Evaluation of the Impact of Medium-chain Fatty Acids in the Evolution of Newly Diagnosed Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI-MCT)

Evaluation of the Impact of Medium-chain Fatty Acids in the Evolution of Newly Diagnosed Mild Cognitive Impairment: Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered the intermediate stage between the changes observed in physiological aging and dementia. Currently, there is no drug therapy, and available drugs offer only minimal benefit on symptoms, only partially slowing the course of the condition. Studies in the literature have investigated the role of omega-3 fatty acids in MCI, and when administered over a period of six months, they appear to improve clinical condition and mood. In addition, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) appear to exert an antioxidant function, enhance cognitive ability in patients with MCI or Alzheimer's, and promote deep sleep state.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Mediterranean-type food regimen using extra virgin olive oil; Dietary supplement: Mediterranean-type diet with MCT supplementation

Detailed Description

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered the intermediate stage between the changes observed in physiological aging and dementia. The need to diagnose MCI at an early stage is driven by the hypothesis that therapeutic interventions may be more effective in the early stages of the disease. In addition, many studies have shown that sleep disturbances can affect neurodegeneration and be used as a marker of disease, manifesting before cognitive impairment itself. Currently, there is no drug therapy, and available drugs offer only minimal benefit on symptoms, only partially slowing the course of the condition. Studies in the literature have investigated the role of omega-3 fatty acids in MCI, and when administered over a period of six months, they appear to improve clinical condition and mood. In addition, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) appear to exert an antioxidant function, enhance cognitive ability in patients with MCI or Alzheimer's, and promote deep sleep state

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Prof. Luigi Mario Castello; Phone Number: 0131206893; Email: luigi.castello@ospedale.al.it

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Piedmont
    • Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy, 15121
      • Recruiting
      • Clinical Trial Center
      • Contact: Clinical Trial Center; Phone Number: 0131206893; Email: clinicaltrialcenter@ospedale.al.it

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 85 years;
• Diagnosis of MCI;
• Disease duration of less than 24 months from symptom onset;
• Absence of malnutrition (diagnosed according to the NRS 2002 screening test) and with oral intakes sufficient to cover energy requirements (calculated by the Harris-Benedict formula, adjusted for activity factor and pathology);
• Ability to understand and sign informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients on total or supplemental enteral nutrition
• Severe dysphagia
• Patients with glycated hemoglobin > 8%
• Patients on insulin therapy
• Patients with poor beta-cell function (e.g., pancreasectomy, acute and chronic pancreatitis)
• Patients with liver failure: MELD score > 9
• Malnutrition (diagnosed according to the NRS 2002 screening test) and with per os intakes < 60% of energy requirements (calculated using the Harris-Benedict formula, corrected for activity factor and pathology)
• Metabolic disorders and/or enzyme disorders, dyslipidemia with total cholesterolemia >300 mg/dl and/or triglyceridemia >400 mg/dl)
• Acute inflammatory disease or ongoing or recent (within 30 days) infectious states
• Hypo- and hyperthyroidism not adequately compensated by treatment
• Heart failure (NYHA III-IV), unstable angina, recent (<6 months) acute cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Neurological disorders other than MCI, psychiatric disorders
• Nutrition and eating disorder
• Alcohol abuse
• Institutionalized patients
• Participation in experimental therapies in the 2 months prior to enrollment
• Allergy to MCT oil, nuts

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Mediterranean-type food regimen using extra virgin olive oil; Patients with with first diagnosis of MCI referred to the S.C of Neurology and/or Geriatrics and/or Internal Medicine of the SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo of Alessandria University Hospital, randomized into the control arm	Other: Mediterranean-type food regimen using extra virgin olive oil; The arm will follow a Mediterranean diet with an indication to take extra virgin olive oil as the main fat in the diet daily
Experimental: Mediterranean-type diet with MCT supplementation; Patients with with first diagnosis of MCI referred to the S.C of Neurology and/or Geriatrics and/or Internal Medicine of the SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo of Alessandria University Hospital, randomized into the experimental arm	Dietary supplement: Mediterranean-type diet with MCT supplementation; The treatment arm will follow a Mediterranean diet supplemented by daily intake of MCT (30 mL)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effect of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) intake on cognitive impairment	Evaluate the effect of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) intake on cognitive decline in patients with first diagnosis of MCI through the use of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), that includes a series of tests of visuospatial/executive functions, naming, attention, language, abstraction, delayed recall, and orientation for a total score of 30 (best cognitive status).	6 months after baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Positive effect of MCT intake on sleep quality	Evaluate the positive effect of MCT intake on sleep quality in patients with MCI using the Pittsburgh and Epworth Scales, sleep quality rating scales.	Baseline and 6 months after baseline
Evaluation of quality of life	Assessing quality of life through the QoL AD score (Quality of life in Alzheimer's Disease), characterized by 15 items that can be answered by choosing from four options that are scored from 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent). The total score ranges from 13 (worst quality of life) to 52 (best quality of life).	Baseline, 3 months after baseline and 6 months after baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo di Alessandria
• Collaborators: Dr. Schär AG / SPA

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 3, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 3, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 3, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 23, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 30, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 4, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Montreal Cognitive Assessment; medium-chain triglycerides
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: ASO.MedI.23.02

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