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Ketones, SGLT2, HFrEF

Ketones, Muscle Metabolism, and SGLT2 Inhibitors

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06229678
Enrollment
71
Registered
2024-01-29
Start date
2024-01-25
Completion date
2027-03-01
Last updated
2026-02-05

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

Conditions

Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction, Type2diabetes

Keywords

ketones, cardiovascular benefit

Brief summary

The study team will examine the effects of elevated plasma ketone levels following initiation of SGLT2 inhibitor therapy in high-risk type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) individuals with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) providing an energy-rich fuel that is taken up with great avidity by the myocardium, to measure change in Left Ventricle diastolic and systolic function

Detailed description

The study team will examine the effects of elevated plasma ketones caused by 12-week treatment with an SGLT2i (empagliflozin) treatment in participants with T2DM and HF. The study team will focus on three possible mechanisms of action for these effects and test the following: (i) Skeletal muscle bioenergetics. Using 31P-MRS, the team will quantify phosphocreatine \[PCr\], ATP, inorganic phosphate, phosphodiester, and intracellular pH. With 1H-MRS, and will measure intramyocellular lipid content at rest and ATPmax production after exercise. The team will examine the relationships between phosphorous metabolite concentrations, intramyocellular lipid content, and ATP generation before and after 12 weeks of SGLT2 inhibition. (ii) LV systolic and diastolic function using cardiac MRI in type 2 diabetic patients with Class II-III NYHA heart failure and reduced EF. (iii) To examine the contribution of the SGLT2i-induced increase in plasma ketone concentration on myocardial function and myocardial blood flow by inhibiting the rise in plasma ketone concentration with acipimox while continuing empagliflozin. (iv) Improvements in Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO). Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire ( KCCQ) scoring will be used to evaluate self-reported physical function and well-being. This tool is a well-developed and validated method to obtain patient self-reported parameters of health in adults.

Interventions

Empagliflozin 25MG will be administered orally once per day for 3 months

DRUGPlacebo

The placebo will be administered orally once per day for 3 months

subjects will be started on acipimox 250mg every 6 hours for 8 days while on continued empagliflozin/placebo therapy. This will be added at the end of 3 months after they finished baseline studies

Sponsors

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Masking description

Participants, and investigators will be blinded to the randomization

Intervention model description

A randomized (2:1) placebo controlled double blind study

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus * Class II-III New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (EF) \<50% * Age 18-80 years * BMI 23-44 kg/m2 * Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 6.0-10.0% * Blood Pressure (BP) ≤ 145/85 mmHg * Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 ml/min•1.73 m2 * Only Type 2 diabetics treated with diet/exercise, metformin, sulfonylureas, metformin/sulfonylurea, Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), or insulin * Stable body weight (±4 pounds) over the previous 3 months prior to enrollment * Ability to understand study procedures and to comply with them for the entire length of the study.

Exclusion criteria

* Heart failure due to restrictive cardiomyopathy, active myocarditis, constrictive pericarditis, severe valvular heart disease, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. * Significant change in diuretic management during the month prior to screening (defined by doubling of diuretic dose or addition of another heart failure medication) * Type 2 Diabetics treated with Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor (DPP4i) or pioglitazone * Pregnancy, lactation, or plans to become pregnant. A negative pregnancy test will be performed before each MRI study to assess current status. For women of child-bearing age (WOCBA) willingness to use contraception, if applicable. * Allergy/sensitivity to study drugs or their ingredients. * Cancer. * Current drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements. * Inability or unwillingness of individual or legal guardian/representative to give written informed consent.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in PhosphocreatineBaseline to 3 monthsA measure of phosphocreatine change from baseline to study end
Change in Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)Baseline to 3 monthsA measure of ATP change from baseline to study end
Change in Inorganic PhosphateBaseline to 3 monthsA measure of inorganic phosphate change from baseline to study end
Change in PhosphodiesterBaseline to 3 monthsA measure of phosphodiester change from baseline to study end
ATPmax productionBaseline to 3 monthsExercise induced ATPmax production change

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Plasma Beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-OH-B)baseline to 3 monthsChange in β-OH-B with medication
Acetoacetate concentrationsbaseline to 3 monthsChange in acetoacetate concentrations
6-min walking testbaseline to 3 monthsChange in the distance that can be covered in a 6 minute walk test
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measure Information Systembaseline to 3 monthsBy checking KCCQ (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy) scoring: Responses are categorized under 3 sub scales (symptom burden, physical limitation and quality of life) with a range of possible subscale scores from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the least burden of symptoms. The total KCCQ score represents the mean of the three sub scale scores.
plasma ketone concentration on myocardial functionBaseline to 3months + 8 daysTo examine the contribution of the SGLT2i-induced increase in plasma ketone concentration on myocardial function by inhibiting the rise in plasma ketone concentration with acipimox while continuing empagliflozin.
plasma ketone concentration on myocardial blood flowBaseline to 3months + 8 daysTo examine the contribution of the SGLT2i-induced increase in plasma ketone concentration on myocardial blood flow by inhibiting the rise in plasma ketone concentration with acipimox while continuing empagliflozin.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTRalph DeFronzo, MD
defronzo@uthscsa.edu210-567-6691
CONTACTSivaram Neppala, MD
neppalas@uthscsa.edu210-358-7200
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRalph DeFronzo, MD

University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 6, 2026