Effects of a Combined Supplementation of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and Probiotics (Vivomixx®) as add-on to a First-line Immunotherapy in Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (CLAProMS)

Effects of a Combined Supplementation of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA/Tonalin® FFA 80) and Probiotics (Vivomixx®/VSL#3) as add-on to a First-line Immunotherapy in Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis

The goal of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study is to investigate whether the combination of food supplementation with Tonalin® and specific probiotics is a safe and effective add-on to first-line disease modifying treatment (DMT, interferon-beta derivatives as well as glatirameracetate and other glatirameroids) in relapsing remitting MS (RRMS).

100 patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either both food supplements for 48 weeks or to receive placebo in addition to their established first-line disease modifying treatment (DMT). The two randomized groups will be compared concerning the change in volume of T2-weighted hyperintense lesions from baseline to 48 weeks.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Vivomixx®; Dietary supplement: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA/Tonalin® FFA 80); Other: Maltose placebo; Other: Sunflower oil placebo

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

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Luisa Klotz, Prof.; Phone Number: 48165 +49 (0)251 83; Email: MS-Studienambulanz@ukmuenster.de
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Jan Lünemann, Prof.; Phone Number: 48165 +49 (0)251 83; Email: MS-Studienambulanz@ukmuenster.de

Study Locations

• Germany
  • BW
    • Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 69120
      • Recruiting
      • Universitätsklinik Heidelberg, Neurologische Klinik
      • Contact: Brigitte Wildemann, Prof.
  • Hessen
    • Mainz, Hessen, Germany
      • Recruiting
      • Neurological study centre, Department of Neurology
  • NRW
    • Münster, NRW, Germany
      • Recruiting
      • IIT unit of the Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology
      • Contact: Luisa Klotz, Prof.; Phone Number: 48165 +4925183; Email: luisa.klotz@ukmuenster.de
    • Osnabrück, NRW, Germany, 49076
      • Recruiting
      • Klinikum Osnabrück GmbH, Klinik für Neurologie
      • Contact: Susanne Windhagen, Dr.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis according to current McDonald Criteria, EDSS maximal 5.5, 18-60 years
• stable treatment with first-line DMT (IFNbeta, teriflunomide or glatiramer acetate/ other glatirameroids) for at least 6 months
• absence of a clinical relapse for at least 3 months before inclusion
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of primary or secondary progressive MS or other active autoimmune disease

• intake/administration of the following disease modifying therapies:

  1. at any time point: alemtuzumab, cladribine
  2. during the last 6 months before inclusion: natalizumab, fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate, siponimod
  3. during the last 12 months before inclusion: mitoxantron, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, rituximab
• ingestion of other dietary supplementation (e.g. vitamins, probiotics, iron, calcium, prebiotics, such as omega-3-fatty acids)
• significant gastroenterological abnormality (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel disease, preexisting digestive lesions)
• accompanying systemic immunosuppressive treatment
• relevant dietary restriction (e.g. strictly vegan nutrition)
• women during pregnancy or lactation

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Dietary supplement; Vivomixx®/VSL#3 sachets p.o. (1.800 bio bacteria/d) and; Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA/Tonalin® FFA 80) capsules p.o. (2 g/d)	Dietary supplement: Vivomixx®; Daily application of four sachets, i.e. 1.800 bio bacteria/day for 48 weeks; Dietary supplement: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA/Tonalin® FFA 80); Daily application of two capsules p.o., i.e. 2g/day for 48 weeks
Placebo Comparator: Placebo-control; Maltose as Placebo to Vivomixx® and; Sunflower oil as Placebo to Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA/Tonalin® FFA 80)	Other: Maltose placebo; Daily application of four sachets for 48 weeks; Other: Sunflower oil placebo; Daily application of two capsules p.o for 48 weeks

