The ENRGISE (ENabling Reduction of Low-Grade Inflammation in SEniors) Pilot Study (ENRGISE)

ENRGISE Pilot Study will test the ability of anti-inflammatory interventions for preventing major mobility disability by improving or preserving walking ability.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Inflammation
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Omega-3 fish oil; Other: Corn Oil (Fish oil Placebo); Drug: Losartan; Other: Cellulose Based (Losartan Placebo)

Detailed Description

Growing evidence shows that low-grade chronic inflammation, characterized by elevations in plasma C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and particularly Interleukin-6 (IL-6), is an independent risk factor of disability, impaired mobility, and lower walking speed. Low-grade chronic inflammation is a modifiable risk factor. However, it is unknown whether interventions that reduce the levels of inflammatory markers per se improve mobility, or avert decline in mobility in older persons.

To address this gap in evidence the investigators are conducting the randomized clinical trial ENRGISE (ENabling Reduction of low-Grade Inflammation in SEniors) Pilot Study to test the ability of anti-inflammatory interventions for preventing major mobility disability by improving or preserving walking ability. We have maximized the public health impact by selecting interventions that are safe, tolerable, acceptable, and affordable for vulnerable older persons. Specifically, in this trial the investigators test the efficacy verus placebo of the angiotensin receptor blocker losartan and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the form of fish oil, alone and in combination. Both angiotensin receptor blockers and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have shown to reduce IL-6 in clinical trials and preliminary data suggest that they may improve physical function.

Recruitment will include the older persons who are at risk for, or with, mobility impairment, as measured by slow gait speed and self-reported mobility difficulty, and who have elevated levels of IL-6, the marker most consistently associated with mobility limitations. Preliminary data regarding feasibility need to be gathered before such a trial can be effectively designed and implemented. We conduct The ENRGISE Pilot Study to assess the effects of the interventions on several inflammatory markers, walking speed, physical function and strength. This allows us to refine the design, recruitment yields, target population, adherence, retention, tolerability, sample-size, and cost for the main ENRGISE trial.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 289
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32611
      • University of Florida
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
      • Northwestern University
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02111
      • Tufts University
  • North Carolina
    • Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27157
      • Wake Forest University
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
      • University of Pittsburgh

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 70 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women age >70 years
• Self-reported difficulty walking ¼ of a mile or climbing a flight of stairs
• Walking speed <1 meters per second and >0.44 meters per second on the 4 meter walk at usual pace. A walking speed of <0.44 meters per second would not be compatible with completing the 400 meter walk in 15 minutes. (In the pilot phase we explore the feasibility of recruiting at least 50% of participants who have a baseline walking speed of <0.80 meters per second and >0.44 meters per second)
• Able to complete the 400 meter walk test within 15 minutes without sitting or the help of another person and without a walker, a cane is allowed
• Blood level IL-6 >2.5 pg/ml and <30 pg/ml.
• Willingness to be randomized to the intervention groups

Exclusion Criteria:

• Failure or inability to provide informed consent
• Lives in a nursing home; persons living in assisted or independent housing are not excluded
• Self-reported inability to walk one block
• Significant cognitive impairment, defined as a known diagnosis of dementia, or a Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score <24 (<23 for racial/ethnic minorities or participants with less than 9 years of education)
• Unable to communicate because of severe hearing loss or speech disorder
• Neurological conditions that are causing impaired muscle function or mobility (may include stroke with residual paresis, paralysis, neuropathy, Parkinson disease, or multiple sclerosis)
• Severe rheumatologic or orthopedic diseases, e.g., awaiting joint replacement, known active inflammatory or autoimmune disease (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn's disease, HIV)
• Terminal illness with life expectancy less than 12 months
• Severe pulmonary disease, requiring either steroid pills or injections
• Other significant co-morbid disease that in the opinion of the field center PI would impair ability to participate in the trial, e.g. renal failure on hemodialysis, severe psychiatric disorder (e.g. bipolar, schizophrenia), excessive alcohol use (>14 drinks per week); drug addiction; treatment for cancer (radiation or chemotherapy) within the past 1 year; or other conditions
• Lives outside of the study site or is planning to move out of the area in next 1 year or leave the area for >3 months during the next year

• Exclusion criteria that apply only to those who receive losartan:

