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Obesity-Related Glycine Deficiency: Investigating a Long-standing Metabolic Paradox Using Bedside and Bench Approaches

Obesity-Related Glycine Deficiency: Investigating a Long-standing Metabolic Paradox Using Bedside and Bench Approaches

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04660513
Enrollment
42
Registered
2020-12-09
Start date
2018-12-08
Completion date
2020-11-04
Last updated
2020-12-09

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

Conditions

Glycine Metabolism Disturbances, Insulin Resistance, Morbid Obesity, Oxidative Stress

Keywords

glycine, obesity, bariatric surgery, gluthathione

Brief summary

Obesity, in addition to causing abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, is also associated with altered plasma concentrations of multiple amino acids, including increased levels of branched-chain amino acids and decreased levels of glycine. The mechanisms and consequences of obesity- related glycine deficiency are unknown. The overall aim of this project is to comprehensively study glycine metabolic pathways in morbid obesity using stable-isotope tracer techniques in human subjects and validating kinetic findings using a cell model of oxidative stress. This will be a single-centre, observational study. 21 individuals with morbid obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery and 21 non-obese controls will be recruit. They will undergo different study visits and procedures and the human biological materials collected will be analysed for as per aims of the studies. We believe that the glycine metabolic pathways, possibly through the optimization of gluthathione (GSH) synthesis, may provide targets to develop novel therapeutic agents.

Detailed description

Metabolic tracers: 1,2-\[13C2\]-Glycine, 1,2-\[13C2\]-Glycine, 2,3,3,-\[2H3\]-Serine and \[2H5\]-Phenylalanine will be infused for quantification of various pathways associated with glycine metabolism.

Interventions

PROCEDUREBariatric surgery

Subjects with morbid obesity underwent bariatric surgery

Sponsors

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
CollaboratorOTHER
Baylor College of Medicine
CollaboratorOTHER
National University Health System, Singapore
CollaboratorOTHER
Singapore General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 65 Years

Inclusion criteria

1. Age: 21-65 years 2. BMI \< 25 kg/m2 for non-obese controls or BMI ≥ 32.5 kg/m2 for obese subjects scheduled for bariatric surgery 3. Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

All subjects: 1. Weight \> 150 kg 2. Renal impairment (estimated creatinine clearance estimated by Cockcroft-Gault Equation \< 60 ml/min) 3. Haemoglobin concentration \< 10 g/L 4. Serum alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase above 2x upper limit of normal 5. Uncontrolled hypertension (BP \> 180/110 mmHg) 6. Pregnancy 7. Nursing mothers 8. Significant cardiovascular disease (e.g. acute myocardial infarction, congestive cardiac failure, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, sick sinus syndrome, supraventricular tachycardia) 9. Previous stroke 10. Uncontrolled thyroid disease 11. Surgery requiring general anaesthesia within 4-weeks before enrolment 12. Psychiatric disorders requiring medication 13. Significant alcohol intake (\> 1 unit per day for women and \> 2 units per day for men) 14. Subcutaneous insulin injections 15. Systemic steroid usage (eg. prednisolone, hydrocortisone, cortisone, dexamethasone) 16. Cancer within the last 5-years (except squamous cell and basal cell cancer of the skin) 17. Any factors likely to limit adherence to study protocol (e.g. dementia; alcohol or substance abuse; history of unreliability in medication taking or appointment keeping; significant concerns about participation in the study from spouse, significant other or family members) Non-obese controls 1. Known Diabetes Mellitus (diagnosed according to 2014 Ministry of Health Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes Mellitus) Obese subjects 1\. HbA1C \< 9%

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Glycine kineticBaseline for all subjects and 5-12 months after bariatric surgery for morbid obesity groupDifferences in glycine kinetic measurements between obese subjects and controls, and within obese subjects after bariatric surgery
Insulin sensitivityBaseline for all subjects and 5-12 months after bariatric surgery for morbid obesity groupDifferences in insulin sensitivity between obese subjects and controls, and within obese subjects after bariatric surgery

Countries

Singapore

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 12, 2026