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Metformin at the Cellular Level and Dosing for Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

Pilot Study of Metformin-induced CBP Phosphorylation at the Cellular Level and Corresponding Clinical Dose Response in Adults and Children

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01876992
Enrollment
10
Registered
2013-06-13
Start date
2012-01-31
Completion date
2015-06-30
Last updated
2017-09-26

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

Conditions

Diabetes, Obesity, Pre-diabetes

Keywords

diabetes, pediatrics, obesity, healthy volunteers, metformin, nutrition, healthy controls, bmi

Brief summary

The investigators know that metformin works at the level of the cells in the body by acting on a protein called Cyclic amine monophosphate- Response Binding Elements (CREB) binding protein or Constitutive Reverter of eIF2α Phosphorylation (CREP) Binding Protein (CBP). What the investigators do not know is how this process is affected when the dose of the metformin is increased or changed. Currently the same doses of metformin are often used in both children and adults, but it is possible that the dose of metformin should be based on age and weight. Understanding how CBP works could potentially help us to tailor metformin treatment individually for patients based on their age, weight and CBP response.

Detailed description

Our studies have shown that metformin acts at the cellular level by acting on a target protein, Cyclic amine monophosphate-Response Binding Elements (CREB) binding protein or CREP Binding Protein (CBP). Patients are treated with many different doses of metformin, some patients respond well to low doses while others require much higher doses. The investigators do not understand why this may be and are interested in knowing if the investigators can treat patents effectively with low doses. What the investigators do not know is how this process is affected when the dose of the metformin is increased or changed. Changes in metformin's target protein will provide evidence on the effectiveness of the dose. Also, currently the same doses of metformin are often used in both children and adults, but it is possible that the dose of metformin should be based on age and weight. Understanding how CBP works could potentially help us to tailor metformin treatment individually for patients based on their age, weight and CBP response.

Interventions

DRUGMetformin

Sponsors

Johns Hopkins University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
10 Years to 79 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Pediatric Inclusion Criteria: * Children 10-17 years. * Both genders (male and female) * All children must have a Primary Care Physician and/or an Endocrinologist who must be aware that the child under their care will be part of the study. * All children must have a Primary Care Physician and/or an Endocrinologist who is considering initiating metformin therapy now or in the near future as part of standard clinical care. * Naïve to metformin. * Either: Prediabetic children Or diabetic children under good glycemic control Pediatric

Exclusion criteria

* Children ages 10-17 who do not have parental consent and/or do not give assent * Children living in foster care * Children with allergies to foods in the breakfast menu * Children who currently consume any alcohol * Children on current antidiabetic medication or those who have been on any antidiabetic medication in the 3 months prior to enrolment * Children with a history of /or concurrent chronic disease (eg. heart, kidney, liver disease or any type of malignancy or pre-malignant condition) that required hospitalization within the last 6 months * Pregnancy * Refusal by a female participant who is of child bearing potential and sexually active to use contraceptive methods such as oral contraceptive pills, barrier methods and abstinence * Children weighing less than 36 kg * Children with any condition that increases the risk of lactic acidosis (e.g. cancer, infection, congestive heart failure, renal disease ) * Children with history of recent hospitalization for surgery, dehydration, sepsis, hypoxemia (within the past 6 months) * Children with history of weight loss, polyuria and polydipsia * Children who are currently enrolled in a weight management program * Children with known hypersensitivity to metformin * Children with a fasting blood glucose of \>180mg/dl * Children with a HbA1c level of ≥7% * Children with glycosuria * Children with clinical or laboratory evidence of hepatic disease- transaminase levels three times the upper normal range (Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)) and/or a increased level of Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), Prothrombin Time (PT), International Normalized Ratio (INR) from the reference normal range and a serum albumin less than the reference normal range of the Johns Hopkins Clinical Laboratories. * If iodinated contrast is used on a participant, due to possible acute alteration of renal function resulting in increased risk of lactic acidosis, the participant will be excluded. * Children with renal impairment * In children \>50kg, renal impairment is defined by a serum creatinine 1.4 mg/dl or higher in females or 1.5mg/dl or higher in males OR estimated Glomerular Filtration Rates (eGFR) ≤60mL/min by the Schwartz formula. * In children \<50kg, renal impairment is defined by eGFR \<100 mL/min by the Schwartz formula. * Children with acid-base disturbance as defined by serum bicarbonate levels less than 20mEq/L or greater than 29mEq/L. Adult Inclusion Criteria: * Adults 18-79 years * Both genders (male and female) * All participants must have a Primary Care Physician and/or an Endocrinologist who must be aware that the adult under their care will be part of the study * All participants must have a Primary Care Physician and/or an Endocrinologist who is considering initiating metformin therapy now or in the near future as part of standard clinical care. * Naive to metformin * EITHER: Prediabetic adults OR diabetic adults, under fair glycemic control: Adult

