Effects of rhLactoferrin on Chronic Inflammation in the Elderly (ELCIE)

Effects of Lactoferrin on Chronic Inflammation in the Elderly

The purpose of this study is to investigate how recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) which is a partially iron saturated form of lactoferrin produced and purified from rice grain may improve mobility and memory in older adults with chronic inflammation. Lactoferrin, is a known multifunctional protein, and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. A recombinant human version of this protein was recently developed and produced from rice. This is now available from the Ventria Bioscience Company in a controlled, pharmaceutical grade capsule. As part of this double blinded and randomized study, participants will take daily dosages of recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) or its matched placebo; to measure the effects of rhlactoferrin on chronic inflammation and its association with improving mobility and memory over a 6 month time period. During the study all participants will be asked to provide blood samples and will have physical and cognitive tests administered to them. By measuring biomarkers in the blood as well as changes in physical and cognitive measures, the investigators will gain an understanding of how rhlactoferrin may safely improve measures of chronic inflammation in older adults. As well as a better understanding of whether it has the potential to meaningfully influence important measures of physical and cognitive function known to be influenced by Chronic Inflammation (CI).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Inflammation; Cognitive Deterioration
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: rhLactoferrin; Other: Placebo

Detailed Description

The primary objective of this study is to examine in a double blinded and randomized trial the efficacy of Recombinant Human lactoferrin (rhLF) in reducing chronic inflammation as measured by IL-6 and sTNFR1 in the bloodstream. The primary end point is to gather information about the tolerability of and adherence to oral rhlactoferrin (rhLF) among older adults with CI over a six-month period. The exploratory objective is to assess the efficacy of rhlactoferrin (rhLF) in attenuating cognitive decline as measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test and Trail Making Test, as well as improving physical mobility as measured by performance on 4 meter and six-minute walk tests. Further physical and functional measurement data will be gather using an Acti-graph link Activity monitor, the raw data collected will be used to : (i) characterize cumulative daily activity, (ii) assess daily circadian patterns of activity, (iii) assess physical activity variability, (iv) model patterns of daily activity, and (iv) estimate walking speed. This additional data will complement mobility measures by describing function enacted in daily life

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21224
      • Jeremy D. Walston

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 70 and older
• able to complete 4- meter timed walk; walking speed <1.0 m/sec
• serum IL-6 level ≥ 2.5 pg/ml or TNFR1 level ≥1500 pg/ml

Exclusion Criteria:

• Daily anti-inflammatory drug use (prednisone, Advil, Aleve, Remicade, Enbrel, methotrexate, standing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), aspirin greater than 325 mg per day)
• lower extremity mobility disability caused by Parkinson's disease,
• cerebral vascular accident (CVA) with residual motor deficit,
• severe osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
• symptomatic claudication
• hospitalization within 3 months for myocardial infarction (MI), angina, infection requiring antibiotics, or joint replacement.
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) < 21.
• Lactose intolerant
• allergy or intolerance to bovine products
• being a vegan (since vegans will want to avoid Bovine products.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: rhLactoferrin; rH lactoferrin will be provided by Ventria Biosciences. Each capsule will contain 250 mg of rH lactoferrin as active ingredient. Subjects will receive 1500 mg of lactoferrin in capsule form twice a day. Dosing will be six 250 mg capsules twice a day for six months.	Drug: rhLactoferrin; Eligible participants will be provided with Recombinant Human lactoferrin (rhLF) in 250 mg capsules along with detailed instructions for taking the study drug and they will be asked to take six 250 mg capsules twice a day and to keep a daily dosing dairy.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Matching placebo capsule will be provided by Ventria Biosciences and six capsules twice a day will be provided to the subjects in this arm.	Other: Placebo; Eligible participant will be provided with placebo in capsules of 250 mg along with detailed instructions for taking the placebo. Participants will be asked to take six 250 mg capsules twice a day and to keep a daily dosing dairy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Effect of Rhlactoferrin on Serum Levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6)	The effect of rhlactoferrin on serum levels (picogram/milliliter) of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) will be assessed as a measure of the percentage change of IL-6 serum levels from baseline	Baseline and 6 months
The Effect of Rhlactoferrin on Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Receptor 1 (TNFR1)	The effect of rhlactoferrin on serum levels (picogram/milliliter) of tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 1 (TNFR1) assessed as a measure of the percentage change of serum TNFR1 levels from baseline	From baseline to 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Attenuating Cognitive Decline as Measured by the Digital Symbol Substitution Test	The test taker is given a key consisting of numbers 1-9 that are paired with a unique symbol. The test taker is allowed 90 seconds to assign the correct symbol to the number on the list. The test administrator then scores the number of correct answers over the 90 second test time, and assigns a total score based on one point for each correct answer and therefore a higher score is a better outcome.	At 6 months
Attenuating Cognitive Decline as Measured by the Trail Making Test A and B.	For test A, the test taker is given a sheet of paper that has the numbers 1-25 within individual circles randomly distributed on the page. The test taker is asked to connect the numbers sequentially over a period of 4 minutes (240 seconds). The score is recorded as the time it takes to complete the task in seconds. For test B, the test taker is given a piece of paper that has numbers 1-13 and letters A-L. Each letter or number is inside of a circle. The test taker must then draw a line from one circled number to the next circled letter (ie. 1 to A to 2 to B to 3 to C etc.) over a period of 6 minutes (360 seconds). The time it takes to complete this task is recorded in seconds.	At 6 months
Physical Mobility as Measured by 4 Meter Walk Test	A standard measurement of 4 meters is marked on a flat, long floor surface. The test taker is asked to walk the length at their usual pace while the test giver is recording the time with a stop watch. This test is repeated twice, and the average of the two recorded times is used as the data point.	At 6 months
Physical Mobility as Measured by 6 Minute Walk Test	A measured course is set up in an open area on a hard flat surface. The test taker walks on this measured course for 6 minutes, and the test administrators calculates the distance traveled over 6 minutes. The test taker is allowed to rest as is needed.	At 6 months
Tolerability of Oral rhLactoferrin as Assessed by Patient Diary of Total Number of Side Effects	Study coordinators administered side effect questionnaire at each visit and via phone every two weeks during the treatment period.	From baseline through 6 months.
Physical Strength as Measured by Grip Strength	Hand grip strength is measured by the amount of static force that the hand can squeeze around a dynamometer. An administrator recorded the reading on the device. The force was measured in kilograms.	At 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
• Collaborators: National Institute on Aging (NIA); Ventria Bioscience
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jerermy D. Walston, MD, Johns Hopkins Universtiy

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 14, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 25, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): February 25, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 15, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 17, 2016
• First Posted (Estimated): November 21, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 3, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Inflammation
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB00094982; R21AG053681-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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