Effect of Caffeine Consumption on Protein Biomarkers and Cardiovascular Disease

April 5, 2024 updated by: Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Feasibility Study for Investigating the Effect of Caffeine Consumption on Protein Biomarkers Related to Cardiovascular Disease

Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed substances worldwide. This study looks to test and measure the changes in different biomarkers in the blood before and after having caffeine using capillary and venous blood sampling methods. A biomarker is a measurable indicator of biological processes. The primary goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate participant rate and adherence. It will also learn about how caffeine affects different biomarkers that may be related to cardiovascular disease. Finally, it will assess the accuracy of the capillary blood samples compared to the venous blood samples. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • What is the feasibility of recruiting and retaining participants?
  • Are the study procedures appropriate to be translated to a larger future study?

Researchers will compare caffeine to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if

Participants will:

  • Be randomly assigned to the control group or the caffeine group. Individuals in the control group will be taking a placebo pill with no effect and those in the caffeine group will be taking 400mg of caffeine in pill form.
  • Be asked to undergo a fast of at least 8 hours overnight before taking two placebo pills or the 400 mg of caffeine via two caffeine pills. They will be required to stay fasted for 6 hours after taking the pill as well. The total time fasted will be at least 14 hours.
  • Have blood collected using three different methods before taking the two pills, 3 hours after taking the pills and 6 hours after taking the pills. The 3 methods include intravenous (IV) blood sampling, finger prick and collection on Whatman 903 Protein Saver Card and collection using the TASSO+ device. The TASSO+ blood collection device is a small capillary blood collection device that is designed to be easy to use and able to be used outside of a hospital/lab setting. Whatman 903 Protein Saver Cards are special filter paper with five circles for samples, that are designed for the collection and storage of blood.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Proteomic biomarkers related to disease risk factors may shed light on the pathogenesis of different diseases. There is a knowledge gap in the effects of lifestyle interventions on the proteome, mainly because collection of blood samples by venipuncture for proteomics analysis is tedious and expensive. Discovering an at-home capillary blood collection method with samples that contain protein profiles that mirror or can be correlated to those of venous samples has the potential to greatly improve access to research studies. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the most common cause of death worldwide. Caffeine is a commonly consumed substance. Many studies have shown a relationship between caffeine and reduced risk of CVD; however, the mechanisms remain mostly unknown.

The investigators are conducting a two-part feasibility study examining the effect of caffeine consumption on the relative levels of 92 cardiovascular-related protein biomarkers in samples obtained using different blood collection technologies to compare protein profiles between capillary and venous blood samples and further clarify the protective mechanisms of caffeine in mitigating CVD risk. By integrating both of these components into a single trial, the investigators aim to reduce the burden placed on participants, making the study easier and more accessible.

For the preliminary testing of the at-home blood collection methods compared with intravenous sampling, a group of 10 individuals (evenly split between male and female) will be recruited. In this phase, participants will be subject to blood collection by intravenous sampling, as well as the TASSO+ device and finger prick and collection on Whatman Protein 903 Saver Cards. After the first portion of the study is complete, data from the 10 patients will be analyzed to determine the most accurate and reliable capillary blood collection device. This sampling device will show a reasonable correlation to venipuncture, with a threshold of correlation above 70%.

For the larger at-home testing of the selected blood collection method, a group of 26 individuals will participate, again, with an even split between males and females. Participants in this second cohort will no longer have to come on premise for intravenous sampling. They can complete the entire study remotely, further reducing logistical challenges. In this phase, blood will only be collected using the capillary blood collection device that best correlates with venipuncture as validated in the first part of the study.

After the second portion of the study is complete, data from the first 10 participants will be integrated and compared with data from the second 26 participants to evaluate the effect of caffeine vs placebo on biomarkers, as well as identify any significant differences between the two cohorts.

In both phases, participants will undergo a fast of at least 8 hours prior to the administration of the caffeine or placebo. Following this fast, blood will be collected (either at home or in the lab) prior to the ingestion of the caffeine pill or placebo. Blood will also be collected at 3 and 6 hours after the ingestion of the caffeine pill or placebo. Blood samples will either be collected in the lab or collected at-home then mailed back to the lab, and stored in a -80°C freezer until proteomic analysis may be conducted to investigate the changes in biomarkers.

