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Safety and Efficacy of Xenical in Children and Adolescents With Obesity-Related Diseases

Safety and Efficacy of Orlistat (Xenical, Hoffmann LaRoche) in African American and Caucasian Children and Adolescents With Obesity-Related Comorbid Conditions

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00001723
Enrollment
200
Registered
1999-11-04
Start date
1998-05-31
Completion date
2011-10-31
Last updated
2012-12-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Metabolic Disease, Obesity, Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Keywords

Dyslipidemia, Race, Body Fat, Visceral Fat, Sleep Apnea, Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, Childhood Obesity

Brief summary

Obesity is a condition affecting one-third off the U.S. population and is a major risk actor for the development of Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia (increased levels of fat in the blood), hypertension (high blood pressure), and other disorders of the heart and lungs. Individuals with the onset of obesity during childhood or adolescence are at an increased risk of obesity-related, diseases, both during adolescence and later in adult life. African American girls and women are at an increased risk for obesity, and have substantial rates of obesity-related diseases and causes of death. Further, many African American adult women fail to respond to many of the therapeutic approaches used to treat obesity. At present there are no medical therapies proven effective for the correction of severe obesity in children or adolescents. One medication that may have a favorable risk-benefit ratio in pediatric populations is Orlistat (Xenical, Hoffmann LaRoche). Orlistat works by preventing the action of enzymes in the digestive process, interfering with the absorption of approximately 1/3 of the fat eaten in the diet. Xenical appears to be effective for reducing weight and obesity-associated diseases in obese adults. Researchers propose to determine the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of Xenical in 12-17 year old severely obese African American and Caucasian children and adolescents who have one or more obesity-related disease (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, or Type 2 diabetes).

Detailed description

Obesity is a condition affecting one-third of the adult U.S. population and is a major risk factor for the development of Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and other cardiovascular and respiratory disorders. Individuals with the onset of obesity during childhood or adolescence are at increased risk for obesity-related, comorbid conditions, both during adolescence and later in life. African American girls and women are at particular risk for obesity, and have substantial rates of obesity-related morbidity and mortality. Further, African American adult women have a less satisfactory response to many therapeutic approaches used to treat obesity. At present, there are no medical therapies proven effective for the amelioration of severe obesity in children or adolescents. One medication that may have a favorable risk-benefit ratio in pediatric populations is orlistat (Xenical(Trademark), Hoffmann LaRoche). Orlistat acts by inhibiting gastrointestinal lipases, interfering with the absorption of approximately 1/3 of ingested dietary fat. Orlistat appears to be effective for reducing weight and obesity-associated comorbidities in obese adults. We propose to determine the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of orlistat in 12-17 year-old severely obese African American and Caucasian children and adolescents who have one or more obesity-related comorbidity (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, hepatic steatosis, insulin-resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, or Type 2 diabetes). Under this protocol, we have conducted an open-label pilot study of orlistat in twenty subjects, suggesting orlistat has a similar side effect profile in adolescents as in adults. We wish to determine the safety and efficacy of orlistat in reducing obesity-related comorbidities using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. All study participants will be enrolled in a psycho-educational weight loss program that includes nutrition education, cognitive-behavioral self-monitoring strategies, and promotion of physical activity. We will also study the effects of orlistat on fat preferences, and study the influence of genetic variables on energy expenditure and weight loss during treatment. A group of healthy, non-overweight children and adolescents will complete questionnaires and exercise studies as a control group for interpretation of results in overweight children and adolescents, but will not undergo phlebotomy or receive any medication.

Interventions

DRUGOrlistat

Subjects receive drug for 6 months plus a 12 week intensive behavioral weight los program. Subjects return for monthly visits for 3 more months.

DRUGPlacebo

Subjects receive drug for 6 months plus a 12 week intensive behavioral weight los program. Subjects return for monthly visits for 3 more months.

Sponsors

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
CollaboratorNIH
Roche Pharma AG
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Jack Yanovski
Lead SponsorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Good general health. Individuals taking medications for obesity-related comorbid conditions will not be excluded. Obesity: body mass index for age and triceps skinfold above the 95th percentile (determined by NHANES I age-, sex-, and race- specific data). All subjects will be required to be over 60 kg in body weight. Evidence for a quantifiable obesity-related comorbidity. Examples include: systolic or diastolic hypertension (determined by age-specific charts); frank Type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance assessed by oral glucose tolerance testing; hyperinsulinemia (defined as a fasting insulin greater than 15 mIU/mL); significant hyperlipidemia (total cholesterol greater than 200 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol greater than 129 mg/dL or fasting triglycerides greater than 200 mg/dL); hepatic steatosis (SGPT or SGOT above normal range with negative hepatitis studies) or sleep apnea documented by a sleep study. Age 12 to 17 years at the start of the study. For girls with childbearing potential, a negative pregnancy test before taking and while taking study medication. Sexually active females must be using an effective form of birth control. These methods include total abstinence (no sex), oral contraceptives (the pill), an intrauterine device (IUD), levonogestrol implants (Norplant), or medroxyprogesterone acetate injections (Depo-provera shots). If one of these cannot be used, contraceptive foam with a condom is recommended. Race of all four grandparents self-identified as either all Caucasian or all African American.