  • Intolerance or allergy to Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
  • Known bilateral renal artery stenosis or liver cirrhosis
  • Hypotension Systolic Blood Pressure<110 or Diastolic Blood Pressure<60 mmHg
  • Serum potassium ≥5.0 mEq/L
  • Use of lithium salts
  • eGFR <15
  • Congestive heart failure with ejection fraction < 40%

• Exclusion criteria that apply only to those who receive ω-3:

  • Intolerance or allergy to ω-3 or fish/shellfish
  • Fatty fish intake >2 servings per week on average
  • History of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation
• To maintain blinding, those who are not eligible to receive any active treatment (ω-3 or losartan) are excluded

Temporary exclusion criteria

• Myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), or valve replacement within past 6 months;
• Pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within past 6 months;
• Uncontrolled diabetes with recent weight loss, diabetic coma, or frequent insulin reactions;
• Stroke, hip fracture, hip or knee replacement, or spinal surgery within past 4 months;
• Physical therapy for gait, balance, or other lower extremity training within the past 2 months;
• Severe hypertension, e.g., Systolic Blood Pressure > 200, or Diastolic Blood Pressure> 110 mmHg;
• Hemoglobin <10 g/dL
• Participation in another intervention trial within 3 months; participation in an observational study may be permitted;
• Current smoking (within 6 months),
• Acute infection (urinary, respiratory, other) or hospitalization within 1 month

• Exclusion criteria that apply only to those who receive losartan:

  • Use of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACEI), Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) within 2 months
  • Use of aliskiren within 2 months in patients with type 2 diabetes or renal impairment with Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)<60
  • Use of potassium sparing diuretics, other medications with potassium sparing properties (such as but not limited to spironolactone or eplerenone) potassium supplements, and salt substitutes containing potassium within 1 week
  • Transaminases >twice upper limit of normal to exclude participants with impaired liver function

• Exclusion criteria that apply only to those who receive ω-3:

