Skip to content

Metabolic Effects of Metformin Therapy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Metabolic Effects of Metformin Therapy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04530747
Acronym
MET-OSA
Enrollment
16
Registered
2020-08-28
Start date
2021-01-28
Completion date
2021-11-30
Last updated
2023-01-19

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

Conditions

Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

Keywords

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Metformin

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to see if metformin improves metabolism in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Metformin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment and prevention of diabetes. It is not approved for use in patients with OSA.

Detailed description

Positive airway pressure (PAP) is standard therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but has shown mixed results for improvement of insulin sensitivity and does not reduce cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality, even in patients with established CV disease. Hence, eliminating intermittent hypoxia alone with standard PAP therapy may not be sufficient to restore metabolism. Additional adjunct strategies (such as metformin) known to improve metabolism may be required to reduce metabolic burden and CV risk in OSA patients. The aim of this study is to examine the longitudinal changes in metabolism of OSA patients receiving both PAP and metformin treatment. The MET-OSA study will last about 4 months. After screening the participants to determine eligibility, baseline study measures will be obtained and the participants will be provided with standard PAP for OSA treatment. Participants will also be randomized to receive either placebo or metformin treatment for 3 months. Compliance to study drug will be determined during monthly follow-up visits. Final study visit will include assessment of all baseline study measures.

Interventions

DRUGMetformin + PAP

Subjects randomized to this arm will receive 500 mg capsules containing metformin extended release (XR). Metformin XR dosing will be 500 mg (1 x 500 mg) every evening (qPM) during Week 1, 1000 mg (2 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 2, 1500 mg (3 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 3, and 2000 mg (4 x 500 mg) qPM from Week 4 onwards. Subjects will also be provided PAP (positive airway pressure) device for standard management of obstructive sleep apnea.

DRUGPlacebo oral capsule + PAP

Subjects randomized to this arm will receive 500 mg capsules containing placebo. Placebo dosing will be 500 mg (1 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 1, 1000 mg (2 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 2, 1500 mg (3 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 3, and 2000 mg (4 x 500 mg) qPM from Week 4 onwards. Subjects will also be provided PAP (positive airway pressure) device for standard management of obstructive sleep apnea.

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
35 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30-50 kg/m\^2 (inclusive). * Apnea-Hypopnea Index ≥ 15 events/h. * Must be able to provide written informed consent. * Willing to participate and adhere to study procedures (video recorded in-lab sleep studies, positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment, take study drug, have adipose tissue and skeletal muscle biopsies). * Women of child-bearing potential must agree to use appropriate contraception to avoid pregnancy throughout the study. * Willing to have blood, as well as adipose and muscle tissue stored for future use.

