Unrefined Salmon Oil as Dietary Supplement in Patient With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Efficacy and Safety of Cardio® in Patient With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Research has over decades showed that marine food carries nutritional characteristics that promote human health. As seen in epidemiological studies and based on in vitro and in vivo studies, it is hypothesized that unrefined salmon oil as dietary supplement have anti-inflammatory effect. However, there is sufficient preliminary data to indicate bioactive compounds effect for clinical use, and further clinical trials investigating effect are needed. This trial will investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effect and reduction in the risk of cardio artery disease in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive disease, COPD.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: CARDIO®; Dietary supplement: Placebo

Detailed Description

This study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, investigating unrefined salmon oil, CARDIO®, additional to standard care for patients suffering from COPD. The investigational product is an unrefined salmon oil based soft-gel formulation containing 21 different fatty acids (more than 99.1%), lipopeptides (less than 0.9%), antioxidants and other micro metabolites. Research has shown that marine foods carry nutritional characteristics that promote human health, particularly the high intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA), eicosapentaeonic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Cell culture and mouse studies have shown that n-3 PUFAs, such as EPA and DHA, reduce lung leucocyte infiltration and decrease inflammatory cytokines.

Accumulating evidence points to elevated circulating levels of oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) as a key factor that couples COPD with coronary artery disease (CAD). When normal lipoprotein (LDL) becomes oxidized, the structural alteration confers highly pro-inflammatory properties, inducing inflammation and oxidative stress processes central to both COPD and CAD. Ox-LDL is a potent activator of eosinophils, after which the eosinophils appear to mediate chronic inflammation. Based on the literature and studies on the investigational product, the investigators will investigate if CARDIO® can influence eosinophilic inflammation and ox-LDL. This could have positive consequences for improving COPD control and reducing the risk of exacerbations and cardiovascular events. The generalized anti-inflammatory effects and inflammation-resolution promoting effects of unrefined salmon oil might reduce systemic inflammation and benefit COPD patients with co-existing CAD. In this study, the investigators intend to recruit patients with raised oxidative stress represented by patients with serum ox-LDL level at the 25th percentile and above. Therefore, the investigators intend to recruit 20 participants (part 1) with the same inclusion criteria as in part 2, but only measure/analysis serum ox-LDL. The ox-LDL levels derived from part 1 of the study will provide a cut-off level of ox-LDL for patient inclusion into the study part 2. Patient with an ox-LDL value above the 25th percentile will be asked to participate in part 2 of the study. The investigators believe that this will provide the most accurate inclusion of patients to part 2 of the study - the intervention study.

However, clinical trials in humans diagnosed with COPD, have shown varied results investigating n-3 PUFA supplementation. The objective of this study is to evaluate specifically the impact of CARDIO® compared to placebo, on ox-LDL, forced expiratory airflow, blood eosinophils and markers of inflammation in COPD.

Data will be collected by pulmonary function tests (spirometry), blood sample, nutritional log, quality of life questionnaires (CAT), and blood and stool collected for research biobanking. Study intervention period will be 20 weeks, plus 4 weeks post-intervention follow-up, foremost of safety reasons.

As this study is explorative in nature, a sample size which balance the need of statistical power and resource constraints is chosen. The available resources, predetermine those 100 participants, 50 in each arm, can be recruited. Expecting a drop-out rate of about 20% in total (10 subjects per group), and assuming a standard deviation of Ox-LDL of 6 ng/mL the given sample size enables us to detect a mean difference in ox-LDL levels of 3.85 ng/mL. This corresponds to an effect size of 0.64 and shows that the study is reasonably powered. These calculations are done under the standard assumption of power equal to 80% and a significance level of 5%.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Erland Hermansen, MD OS, PhD; Phone Number: +47 915 13 690; Email: ehe@hofsethbiocare.no
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Dag Arne L Hoff, MDAssoc.prof; Phone Number: +47 701 05 799; Email: dag.arne.lihaug.hoff@helse-mr.no

Study Locations

• Norway
  • More And Romsdal
    • Ålesund, More And Romsdal, Norway, 6003
      • Hofseth Biocare ASA

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed and under treatment for COPD with regular maintenance therapy.
• Postbronchodilator FEV1-FVC ratio less than 0.70 the last 3 months.
• FEV1<90%.
• Current smoker or ex-smoker at least 10 pack-years.
• COPD Assessment Test score level (CAT) ≥10.
• Patients with overlapping COPD and asthma disease may be included.
• Speaks fluent Norwegian.
• Signed informed consent and expected cooperation of the patients for the treatment and follow up must be obtained and documented according to ICH GCP, and national/local regulation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Evidence and/or diagnose of clinically significant uncontrolled non-pulmonary disease.