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
% Cyclic Amine Mono Phosphate (cAMP) Response Element Binding Protein (CBP) White Blood Cell (WBC) Phosphorylation (Metformin Treated vs no Treatment)10 weeksTo assess metformin-induced Cyclic Amine Mono Phosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CBP) phosphorylation in circulating white blood cells both in vivo and ex vivo and determine its relationship to subsequent changes in body mass index, fasting blood glucose.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in BMIBaseline and after about 30 daysThe BMI is an index measure of body weight and is used to define states of obesity. Height ( in meters) and weight (in Kilograms) are used to calculate a BMI (kg/m2).
Fasting Blood Glucose.30 daysA fasting blood sugar level less than 100 mg/dL is normal. A fasting blood sugar level from 100 to 125 mg/dL is considered prediabetes. If a subject has a blood sugar of 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate tests, they are diagnosed with diabetes. Metformin decreases fasting blood sugar.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Effect of Dose EscalationApproximately Week 10Compare the effect of dose escalation of metformin on CBP phosphorylation in white blood cells in both in vivo and ex vivo assays to subsequent physiological changes in vivo for adults and children. CBP phosphorylation will be measured by western blot analysis using a probe that is specific for the phosphorylated CBP protein. The outcome will be the % difference between the patient before starting metformin and at each dose increment.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Patients recruited through the Clinical Research Center.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Metformin
Doses will be increased incrementally. Decisions to escalate the metformin dose will be made based upon tolerability of side effects as described in the schedule of evaluations to follow. All subjects will be monitored for safety while receiving metformin. Any participant with blood glucose of \<60mg/dl at any time while receiving metformin will have therapy stopped and will be withdrawn from the study. For children \<50kg: Baseline:250mg po qd, Week 2:250mg po bid, Week 4:500mg po am/250mg po pm , Week 8:500mg po bid. For children ≥50kg: Baseline:500mg po qd, Week 2:500mg po bid, Week 4:1000mg po am/500mg po pm, Week 8:1000mg po bid. For adults: Baseline:500mg po qd,Week2:500mg po bid,Week 4:1000mg po am/500mg po pm,Week 8:1000mg po bid. Metformin
5
Obese Controls
Three obese but otherwise healthy adult participants will be recruited into the study as controls. These will be individuals who are not currently (or previously) on any diabetic medication including metformin. There will be a single study visit and no medication will be administered. They will be administered a meal and pre and post-prandial blood samples will be drawn.
5
Total10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicObese ControlsMetforminTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
5 Participants5 Participants10 Participants
Age, Continuous36 years32 years34 years
Region of Enrollment
United States
5 participants5 participants10 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants3 Participants6 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
2 Participants2 Participants4 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 50 / 5
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 50 / 5

Outcome results

Primary

% Cyclic Amine Mono Phosphate (cAMP) Response Element Binding Protein (CBP) White Blood Cell (WBC) Phosphorylation (Metformin Treated vs no Treatment)

To assess metformin-induced Cyclic Amine Mono Phosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CBP) phosphorylation in circulating white blood cells both in vivo and ex vivo and determine its relationship to subsequent changes in body mass index, fasting blood glucose.

Time frame: 10 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Metformin% Cyclic Amine Mono Phosphate (cAMP) Response Element Binding Protein (CBP) White Blood Cell (WBC) Phosphorylation (Metformin Treated vs no Treatment)15 percent phosphorylation
Obese Controls% Cyclic Amine Mono Phosphate (cAMP) Response Element Binding Protein (CBP) White Blood Cell (WBC) Phosphorylation (Metformin Treated vs no Treatment)9 percent phosphorylation
Secondary

Change in BMI

The BMI is an index measure of body weight and is used to define states of obesity. Height ( in meters) and weight (in Kilograms) are used to calculate a BMI (kg/m2).

Time frame: Baseline and after about 30 days

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
MetforminChange in BMI-0.5 change in BMI (kg/m2)
Obese ControlsChange in BMI0 change in BMI (kg/m2)
Secondary

Fasting Blood Glucose.

A fasting blood sugar level less than 100 mg/dL is normal. A fasting blood sugar level from 100 to 125 mg/dL is considered prediabetes. If a subject has a blood sugar of 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate tests, they are diagnosed with diabetes. Metformin decreases fasting blood sugar.

Time frame: 30 days

Population: Data were not collected for this outcome measure.

Other Pre-specified

Effect of Dose Escalation

Compare the effect of dose escalation of metformin on CBP phosphorylation in white blood cells in both in vivo and ex vivo assays to subsequent physiological changes in vivo for adults and children. CBP phosphorylation will be measured by western blot analysis using a probe that is specific for the phosphorylated CBP protein. The outcome will be the % difference between the patient before starting metformin and at each dose increment.

Time frame: Approximately Week 10

Population: Escalating CBP phosphorylation was measured.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
MetforminEffect of Dose Escalation21 percent phosphorylation
Obese ControlsEffect of Dose Escalation8 percent phosphorylation

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