Exclusion criteria

* HbA1c \> 6.4%. * Severe or uncontrolled hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥180 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥110 mmHg on the average of three seated measurements after being at rest for at least 5 minutes. * Significant cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, neurologic, or psychiatric disease as determined by the study physician. * Pregnancy, breast feeding or planning pregnancy in the coming 4 months. * Impaired renal function defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<60ml/min/1.73m2 (estimated with Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation 1 method). * Known hypersensitivity to metformin. * Currently taking a glucose lowering or weight loss medications. * Current PAP use or use of PAP in the past 6 months. * Currently taking antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medications known to affect adipose tissue and skeletal muscle metabolism. For example, statins and drugs targeting renin-angiotensin system will not be allowed. However, use of diuretics, beta-blockers, alpha-blockers and calcium channel blockers may be allowed provided the participant is on a stable dose for at least 3 months prior to the study visit. * Oxygen desaturation index \<15 events/h of sleep. * Any medication or condition that, in the opinion of the medical investigator, could interfere with the study outcomes or put the subject at risk by participating in the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in Matsuda Indexapproximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.Comparison of change in Matsuda Index as determined by 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During OGTT, response to oral 75g glucose intake is determined by measuring insulin and glucose in timed samples obtained at -5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. Matsuda index is a commonly used composite index to estimate whole-body insulin sensitivity. Matsuda index is calculated as (10,000/ square root of \[fasting glucose X fasting insulin\] X \[mean OGTT glucose X mean OGTT insulin\]). Increase in scores reflect improvement in whole body insulin sensitivity.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in Insulin Area Under the Curve (AUC) During 2-h Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)approximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.Comparison of change in insulin AUC (area under the curve) as derived from 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During OGTT, response to oral 75g glucose intake is determined by measuring insulin and glucose in timed samples obtained at -5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. 2-h insulin AUC is calculated using trapezoid method. Higher AUC indicates higher insulin secretion.
Changes in Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC) During 2-h Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)approximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.Comparison of change in glucose AUC (area under the curve) as derived from 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During OGTT, response to oral 75g glucose intake is determined by measuring insulin and glucose in timed samples obtained at -5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. 2-h glucose AUC is calculated using trapezoid method. Higher AUC indicates higher levels of circulating glucose.
Changes in Insulinogenic Indexapproximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.Comparison of insulinogenic index derived from the initial 30 min data from the 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Insulinogenic index measures the early insulin response during the oral glucose challenge. The index is calculated as ratio of change in insulin to glucose from 0 to 30 min values derived from OGTT. Decrease in scores reflect improvement in insulin sensitivity.
Changes in Disposition Indexapproximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.Comparison of change in disposition index as derived from 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. Disposition index measures beta-cell function and is calculated as product of Matsuda index and Insulinogenic index values. Increase in scores reflect improvement in glucose metabolism.
Changes in Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)approximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.Comparison of change in HOMA-IR value derived from fasting insulin and glucose. HOMA-IR is a simple index for insulin resistance based on fasting measures of glucose and insulin which is a commonly used end-point for assessment of insulin resistance in clinical trials. HOMA-IR is calculated as \[(fasting insulin X fasting glucose)/ 22.5\]. Higher values indicate higher insulin resistance. An increase will suggest a detrimental effect on glucose metabolism. Individuals with HOMA-IR \< 5.7% are considered healthy, between 5.7 and 6.4% are considered prediabetic, and more than 6.4% are considered diabetic.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Metformin + PAP
Subjects randomized to this arm will be orally given 2000 mg metformin daily. Metformin dosage will be slowly increased to improve tolerance. Metformin: Subjects randomized to this arm will receive 500 mg capsules containing metformin XR. Metformin XR dosing will be 500 mg (1 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 1, 1000 mg (2 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 2, 1500 mg (3 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 3, and 2000 mg (4 x 500 mg) qPM from Week 4 onwards. Subjects will also be provided PAP (positive airway pressure) device for standard management of obstructive sleep apnea.
8
Placebo Oral Capsule + PAP
Subjects randomized to this arm will receive placebo matching study drug. Placebo oral capsule: Subjects randomized to this arm will receive 500 mg capsules containing placebo. Placebo dosing will be 500 mg (1 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 1, 1000 mg (2 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 2, 1500 mg (3 x 500 mg) qPM during Week 3, and 2000 mg (4 x 500 mg) qPM from Week 4 onwards. Subjects will also be provided PAP (positive airway pressure) device for standard management of obstructive sleep apnea.
8
Total16

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicMetformin + PAPPlacebo Oral Capsule + PAPTotal
Age, Continuous50.25 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.31
51.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.04
50.88 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.67
Apnea Hypopnea Index54.4 event/h of sleep
STANDARD_DEVIATION 22.5
52.1 event/h of sleep
STANDARD_DEVIATION 21
53.3 event/h of sleep
STANDARD_DEVIATION 21.1
Body mass index36.63 Kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.34
36.31 Kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.48
36.47 Kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.87
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
7 Participants8 Participants15 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
8 participants8 participants16 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
1 Participants2 Participants3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
7 Participants6 Participants13 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 80 / 8
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 80 / 8
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 80 / 8

Outcome results

Primary

Changes in Matsuda Index

Comparison of change in Matsuda Index as determined by 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During OGTT, response to oral 75g glucose intake is determined by measuring insulin and glucose in timed samples obtained at -5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. Matsuda index is a commonly used composite index to estimate whole-body insulin sensitivity. Matsuda index is calculated as (10,000/ square root of \[fasting glucose X fasting insulin\] X \[mean OGTT glucose X mean OGTT insulin\]). Increase in scores reflect improvement in whole body insulin sensitivity.

