients. Choline is an essential dietary nutrient that is important in many important body functions, which include proving a source of methyl groups, the structure of cell membranes and in acetylcholine. Most choline is present in our diets in a fat known as phosphatidylcholine. Research studies have shown that children with cystic fibrosis do not absorb fat, including phosphatidylcholine very well. In previous studies, we showed that choline provided as a dietary supplement for 2 weeks improved choline status in children with cystic fibrosis.

The purpose of this research is to find out if choline supplements over a longer duration of 6 months will improve and maintain normal choline status in children with CF.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This is a prospective study involving 34 children attending an outpatient clinic for children with CF. After enrollment, subjects will be followed for 9 months with each child serving as their own control in a repeated measures design.

Chart data, height, weight, pulmonary function, dietary intake and a venous blood and urine sample will be collected at enrollment then every 3 months for 9 months. Choline supplementation will be from enrollment for 6 months, with follow up at 3 months post supplementation. To avoid additional hospital visits and blood draws, and to co-ordinate with pulmonary function, hematology, clinical chemistry tests as part of clinical care, each subject will be seen at routine scheduled clinic appointments, which are every 3 months.

The objectives are to

  1. determine if supplementation with choline for 6 months corrects biochemical markers of choline deficiency and improves indices of reduced methylation capacity (including methionine, SAM, SAM/SAH) and redox status (GSH/GSSG) based on measures of blood and urine
  2. determine whether or not choline supplementation decreases plasma pro-inflammatory mediators
  3. determine if choline supplementation improves the low n-6 and n-3 fatty acids levels in children with CF,
  4. explore if choline supplementation has the potential to have clinical relevance in reducing recurrent inflammation, and improve pulmonary function and/or reduce liver disease.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

34

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

    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6H 3V4
        • Nutrition Research Program, BC Children'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

Ages Eligible for Study

5 years to 17 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children with Cystic Fibrosis of known genotype.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • No hospitalizations within the previous month
  • not receiving parenteral nutrition
  • FEV1 > 50% at enrollment
  • BMI and weight for age z-scores > 5th percentile
  • non smokers
  • no asthma
  • not taking any lipid supplement or other agent designed to effect glutathione status.

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: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Single

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Measured at: 0 (baseline), 3 and 6 mth (6 mth supplementation) and 9 mths (3 mth post supplementation) a) choline and methyl metabolites b) redox status (GSH/GSSG)
Time Frame: 9 months
9 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Measured at: 0, 3 and 6 mth and 9 mth a) inflammatory markers (IL-8, IL-6. IL-1ß, TNFα) b) essential n-6 and n-3 fatty acids c) pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1 (FEF 25-75) d) liver function (serum liver enzymes)
Time Frame: 9 months
9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sheila M. Innis, Ph.D, University of British Columbia

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

October 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2010

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 26, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 28, 2008

First Posted (Estimate)

May 29, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 8, 2011

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 6, 2011

Last Verified

June 1, 2011

More Information

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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