  • Use of ω-3 within 2 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

8

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Fish oil Active; This group will receive the Omega-3 fish oil which will be administered at a dose of 1.4 grams per day for the first six months. Based on tolerability and inflammation level, dose may either continue at 1.4 grams per day or be increased to 2.8 grams per day for the remaining six month.	Dietary supplement: Omega-3 fish oil; The Omega-3 fish oil will be provided in 700 mg gelcaps. The starting dose will be 1.4 g/day of fish oil and continue until the 6 month visit. If the average of IL-6 measured at 3- and 6-month visits does not decrease by >40% vs. baseline (average of screening visits 1 and 2), we increase the dose to 2.8 g/day.
Placebo Comparator: Fish oil Placebo; This group will receive a placebo which will be matching to the Omega-3 fish oil. The placebo corn oil are obtained in gel caps and they have identical shape, color, taste and weight. The doses will be administered at doses corresponding to the Omega-3 fish oil.	Other: Corn Oil (Fish oil Placebo); The corn oil placebo gel caps will be identical in shape, color, taste and weight as the Omega-3 fish oil.; Other Names: Fish oil Placebo
Active Comparator: Losartan Active; This group will receive the Losartan which will be administered at a starting dose of 25 milligrams per day. Based on tolerability, losartan will continue at a dose of either 25 milligrams per day or 50 milligrams per day for the first six months. Based on continued tolerability and inflammation level, dose may either continue at 25 or 50 milligrams per day or be increased to 100 milligrams per day for the remaining six months.	Drug: Losartan; The Losartan will be provided in 25 mg and 50 mg capsules. The starting dose will be 25 mg/day, if tolerated, then stepped up to 50 mg/day. If there are no safety concerns, a continuation of 50 mg/day will be provided until the 6 month visit. If the average of IL-6 measured at 3- and 6-month visits does not decrease by >40% vs. baseline (average of screening visits 1 and 2), an increase to the dose of 100 mg/day.; Other Names: Cozaar
Placebo Comparator: Losartan Placebo; This group will receive a placebo which will be matching to the losartan. The placebo cellulose based capsule are obtained in 25 mg and 50 mg capsules. The shell capsules are cellulose based. Placebo and LO have identical shape, color, taste and weight. the doses will be administered at doses corresponding to the losartan.	Other: Cellulose Based (Losartan Placebo); The placebo cellulose based capsules will be identical in shape, color, taste and weight as the losartan capsules.; Other Names: Losartan Placebo
Active Comparator: Fish oil Active + Losartan Active; This group will receive both the Losartan and Omega-3 fish oil. Losartan will be administered at a starting dose of 25 milligrams per day. Based on tolerability, losartan will continue at a dose of either 25 milligrams per day or 50 milligrams per day for the first six months. Based on continued tolerability and inflammation level, dose may either continue at 25 or 50 milligrams per day or be increased to 100 milligrams per day for the remaining six months. Omega-3 fish oil will be administered at a dose of 1.4 grams per day for the first six months. Based on tolerability and inflammation level, dose may either continue at 1.4 grams per day or be increased to 2.8 grams per day for the remaining six month.	Dietary supplement: Omega-3 fish oil; The Omega-3 fish oil will be provided in 700 mg gelcaps. The starting dose will be 1.4 g/day of fish oil and continue until the 6 month visit. If the average of IL-6 measured at 3- and 6-month visits does not decrease by >40% vs. baseline (average of screening visits 1 and 2), we increase the dose to 2.8 g/day.; Drug: Losartan; The Losartan will be provided in 25 mg and 50 mg capsules. The starting dose will be 25 mg/day, if tolerated, then stepped up to 50 mg/day. If there are no safety concerns, a continuation of 50 mg/day will be provided until the 6 month visit. If the average of IL-6 measured at 3- and 6-month visits does not decrease by >40% vs. baseline (average of screening visits 1 and 2), an increase to the dose of 100 mg/day.; Other Names: Cozaar
Other: Fish oil Active + Losartan Placebo; This group will receive the Omega-3 fish oil which will be administered at a dose of 1.4 grams per day for the first six months. Based on tolerability and inflammation level, dose may either continue at 1.4 grams per day or be increased to 2.8 grams per day for the remaining six month. In addition, this group will receive a placebo which will be matching to the losartan. The placebo cellulose based capsule are obtained in 25 mg and 50 mg capsules. The shell capsules are cellulose based. Placebo and LO have identical shape, color, taste and weight. the doses will be administered at doses corresponding to the losartan.	Dietary supplement: Omega-3 fish oil; The Omega-3 fish oil will be provided in 700 mg gelcaps. The starting dose will be 1.4 g/day of fish oil and continue until the 6 month visit. If the average of IL-6 measured at 3- and 6-month visits does not decrease by >40% vs. baseline (average of screening visits 1 and 2), we increase the dose to 2.8 g/day.; Other: Cellulose Based (Losartan Placebo); The placebo cellulose based capsules will be identical in shape, color, taste and weight as the losartan capsules.; Other Names: Losartan Placebo
Other: Fish oil Placebo + Losartan Active; This group will receive a placebo which will be matching to the Omega-3 fish oil. The placebo corn oil are obtained in gel caps and they have identical shape, color, taste and weight. The doses will be administered at doses corresponding to the Omega-3 fish oil. In addition, this group will receive the Losartan which will be administered at a starting dose of 25 milligrams per day. Based on tolerability, losartan will continue at a dose of either 25 milligrams per day or 50 milligrams per day for the first six months. Based on continued tolerability and inflammation level, dose may either continue at 25 or 50 milligrams per day or be increased to 100 milligrams per day for the remaining six months.	Other: Corn Oil (Fish oil Placebo); The corn oil placebo gel caps will be identical in shape, color, taste and weight as the Omega-3 fish oil.; Other Names: Fish oil Placebo; Drug: Losartan; The Losartan will be provided in 25 mg and 50 mg capsules. The starting dose will be 25 mg/day, if tolerated, then stepped up to 50 mg/day. If there are no safety concerns, a continuation of 50 mg/day will be provided until the 6 month visit. If the average of IL-6 measured at 3- and 6-month visits does not decrease by >40% vs. baseline (average of screening visits 1 and 2), an increase to the dose of 100 mg/day.; Other Names: Cozaar