With this being a feasibility study, the investigators are hoping to see some results from this sample size, then translate their findings to a larger study with more participants conducted over a longer period of time in the future.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

36

Phase

  • Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

    • Ontario
      • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8L 2X2
        • Hamilton General Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Guillaume Pare, MD
      • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8L 2X2
        • David Braley Research Institute
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Guillaume Pare, MD
      • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4L8
        • McMaster University, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Guillaume Pare, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Participants must be over the age of 18 to participate in the study. This is based on 400mg of caffeine being deemed safe for healthy adults.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants are not to be pregnant or trying to get pregnant or lactating as the recommended caffeine consumption for these individuals is less than what would be administered in this study.
  • Individuals who are diabetic will be excluded from this study due to the fasting period, potentially leading to a low blood sugar state.
  • Individuals with the following conditions will be excluded from the study: Hypertension or a history of hypertension Glaucoma Thyroid disease Heart disease Seizure disorder The investigators will screen the participant's medical conditions and not include anyone whose condition may interfere.
  • Individuals who experience anxiety or have been diagnosed with other mental illnesses will want to consider their participation in this study. Those who experience anxiety may experience more anxiety-related symptoms with the consumption of caffeine. The investigators will screen participant's for anxiety-related disorders.
  • Individuals who have recently undergone major surgery. Major surgery is any intervention that has resulted in the penetration and opening of a body cavity (i.e., chest or abdominal). Recent is within the last month.
  • Individuals who are taking medication which may have adverse interactions with caffeine will be excluded from the study. The investigators will screen the participant's medications and not include anyone whose medications may interfere.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Caffeine - Phase 1
The sample size of this arm is 5 participants. In this arm, participants will have to come to the Population Health Research Institute building to complete study procedures. They will undergo an overnight fast of at least 8 hours, then undergo blood collection by intravenous sampling, as well as by the TASSO+ device and finger prick and collection on Whatman Protein 903 Saver Cards. They will then ingest a 400mg dose of caffeine and remain fasted for the following 6 hours. At 3 hours and 6 hours post caffeine consumption, participants will have their blood collected in the same manner as the initial blood collection.
Participants would take two Wake-Ups 200mg Caffeine tablets to meet the target dose of 400mg of caffeine. These are a registered natural health product with Health Canada (NPN 80003474). They are developed by Adrem Brands, which was established in 1951. Quality control testing is performed at a third-party independent lab, Nucro-Technics, which is audited by Health Canada and the US FDA. This ensures that the caffeine tablets comply with Health Canada standards. The tablets contain caffeine anhydrous-a processed, dehydrated form of caffeine-which allows for a standard dose per tablet. The tablets are sugar-free, which reduces the confounding effect of sugar on our results; thus, the investigators can be more confident that the obtained results are reflective of the association between caffeine and the CVD-related protein biomarkers.
TASSO+ is a blood lancet device that uses negative pressure to draw capillary blood from the upper arm into a standard SST tube of volume 500μL. The small volume of blood collected makes this device less invasive than traditional collection methods. It is also safer and easier to use since it offers automated sample collection. TASSO manufactures a number of special devices for capillary blood sampling that have been validated as safe for consumer use, and the Tasso+ device is licensed with Health Canada for research use.
The Whatman Protein 903 Saver Card is a specialized filter paper designed for the collection, storage, and elution of biological samples, including blood. It contains five half-inch circles that hold 75 to 80 µL of blood, making it an efficient and reliable method of obtaining dried blood spot (DBS) samples. The participant's finger will be pricked using a sterile, disposable lancet, and drops of blood will be collected on the Whatman 903 Protein Saver Card to fill nine ½ inch discs via capillary action. The blood spots will be allowed to dry at ambient temperature (21°C) for two hours. Whatman Protein 903 Saver Cards undergo strict quality control and GMP manufacturing standards, which ensures high quality and reproducibility.
Blood will be collected from the medial cubital vein according to the standard venous blood sampling protocol into an EDTA tube with a volume up to 4mL.
Placebo Comparator: Control - Phase 1