Exclusion criteria

Volunteers will be excluded (and referred to non-experimental treatment programs) for the following reasons: Presence of renal, hepatic (other than obesity-related steatosis), gastrointestinal, most endocrinologic (e.g., Cushing syndrome), or pulmonary disorders (other than either asthma not requiring continuous medication or sleep apnea-related disorders); Adolescent girls who are pregnant, who are currently nursing an infant, or who are having unprotected intercourse; Individuals who have, or whose parent or guardians have, current substance abuse or a psychiatric disorder or other condition which, in the opinion of the investigators, would impede competence or compliance or possibly hinder completion of the study; Subjects who regularly use prescription medications unrelated to the complications of obesity. Oral contraceptive use will be permitted, provided the contraceptive has been used for at least two months before starting study medication. The use of over-the-counter and prescription medications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis; depending on the medication, subjects who have continued to take prescription medication for at least 3 months prior to study entry may be eligible; Recent use (within six months) of anorexiant medications for the purpose of weight reduction; Inability to undergo MRI (e.g., volunteers with metal within their bodies including cardiac pacemakers, neural pacemakers, aneurysmal clips, shrapnel, ocular foreign bodies, cochlear implants, non-detachable electronic or electromechanical devices such as infusion pumps, nerve stimulators, bone growth stimulators, etc. that are contraindications). For pilot study participants, hypersensitivity or allergy to methylene blue. Individuals with documented G6PD deficiency will be excluded. INCLUSION CRITERIA: HEALTHY CONTROL CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: Volunteers will qualify for inclusion if they meet the following criteria: 1. Good general health. 2. Age 12-17 years at study entry. 3. Body mass index (BMI) for age above the 5th percentile and below 85th percentile, which is considered normal weight by CDC growth chart standards. 4. For females with childbearing potential, a negative pregnancy test at initial evaluation. 5. Race of all four grandparents self-identified as either all Caucasian or all African American.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in BMI Standard Deviation Scorebaseline to 6 monthsBody Mass index standard deviation score calculated for age and sex according to Centers for Disease Control standards. See: Kuczmarski RJ, Ogden CL, Guo SS, Grummer-Strawn LM, Flegal KM, Mei Z et al. 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States: methods and development. Vital Health Stat 11 2002; (246): 1-190.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Body Weightbaseline to 6 monthsWeight in kg
Change in Body Mass Indexbaseline to 6 monthsBMI is calculated in kg/m2. Change from baseline to 6 months of treatment
Change in Body Fat (kg)baseline to 6 monthsbody fat distribution measures obtained from Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)
Effect of Race on Change in Weight (kg)baseline to 6 monthsDifference in change of weight in kg according to race (Non-Hispanic White versus Non-Hispanic Black)

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Accrual for RCT began in 1999 and ended in 2008. All subjects were screened at the NIH Clinical Center.

Pre-assignment details

Most subjects screened but not enrolled (101) did not have an obesity-related comorbid condition (i.e., hypertension or dyslipidemia). 16 met a medical exclusion, and 13 declined participation after undergoing initial evaluation.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Orlistat
Orlistat 120 mg TID for 6 months plus a behavioral weight loss program Orlistat : Subjects receive drug for 6 months plus a 12 week intensive behavioral weight los program. Subjects return for monthly visits for 3 more months.
100
Placebo
Matching placebo 120 mg TID x 6 months plus a behavioral weight loss program Placebo : Subjects receive drug for 6 months plus a 12 week intensive behavioral weight los program. Subjects return for monthly visits for 3 more months.
100
Total200

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyLack of Efficacy67
Overall StudyLack of family interest45
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up22
Overall Studymedication intolerance12

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPlaceboOrlistatTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
100 Participants100 Participants200 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age Continuous14.52 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.46
14.65 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.38
14.59 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.41
Region of Enrollment
United States
100 participants100 participants200 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
66 Participants65 Participants131 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
34 Participants35 Participants69 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
95 / 10094 / 100
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 1002 / 100

Outcome results

Primary

Change in BMI Standard Deviation Score

Body Mass index standard deviation score calculated for age and sex according to Centers for Disease Control standards. See: Kuczmarski RJ, Ogden CL, Guo SS, Grummer-Strawn LM, Flegal KM, Mei Z et al. 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States: methods and development. Vital Health Stat 11 2002; (246): 1-190.

Time frame: baseline to 6 months

Population: Multiple imputation analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
OrlistatChange in BMI Standard Deviation Score-0.12 Standard Deviation ScoreStandard Error 0.02
PlaceboChange in BMI Standard Deviation Score-0.06 Standard Deviation ScoreStandard Error 0.02
p-value: 0.007ANCOVA
Secondary

Change in Body Fat (kg)

body fat distribution measures obtained from Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)

Time frame: baseline to 6 months

Population: Multiple Imputation analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
OrlistatChange in Body Fat (kg)-3.2 kgStandard Error 0.55
PlaceboChange in Body Fat (kg)-1.7 kgStandard Error 0.53
Secondary

Change in Body Mass Index

BMI is calculated in kg/m2. Change from baseline to 6 months of treatment

Time frame: baseline to 6 months

Population: Muliple imputation analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
OrlistatChange in Body Mass Index-1.44 kg per square meterStandard Error 0.26
PlaceboChange in Body Mass Index-0.50 kg per square meterStandard Error 0.2
Secondary

Change in Body Weight

Weight in kg

Time frame: baseline to 6 months

Population: Multiple imputation analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
OrlistatChange in Body Weight-2.9 kgStandard Error 0.7
PlaceboChange in Body Weight-0.6 kgStandard Error 0.7
Secondary

Effect of Race on Change in Weight (kg)

Difference in change of weight in kg according to race (Non-Hispanic White versus Non-Hispanic Black)

Time frame: baseline to 6 months

Population: Multiple imputation analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
OrlistatEffect of Race on Change in Weight (kg)-2.126 kgStandard Error 0.812
PlaceboEffect of Race on Change in Weight (kg)-3.742 kgStandard Error 1.046
Placebo - Non-Hispanic BlacksEffect of Race on Change in Weight (kg)0.415 kgStandard Error 0.835
Placebo - Non-Hispanic WhitesEffect of Race on Change in Weight (kg)-1.580 kgStandard Error 1.013

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026