  • Myocardial infarction or stroke within the last 12 months, angina pectoralis diagnosed < 3 months or unstable angina
  • Stage 4 of Congestive Heart Failure according to The New York Heart Association (NYHA) (severe heart failure with poor outcome and decreased survival rate).
  • Cancer diagnosed within the last 12 months (except basal cell carcinoma of the skin), and/or ongoing active cancer therapy.
  • Severe liver disease
  • Severe autoimmune diseases requiring immunosuppressant treatment.
• Pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, or significant bronchiectasis.
• Treatment with oral steroid < 1 month prior to baseline visit.
• Oral/intravenous antibiotics < 1 month prior to baseline visit.
• Immunosuppressant therapy such as Cyclosporine and Azathioprine.
• Consumption regularly of fish/krill oil (liquid, capsule, powder) as an oral supplement < 1 month prior baseline visit.
• Known fish or shellfish allergy.
• Participant in any other clinical study.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, UC, microscopic colitis), celiac disease, malabsorption, lactose intolerance.
• Severe cognitive impairment where the participants are not able to comply to protocol.
• Any reason why, in the opinion of the investigator, the patient cannot participate, or is not in the patient's best interest.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Best Standard of Care + Placebo; 6 gram/day (1000 mg per capsule) of natural oil, duration of 20 weeks. The placebo is a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), with triglyceride from natural fatty acid, mainly caprylic- and capric acid.	Dietary supplement: Placebo; MCT oil
Active Comparator: Best Standard of Care + CARDIO®; 6 gram/day ( 1000 mg per capsule) of unrefined salmon oil, duration of 20 weeks. CARDIO® capsule contains 1000 mg of full spectrum of omega fatty acids, including 21 different fatty acids, with a minimum of 270 mg polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and10 mg lipopeptides.	Dietary supplement: CARDIO®; CARDIO® is manufactured according to Good Manufacturing Practices for food facilities complying with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles. The product is intended for use in manufacturing of human food products and human consumption, including food supplements, and have been Generally Recognized as Safe (self-affirmed GRAS). The fresh unrefined salmon oil is produced by Hofseth Biocare ASA

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Level of oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)	Across time, change in mean serum level of oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change of C-reactive protein (CRP)	Measure mean serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (mg/L), measured between the two treatment groups. Blood samples taken at day 0 (baseline) and 20 week.	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Pulmonary airflow measure	Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) measured with spirometry at baseline, week 6,12 and 20.	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Self-reported measurement in COPD	Mean score of COPD assessment test (CAT), measured at week 6,12 and 20.	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Pulmonary exacerbation	The rate of moderate and severe exacerbations. Moderate exacerbation is defined as use of rescue medication of bronchodilators in combination of antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids. Severe exacerbation is defined as one that requires hospitalization.	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Change of immunregulatory cytokines	Mean serum pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, measured between the two treatment groups. Blood samples taken at day 0 (baseline) and 20 week.	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Rate of composite event	Number of composite score events defined as if one of the following occurs: A worsening of 2 points in self-reported measurement CAT, FEV1 reduction of 100 ml, or Moderate and severe exacerbations. The number of composite score events will be calculated from day 0 (baseline) to 6 weeks, from 6 to 12 weeks, and for 12 to 20 weeks.	Day 0 (baseline) to 20 week.
Rate of cardiovascular event	Number of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event (MACE) events is defined as if one of the following occurs: Myocardial infarct, Stroke or Cardiovascular death	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Concentration of SCFA in stool	Determine fecal microbiota composition (16S rRNA) and fecal/plasma metabolome (short-chain fatty acid, SCFA) , measured between the two treatment groups. Stool samples taken at day 0 (baseline) and 20 week.	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Change in concomitant medication	Any adjustment in concomitant medication during	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Change of white blood cells	Changes in blood eosinophils (µL), measured between the two treatment groups. Blood samples taken at day 0 (baseline) and 20 week..	Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events	Safety profile of CARDIO® for each participant randomized to this investigating treatment group. Safety parameters from blood sample of liver function, hemoglobulin, and kidney function will be investigated. The trial will be monitored according to Good Clinical Practice, this to secure the participants safety and well-being. The time frame will be until week 24, four weeks post ended investigational product.	Day 0 (baseline) to week 24.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hofseth Biocare ASA
• Collaborators: Møre og Romsdal Hospital Trust
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dag Arne L Hoff, MDAssoc.prof, More and Romsdal Hospital Trust

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 29, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 10, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): November 23, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 26, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 25, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: anti-inflammatory; Lung Diseases; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Pulmonary Disease; salmon oil; marine-derived Omega 3; Chronic Airway Disease; Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Disease Attributes; Chronic Disease; Lung Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
• Other Study ID Numbers: CARDIO-COPD; 259935 (Other Identifier: Ethics Committee)

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