The sample size of this arm is 5 participants. In this arm, participants will have to come to the Population Health Research Institute building to complete study procedures. They will undergo an overnight fast of at least 8 hours, then undergo blood collection by intravenous sampling, as well as by the TASSO+ device and finger prick and collection on Whatman Protein 903 Saver Cards. They will then ingest 2 placebo pills and remain fasted for the following 6 hours. At 3 hours and 6 hours post caffeine consumption, participants will have their blood collected in the same manner as the initial blood collection.
TASSO+ is a blood lancet device that uses negative pressure to draw capillary blood from the upper arm into a standard SST tube of volume 500μL. The small volume of blood collected makes this device less invasive than traditional collection methods. It is also safer and easier to use since it offers automated sample collection. TASSO manufactures a number of special devices for capillary blood sampling that have been validated as safe for consumer use, and the Tasso+ device is licensed with Health Canada for research use.
The Whatman Protein 903 Saver Card is a specialized filter paper designed for the collection, storage, and elution of biological samples, including blood. It contains five half-inch circles that hold 75 to 80 µL of blood, making it an efficient and reliable method of obtaining dried blood spot (DBS) samples. The participant's finger will be pricked using a sterile, disposable lancet, and drops of blood will be collected on the Whatman 903 Protein Saver Card to fill nine ½ inch discs via capillary action. The blood spots will be allowed to dry at ambient temperature (21°C) for two hours. Whatman Protein 903 Saver Cards undergo strict quality control and GMP manufacturing standards, which ensures high quality and reproducibility.
Blood will be collected from the medial cubital vein according to the standard venous blood sampling protocol into an EDTA tube with a volume up to 4mL.
Participants would take two placebo pills to match the dosage of the intervention group. The investigators will use empty vegetable capsules from Health Bloom as the placebo for the control group. These capsules contain no contaminants or additives and are free from the common allergens. They are sugar-free-unlike most placebo pills, which reduces the confounding effect of sugar on our results. They are developed by Health Bloom, which is a Canadian company established in 2015. These capsules undergo testing at various stages of production to ensure purity and quality control. Each ingredient is tested prior to formulation, and the final capsules are subjected to thorough testing post-development. The capsules are white, and similar in appearance to the caffeine pill given to participants in the intervention group.
Experimental: Caffeine - Phase 2
The sample size of this arm is 13 participants. In this arm, participants will remain at home to complete study procedures. They will undergo an overnight fast of at least 8 hours, then self-collect blood using the TASSO+ device. They will then ingest a 400mg dose of caffeine and remain fasted for the following 6 hours. At 3 hours and 6 hours post caffeine consumption, participants will collect their blood using the TASSO+ device.
Participants would take two Wake-Ups 200mg Caffeine tablets to meet the target dose of 400mg of caffeine. These are a registered natural health product with Health Canada (NPN 80003474). They are developed by Adrem Brands, which was established in 1951. Quality control testing is performed at a third-party independent lab, Nucro-Technics, which is audited by Health Canada and the US FDA. This ensures that the caffeine tablets comply with Health Canada standards. The tablets contain caffeine anhydrous-a processed, dehydrated form of caffeine-which allows for a standard dose per tablet. The tablets are sugar-free, which reduces the confounding effect of sugar on our results; thus, the investigators can be more confident that the obtained results are reflective of the association between caffeine and the CVD-related protein biomarkers.
TASSO+ is a blood lancet device that uses negative pressure to draw capillary blood from the upper arm into a standard SST tube of volume 500μL. The small volume of blood collected makes this device less invasive than traditional collection methods. It is also safer and easier to use since it offers automated sample collection. TASSO manufactures a number of special devices for capillary blood sampling that have been validated as safe for consumer use, and the Tasso+ device is licensed with Health Canada for research use.
Placebo Comparator: Control - Phase 2
The sample size of this arm is 13 participants. In this arm, participants will remain at home to complete study procedures. They will undergo an overnight fast of at least 8 hours, then self-collect blood using the TASSO+ device. They will then ingest 2 placebo pills and remain fasted for the following 6 hours. At 3 hours and 6 hours post caffeine consumption, participants will collect their blood using the TASSO+ device.
TASSO+ is a blood lancet device that uses negative pressure to draw capillary blood from the upper arm into a standard SST tube of volume 500μL. The small volume of blood collected makes this device less invasive than traditional collection methods. It is also safer and easier to use since it offers automated sample collection. TASSO manufactures a number of special devices for capillary blood sampling that have been validated as safe for consumer use, and the Tasso+ device is licensed with Health Canada for research use.
