Skip to content

Galectin-3 Blockade in Patients With High Blood Pressure

Galectin-3 Inhibition With Modified Citrus Pectin in Hypertension

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01960946
Enrollment
59
Registered
2013-10-11
Start date
2013-10-31
Completion date
2018-08-30
Last updated
2021-02-21

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

Conditions

Hypertension

Keywords

Hypertension, Galectin 3, Fibrosis, Vascular Stiffness, Echocardiography

Brief summary

This study will investigate if Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) can help people with high blood pressure. MCP is a dietary supplement that is derived from plants, and therefore is not subject to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, MCP has been deemed as 'generally regarded as safe' by the FDA. This study will examine whether Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) can help people with high blood pressure. The study will help understand how MCP may affect the risk for heart disease in patients with high blood pressure.

Detailed description

Gal-3 appears to be a potential mediator of cardiac fibrosis, preceding the development of clinical heart failure. In this study, we seek to identify individuals at risk for the development of heart failure based on clinical hypertension and elevated Gal-3 concentrations. Participants will be randomized to receive a Gal-3 inhibitor (MCP) or placebo. The primary outcome will be the effect on collagen metabolism, and secondary outcomes include echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function, and non-invasive measures of vascular function.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTModified Citrus Pectin (MCP) vs placebo

5 grams by mouth three times a day

Sponsors

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
CollaboratorNIH
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 21-70 years * Physician diagnosed hypertension on stable therapy for 3 months * Elevated galectin-3 level (above sex-specific median based on Framingham Heart Study measures) * Able to understand the protocol and provide informed consent in English

Exclusion criteria

* Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure \> 170mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \> 100mmHg * Evidence of secondary hypertension * History of heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation * Left ventricular ejection fraction \< 45% on echocardiography * Use of aldosterone antagonists * History of liver cirrhosis * History of pulmonary fibrosis * Kidney dysfunction, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate \< 45 ml/min/1.73m2 * Anemia, defined as hematocrit \< 37% in men and \< 34% in women * Use of chelating agents * History of Active cancer or malignancy * Known pregnancy, those unwilling to avoid pregnancy during the course of the study, or women currently breastfeeding * Hyperkalemia on screening labs, defined as potassium \>5.2 * Anticipated inability to complete or comply with study protocol * History of angioedema

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in markers of collagen metabolismBaseline and 6 monthsPrimary aim will be change in markers of collagen metabolism (PICP, PIIICP, ICTP, TIMP-1) in MCP versus placebo groups over 6 months of treatment.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in galectin-3 levelBaseline and 6 monthsChanges in galectin-3 level from baseline until 6 months will be compared between MCP and placebo groups
Changes in cardiac structure and functionBaseline and 6 monthsChanges in cardiac structure and function will be examined using 2-D echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. This will include changes in left ventricular mass, dimensions, left atrial size, and left ventricular diastolic function.
Changes in arterial stiffnessBaseline and 6 monthsWe will examine changes in arterial stiffness (including augmentation index, carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity) from baseline to 6 months in the MCP and placebo groups

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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