Time frame: approximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Metformin + PAPChanges in Matsuda Index0.395 IndexStandard Deviation 1.695
Placebo Oral Capsule + PAPChanges in Matsuda Index-0.649 IndexStandard Deviation 1.974
Secondary

Changes in Disposition Index

Comparison of change in disposition index as derived from 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. Disposition index measures beta-cell function and is calculated as product of Matsuda index and Insulinogenic index values. Increase in scores reflect improvement in glucose metabolism.

Time frame: approximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Metformin + PAPChanges in Disposition Index0.617 IndexStandard Deviation 1.357
Placebo Oral Capsule + PAPChanges in Disposition Index-0.012 IndexStandard Deviation 1.726
Secondary

Changes in Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC) During 2-h Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

Comparison of change in glucose AUC (area under the curve) as derived from 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During OGTT, response to oral 75g glucose intake is determined by measuring insulin and glucose in timed samples obtained at -5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. 2-h glucose AUC is calculated using trapezoid method. Higher AUC indicates higher levels of circulating glucose.

Time frame: approximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Metformin + PAPChanges in Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC) During 2-h Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)-1759 mg*120min/dLStandard Deviation 4260
Placebo Oral Capsule + PAPChanges in Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC) During 2-h Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)698 mg*120min/dLStandard Deviation 2754
Secondary

Changes in Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)

Comparison of change in HOMA-IR value derived from fasting insulin and glucose. HOMA-IR is a simple index for insulin resistance based on fasting measures of glucose and insulin which is a commonly used end-point for assessment of insulin resistance in clinical trials. HOMA-IR is calculated as \[(fasting insulin X fasting glucose)/ 22.5\]. Higher values indicate higher insulin resistance. An increase will suggest a detrimental effect on glucose metabolism. Individuals with HOMA-IR \< 5.7% are considered healthy, between 5.7 and 6.4% are considered prediabetic, and more than 6.4% are considered diabetic.

Time frame: approximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Metformin + PAPChanges in Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)0.651 IndexStandard Deviation 2.274
Placebo Oral Capsule + PAPChanges in Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)1.981 IndexStandard Deviation 3.406
Secondary

Changes in Insulin Area Under the Curve (AUC) During 2-h Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

Comparison of change in insulin AUC (area under the curve) as derived from 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During OGTT, response to oral 75g glucose intake is determined by measuring insulin and glucose in timed samples obtained at -5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. 2-h insulin AUC is calculated using trapezoid method. Higher AUC indicates higher insulin secretion.

Time frame: approximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Metformin + PAPChanges in Insulin Area Under the Curve (AUC) During 2-h Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)-855 uU*120min/mLStandard Deviation 3334
Placebo Oral Capsule + PAPChanges in Insulin Area Under the Curve (AUC) During 2-h Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)4222 uU*120min/mLStandard Deviation 4482
Secondary

Changes in Insulinogenic Index

Comparison of insulinogenic index derived from the initial 30 min data from the 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Insulinogenic index measures the early insulin response during the oral glucose challenge. The index is calculated as ratio of change in insulin to glucose from 0 to 30 min values derived from OGTT. Decrease in scores reflect improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Time frame: approximately 4 months, includes measures obtained at baseline and 3 month follow-up.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Metformin + PAPChanges in Insulinogenic Index0.201 IndexStandard Deviation 0.497
Placebo Oral Capsule + PAPChanges in Insulinogenic Index0.206 IndexStandard Deviation 0.529

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