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change of volume of 'hyperintense lesions in the T2-weighted MRI images' between baseline and after 48 weeks of therapy	The two randomised study groups (intervention and placebo groups) are compared with regard to the change of volume of new or enlarged 'hyperintense lesions in the T2-weighted MRI images' (hereafter T2 lesions) between the start of the study and after 48 weeks. T2 lesions were chosen as primary endpoint as this has been used as a surrogate marker of efficacy in several recent MS studies	48 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in T2 lesions at 48 weeks compared to baseline	Change in T2 lesions at 48 weeks compared to baseline (yes/no)	48 weeks
Number of new or enlarging T2-weighted hyperintense lesions	Number of new or enlarging T2-weighted hyperintense lesions based on the comparison of brain MRI-scans after 48 weeks of intervention as compared to baseline	48 weeks
Volume of new or enlarged 'hyperintense lesions in the T2-weighted MRI images' as well as double inversion recovery (DIR) images	Volume of new or enlarged 'hyperintense lesions in the T2-weighted MRI images' as well as double inversion recovery (DIR) images will be compared between the intervention arm and the placebo arm. This approach has been recently published and rises the probability to detect new brain lesions in MS without application of gadolinium with a sensitivity of 98.1%	48 weeks
Annualized relapse rate	All relapses confirmed by a physician will be documented and analysed. Clinical relapses are defined as onset of new or recurrent neurological symptoms lasting at least 24 hours, accompanied by objective abnormalities on a neurological examination, which are not explained solely by non-MS processes such as fever, infection, severe stress or drug toxicity. Annualized relapse rates are compared between the two study groups.	48 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Disease progression throughout the study	Disease progression throughout the study will be documented by assessment of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at baseline and at 48 weeks of the study as well as in case of unscheduled visits such as in case of a relapse. EDSS is a standardized measure of MS-related disability and a key endpoint in many clinical trials in MS.	48 weeks
Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life via MSIS-29 (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale)	Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life by use of the following validated and commonly used questionnaires: MSIS-29 (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale) to assess quality of life Patients will be asked to fill in this questionnaires at baseline, after 24 weeks of therapy and after 48 weeks of therapy. These additional outcomes are clinically relevant as the EDSS preferentially focuses on motor function with predominance of the lower limb.	48 weeks
Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life via FSMC (Fatigue Scale for Motion and Cognition)	Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life by use of the following validated and commonly used questionnaires: FSMC (Fatigue Scale for Motion and Cognition) to assess MS-related fatigue Patients will be asked to fill in this questionnaires at baseline, after 24 weeks of therapy and after 48 weeks of therapy. These additional outcomes are clinically relevant as the EDSS preferentially focuses on motor function with predominance of the lower limb.	48 weeks
Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life via SDMT (Symbol-Digit Modalities Test)	Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life by use of the following validated and commonly used questionnaires: SDMT (Symbol-Digit Modalities Test) to assess MS-related cognition Patients will be asked to fill in this questionnaires at baseline, after 24 weeks of therapy and after 48 weeks of therapy. These additional outcomes are clinically relevant as the EDSS preferentially focuses on motor function with predominance of the lower limb.	48 weeks
Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life via HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale)	Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life by use of the following validated and commonly used questionnaires: HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) to assess concomitant psychiatric symptoms Patients will be asked to fill in this questionnaires at baseline, after 24 weeks of therapy and after 48 weeks of therapy. These additional outcomes are clinically relevant as the EDSS preferentially focuses on motor function with predominance of the lower limb.	48 weeks
Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life via BDI-II (Beck's Depression Inventory)	Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life by use of the following validated and commonly used questionnaires: BDI-II (Beck's Depression Inventory) to assess concomitant psychiatric symptoms Patients will be asked to fill in this questionnaires at baseline, after 24 weeks of therapy and after 48 weeks of therapy. These additional outcomes are clinically relevant as the EDSS preferentially focuses on motor function with predominance of the lower limb.	48 weeks
Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life via TSQM-9 (Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication)	Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quality of life by use of the following validated and commonly used questionnaires: TSQM-9 (Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication) to assess treatment satisfaction Patients will be asked to fill in this questionnaires at baseline, after 24 weeks of therapy and after 48 weeks of therapy. These additional outcomes are clinically relevant as the EDSS preferentially focuses on motor function with predominance of the lower limb.	48 weeks
Changes in key peripheral blood immune signatures	Highly standardized flow-cytometry of PBMC will be performed in order to determine treatment-related changes in peripheral immune signatures.	48 weeks
Focus on signs of gastrointestinal and systemic side effects	The rate and nature of adverse events, changes in vital signs and physical examinations, and abnormal laboratory results will be documented and analysed.	48 weeks
Functional characterization of human myeloid cells	A comprehensive and detailed characterization of all major immune cell populations of the peripheral blood will be done. In addition a characterization of their maturity status, their activation state, as well as certain functional properties including cytokine production as well as production of cytolytic molecules will be assessed. The aim of the immunological analysis of peripheral blood immune signatures is to investigate whether a change in the composition and activation state of the immune cells in the peripheral blood can be observed as a consequence of the combined intervention with Tonalin® and Vivomixx® as compared to the placebo group. A particular focus will be on the reduction in proinflammatory properties of different myeloid cell populations, based on our preliminary work. The different immune cell populations will be analyzed both as percentages and as absolute cell numbers.	48 weeks
Correlation of identified immunological effects with main endpoints of MRI and clinical efficacy	The correlation of identified immunological effects with main endpoints of MRI (including rate of global brain and grey matter atrophy derived from structural MRI) and clinical efficacy will be analysed using multivariable regression methods or machine learning approaches.	48 weeks
Changes in diffuse white matter damage (measured by fractional anisotropy FA)	Changes in diffuse white matter damage (measured by fractional anisotropy FA)	48 weeks
Global brain atrophy, grey matter atrophy and white matter atrophy	Rate of global brain and grey matter atrophy derived from structural MRI.	48 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universität Münster
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Luisa Klotz, Prof., Universität Münster

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 2, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 2, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 15, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): June 27, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 8, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Nervous System Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Demyelinating Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Multiple Sclerosis; Sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
• Other Study ID Numbers: WWU21_0013

Drug and device information, study documents

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