Participants would take two placebo pills to match the dosage of the intervention group. The investigators will use empty vegetable capsules from Health Bloom as the placebo for the control group. These capsules contain no contaminants or additives and are free from the common allergens. They are sugar-free-unlike most placebo pills, which reduces the confounding effect of sugar on our results. They are developed by Health Bloom, which is a Canadian company established in 2015. These capsules undergo testing at various stages of production to ensure purity and quality control. Each ingredient is tested prior to formulation, and the final capsules are subjected to thorough testing post-development. The capsules are white, and similar in appearance to the caffeine pill given to participants in the intervention group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Participant rate
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption
To evaluate participant rate, the investigators will determine (1) how many participants enter the study at a time, (2) how long it takes to recruit enough participants into the study, and (3) what are the refusal rates for participation. Their goal is to have a participant rate of 75%, meaning that they are able to recruit 75% of the people that are approached.
From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption
Participant Adherence
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption
To evaluate participant adherence, the investigators will determine the retention and follow-up rates as the participants move through the study. Their goal is to have an adherence rate of 95% as this will help to avoid attrition bias, which will ensure that there will be no significant differences between the analyzed cohort vs. participants who were lost to follow-up or withdrew from the study.
From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption
Participant satisfaction
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption
User experience with the capillary blood collection devices will be evaluated using a satisfaction survey. Participants will rate their experience using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from extremely difficult (1 point) to extremely easy (5 points) for four questions related to ease-of-use, and from not usable (1 point) to no pain (5 points) for one question related to comfort of use. The investigators will consider a score of ≥20 to indicate acceptability and suitability of the device. They will consider achieving a satisfaction score of ≥20 from >80% of participants to be feasible.
From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Significant changes in biomarkers observed after the ingestion of caffeine
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption
The investigators plan to investigate the effect of caffeine consumption on the relative levels of 92 protein biomarkers included in the OLINK CVD III panel. This will shed light on specific proteins and pathways that underpin caffeine's potential protective role against CVD. This will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms involved in caffeine's influence on CVD risk. The protein biomarkers expressed in the samples will be measured using OLINK proteomic analysis which will produce an NPX value for each of the measured biomarkers on the panels being used with the collected blood samples. They will compare the biomarker levels at the different timepoints post-caffeine consumption to those at baseline (timepoint 0).
From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption
Determine the correlation between capillary sampling and intravenous sampling
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption in phase 1 cohort
To accomplish this objective, the investigators need to determine how well the protein biomarker levels correlate between the samples collected from the different capillary microsampling devices (TASSO+ device and finger prick and collection on Whatman Protein 903 Saver Cards) and intravenous blood sampling.
From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption in phase 1 cohort
Determine the stability of capillary samples
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption
The investigators need to determine the relative stability of the protein biomarkers measured from the different sample types under different, week-long preanalytical storage conditions (-80 C, 20°C, and 37°C for 7 days). These conditions mimic possible temperature fluctuations during the shipping chain of the remote samples from the end-user to the lab.
From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 hours post caffeine or placebo consumption

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Guillaume Pare, MD, Population Health Research Institute

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

April 8, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 10, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 2, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 5, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

April 11, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 11, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 5, 2024

Last Verified

April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make IPD available.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Healthy

Clinical Trials on Caffeine Pill

Subscribe