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Macronutrient Effects on Alzheimer's Disease (MEAL-2)

Macronutrient Effects on Alzheimer's Disease: HTN and IR (Hypertension and Insulin Resistance) (MEAL-2)

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02463084
Acronym
MEAL-2
Enrollment
60
Registered
2015-06-04
Start date
2013-03-31
Completion date
2016-06-30
Last updated
2018-08-09

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

Conditions

Insulin Resistance, Middle Age, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Prediabetic State, Prehypertension

Brief summary

This study compares the effects of a one-month diet high in saturated fat (SF), glycemic index (GI), and salt (Na+) to a diet low in these nutritional parameters on memory and other cognitive functions, on MRI measures of brain structure, function, and perfusion, as well as on blood and cerebrospinal fluid levels of amyloid-beta (Aβ), insulin, lipids (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, oxidized LDL, and triglycerides), cytokines, apolipoprotein E (ApoE), apolipoprotein J, cortisol, soluble low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (sLRP), and glucose in middle-aged adults (45-65 years of age) with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment.

Interventions

OTHERLow Diet

a 28-day course of 3 meals per day plus 2 snack that are either low in saturated fats, glycemic index and salt.

OTHERHigh Diet

a 28-day course of 3 meals per day plus 2 snack that are either high in saturated fats, glycemic index and salt.

Sponsors

Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
45 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Subjects will be middle-aged (45 to 65 years of age) and will fall on the continuum from healthy (no pre-hypertension or insulin resistance) to pre-hypertensive and insulin resistant (pHAIR). 2. Subjects will not be recruited based on memory status but will have normal memory or memory impairment with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Those subjects with MCI will have been assessed by physician and neuropsychologist experts and diagnosed with MCI according to Petersen criteria.

Exclusion criteria

1. Diabetes not controlled by diet or exercise; current or previous use of diabetes medications 2. Average systolic blood pressure on three occasions \<90 or \>139 mm/Hg, diastolic blood pressure \<60, or current use of anti-hypertensive medications; 3. Clinically significant elevations in liver function tests as follows: SGOT \> 1.5 X ULN, SGPT \> 1.5 X ULN, Alkaline Phosphate \> 1.5 ULN. 4. Clinically significant elevations in lipid profile as follows: LDL\>190, triglycerides\>340, or total cholesterol\>260 and LDL/HDL ratio \>3.0. 5. Significant neurologic disease that might affect cognition, including AD (MCI will be allowed), stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or severe head injury with loss of consciousness \> 30 minutes or with permanent neurologic sequelae; 6. Significant medical illness or organ failure, such as uncontrolled hypertension or cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver disease, or kidney disease; 7. Current use of antipsychotic, anti-depressant, anti-convulsant, anticoagulant, anxiolytic, or sedative medications; 8. Current use of cognition-enhancing medications; 9. Current use of glucocorticoids; 10. Current use of cholesterol-lowering medications, including: 1. HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors \[Statins: Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Fluvastatin (Lescol or Lescol EX), Lovastatin, Pravastatin (Pravachol), Rosuvastatin (Crestor), Simvastatin (Zocor)\] 2. Bile Acid Resins \[Cholestyramine (Questran), Colestipol, Colesevelam (Welchol)\] 3. Fibric Acids Derivatives \[Fenofibrate (Tricor), Gemfibrozil\] 4. Combinations \[Amlodipine/Atorvastatin, Niacin/Lovastatin (Advicor), Ezetimibe/Simvastatin (Vytorin)\] 5. Miscellaneous Categories \[Ezetimibe (Zetia), Niacin aka Nicotinic acid (Niaspan) 6. Over-the-counter \[Red yeast rice, Niacinamide, Omega 3 fatty acids (fish or flax seed), Slo-Niacin\] 11. Common allergies/sensitivities to the following food products: dairy, wheat, gluten, tree nuts or peanuts, eggs, corn, seafood and soy. Other food sensitivities will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 12. BMI ≤ 18.5 13. Current weight \<110 pounds 14. Clinically significant iron deficiency: Hemoglobin \<13.5 for white males, \<12.2 for white females, \<12.5 for black males, and \<11.5 for black females. 15. If female, menstruation in the past 12 months or hysterectomy and current hormone replacement therapy medication. 16. Major digestive disorders, absorption issues, or surgeries, including bowel resection, inflammatory bowel diseases (Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease), or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with a tendency toward diarrhea

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in cerebrospinal fluid levels of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers (CSF beta-amyloid 42)After 4 week diet interventionCSF beta-amyloid 42

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in brain structureAfter 4 week diet interventionMRI entorhinal cortex and white matter volume
Changes in adipose tissue distribution (Change in dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan and CT measures of central and subcutaneous body fat)After 4 week diet interventionChange in DEXA and CT measures of central and subcutaneous body fat
Changes in cognition (Change in delayed memory and executive function composites)After 4 week diet interventionChange in delayed memory and executive function composites
Change in brain function as measured by MRIAfter 4 week diet interventionChange in resting state default mode network connectivity
Change in brain perfusionAfter 4 week diet interventionChange in cerebral perfusion

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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