A Study of How Tutin and Hyenanchin, Two Toxins Found in Honey, Are Absorbed and Processed by the Body

An Open-label, Non-randomised Study to Investigate the Pharmacokinetics of Tutin and Hyenanchin, Following Single Dose Administration of Honey Containing Tutin and Hyenanchin to Healthy Male Subjects

Honey available in New Zeland can contain the toxins tutin and hyenanchin. Tutin is produced by several plants native to New Zealand. Bees collect honeydew contaminated with tutin and hyenanchin for honey production.

Honey contaminated with high levels of tutin has caused cases of poisoning in New Zealand since the 1800s, with the most recent outbreak in 2008.

The study aims to find out how tutin and hyenanchin are absorbed and processed by the body. This information will help the FSANZ give guidance on acceptable levels of tutin and hyenanchin in honey.

About 6 healthy men will each take a single dose of honey containing known concentrations of tutin and hyenanchin.

This dose level is similar to what someone who eats a lot of honey would have, if the honey contained the maximum level of tutin allowed under the Food Standards Code.

Blood tests to measure tutin and hyenanchin levels will be taken at certain times after dosing, and any side effects will be recorded.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Tutin Poisoning
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Honey substance

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 6
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• New Zealand
  • Canterbury
    • Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, 8011
      • Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 53 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy males, aged between 18 and 55 years, inclusive.
2. Healthy on the basis of medical history and screening assessments.
3. Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 32 kg/m2, inclusive.
4. Agree to abstain from alcohol consumption from 48 hours before dosing through to the completion of pharmacokinetic samples.
5. Able to participate, and willing to give written informed consent and to comply with the study protocol requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. A history of clinically relevant cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal,endocrine, pulmonary, neurological, psychiatric, allergic or skin disorders.
2. Any gastrointestinal condition, disorder or previous surgery that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with absorption of study product.
3. History of or symptoms suggestive of significant gastro-esophageal reflux disease or peptic ulcer disease.
4. Significant neurological history, including relevant history of seizure disorders, major head trauma or cerebrovascular disease.
5. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to honey.
6. Sustained blood pressure levels at screening of < 90 mmHg or > 150 mmHg for SBP or < 50 mmHg or >90 mmHg for DBP.
7. Sustained resting heart rate (HR) > 100 or < 40 beats per minute (bpm) at screening.
8. Clinically significant abnormalities in laboratory test results at screening or baseline.
9. Positive serology screen for HIV, or Hepatitis B or C at screening.
10. Positive results on urine drug / alcohol test at screening or Day 1 (if performed).
11. Smokers of >10 cigarettes/day within 3 months prior to admission and unable to stop smoking during the study.
12. Participation in an investigational drug study within 1 month prior to dosing.
13. Blood or plasma donation of > 500 mL within the 3 months prior to dosing.
14. Prescription or herbal remedies taken within 7 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to dosing. Over-the-counter medications and vitamins are not permitted within 72 hours prior to dosing. Paracetamol is permitted as required throughout the study, to a maximum of 4 grams per day.
15. Consumption of food or beverages containing honey within 72 hours prior to dosing.
16. Known or suspected previous tutin poisoning.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Honey substance; Honey substance containing 5.1 mg/kg tutin and 23 mg/kg hyenanchin. Subjects to receive single dose of test material such that each subject receives 1.8 mcg/kg body weight of tutin.	Other: Honey substance; Honey substance containing 5.1 mg/kg tutin and 23 mg/kg hyenanchin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pharmacokinetics of tutin and hyenanchin (Tmax)	Time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax)	Pre-dose through to 24 hours post dose. May be modified according to sentinal PK results.
Pharmacokinetics of tutin and hyenanchin (AUC)	Area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC)	Pre-dose through to 24 hours post dose
Pharmacokinetics of tutin and hyenanchin (Cmax)	Peak Plasma Concentration (Cmax)	Pre-dose through to 24 hours post dose

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust Ltd
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Chris Wynne, MBChB, Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 5, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 31, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): February 1, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 1, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 31, 2019
• Last Verified: January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Chemically-Induced Disorders; Poisoning
• Other Study ID Numbers: CH-1101