Nutritional Support During Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C

February 10, 2009 updated by: UMC Utrecht

The Effects of Preventive Versus on Demand Nutritional Advice and Support on the Nutritional Status of Patients During Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C A Randomized, Multi Center Trial

Standard antiviral treatment consists of weekly injections with Peginterferon-α in combination with ribavirin. This treatment may lead to significant weight loss (7% within 24 weeks on average), with decreased quality of life. In this study the investigators will examine in 50 patients whether nutritional advise and support can prevent weight loss during antiviral therapy.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Standard antiviral treatment consists of weekly injections with Peginterferon-α in combination with ribavirin. This therapy, however, leads to weight loss of approximately 7% in the first 24 weeks of therapy possibly related to impaired postprandial gastric emptying. Such rapid weight loss is a marker of deterioration of the nutritional status with increased risk of complications and reduced immunological barrier function. Deterioration of the nutritional status also exacerbates side effects of the antiviral treatment like fatigue and depression. As a result, the quality of life of these patients may decrease. In the current controlled, prospective, multicenter, study we primarily aim to compare the effects of preventative versus on demand nutritional advice in combination with nutritional support on reduction of weight loss in patients receiving standard antiviral therapy with PEG-interferon in combination with ribavirin. We will randomize patients for the preventative intervention with dietary consultation combined with dietary supplementation of a daily snack or the on demand dietary support group (only dietary follow up, no dietary advice or snack, standard care). In the on demand group, patients will be referred to the dietitian in case of weight loss of ≥ 5% or a BMI < 20 during antiviral therapy. Assuming that 60% reduction of weight loss during the first 24 weeks of treatment is clinically relevant, 2 x 25 patients need to be included (α=0.05, β=0.2: power=0.8 and a drop-out rate of 15%). Primary aim is to assess whether the intervention can decrease the amount of weight loss during therapy.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

50

Phase

  • Phase 4

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

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

14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of hepatitis C
  • Indication for antiviral therapy
  • Age > 18 years
  • Good understanding of Dutch or English language
  • Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Co-infection with hepatitis B and/or HIV
  • Significant non hepatic diseases
  • Significant previous surgery of the gastro-intestinal tract
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma or other current malignant disease
  • BMI < 20

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: nutritional advise/support
Nutritional advise and support
Dietary supplement: Nutrison (Nutricia)
During 48 weeks of treatment, the patient will receive at T=0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 weeks dietary advise combined with daily nutritional support in the form of a nutritional supplement drink at bedtime.
Other Names:
  • Nutridrink protein (Nutricia, The Netherlands)
No Intervention: control
Control

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Weight loss
Time Frame: 1 year
1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

UMC Utrecht

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Karel van Erpecum, Dr, UMC Utrecht

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

March 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

March 1, 2010

Study Completion (Anticipated)

August 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 10, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 10, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

February 11, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

February 11, 2009

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 10, 2009

Last Verified

February 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 08-70

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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