Other: Fish oil Placebo + Losartan Placebo; This group will receive a placebo which will be matching to both the omega-3 fish oil and losartan which will be administered at doses corresponding to doses administered for omega-3 fish oil and losartan throughout the 12 month study.	Other: Corn Oil (Fish oil Placebo); The corn oil placebo gel caps will be identical in shape, color, taste and weight as the Omega-3 fish oil.; Other Names: Fish oil Placebo; Other: Cellulose Based (Losartan Placebo); The placebo cellulose based capsules will be identical in shape, color, taste and weight as the losartan capsules.; Other Names: Losartan Placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in the Interleukin-6 Level Between Groups	Changes in the Interleukin-6 Level Between the Groups	Changes from baseline to month 12
Number of Participants Experiencing Major Mobility Disability	The 400 meter walk test at usual pace is used to evaluate major mobility disability (MMD), defined as the inability to walk ¼ mile or 400 meters.	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)	A low score on the SPPB based on 4 m walk, balance & chair stands tests is a risk factor for disability, institutionalization, morbidity and mortality in initially non-disabled older persons. The summary score and components of the SPPB have good reliability (ICCs range from 0.88 to 0.92). Higher scores are better. Range 0-12.	12 months
Number of Participants Exhibiting Frailty	Frailty will be characterized with Fried criteria developed by Fried et al. that employ self-reported exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, low energy expenditure, slow gait speed, and weak grip strength. Those with >3 of the 5 factors are judged to be frail, those with 1 or 2 factors as pre-frail, and those with no factors as non-frail.	12 months
Isometric Hand Grip Strength	The purpose of this test is to measure the maximum isometric strength of the hand and forearm muscles. Scoring will be taken from the best results of 3 trials. Males scores range from 88 pounds as very poor to 141 pounds as excellent with an average of 105-113 pounds. Females scores range from 44 pounds as very poor to 84 pounds as excellent with an average of 57-65 pounds.	12 months
Peak Torque of the Knee Extensor and Flexor Muscles	Peak torque was measured at a rotational speed of 60 degrees per second using a commercially-available Isokinetic Dynamometer (Biodex). Torque was measured during maximal knee extension and flexion reported in Newton Meters.	month 12
Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) - Physical Component Score	The Short Form (36) Health Survey is a 36-item, patient-reported survey of patient health. The SF-36 consists of eight scaled scores, which are the weighted sums of the questions in their section. Range: 0-100. A lower score indicates more disability, i.e., a score of zero is equivalent to maximum disability and a score of 100 is equivalent to no disability.	month 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Florida
• Collaborators: National Institute on Aging (NIA); Abbott
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Marco Pahor, MD, University of Florida; Principal Investigator: Walter Ambrosius, PhD, Wake Forest University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Manini TM, Anton SD, Beavers DP, Cauley JA, Espeland MA, Fielding RA, Kritchevsky SB, Leeuwenburgh C, Lewis KH, Liu C, McDermott MM, Miller ME, Tracy RP, Walston JD, Radziszewska B, Lu J, Stowe C, Wu S, Newman AB, Ambrosius WT, Pahor M; ENRGISE Pilot study investigators. ENabling Reduction of Low-grade Inflammation in SEniors Pilot Study: Concept, Rationale, and Design. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017 Sep;65(9):1961-1968. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14965. Epub 2017 Jul 22.
• Pahor M, Anton SD, Beavers DP, Cauley JA, Fielding RA, Kritchevsky SB, Leeuwenburgh C, Lewis KH, Liu CK, Lovato LC, Lu J, Manini TM, McDermott MM, Miller ME, Newman AB, Radziszewska B, Stowe CL, Tracy RP, Walkup MP, Wu SS, Ambrosius WT. Effect of Losartan and Fish Oil on Plasma IL-6 and Mobility in Older Persons. The ENRGISE Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2019 Sep 15;74(10):1612-1619. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gly277.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 26, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 22, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): June 22, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 3, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2016
• First Posted (Estimated): February 8, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 7, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 15, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Mobility
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Inflammation; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Antihypertensive Agents; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Losartan
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB201500894 - A-N; U01AG050499 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: The investigator will make the data and associated documentation available to users only under a data-sharing agreement that provides for: (1) a commitment to using the data only for ENRGISE study approved research purposes and not to identify any individual human participant; (2) a commitment to securing the data using appropriate computer technology; and (3) a commitment to destroying or returning the data after analyses are completed.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: per NIH
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: per NIH
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No