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The Glucose-Independent Effects of Exogenous Glucagon on Insulin Secretion and Cognitive Function in Healthy Subjects

Investigating the Effect of Glucagon on Cognitive Function and Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Humans: A Pilot Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06685146
Enrollment
10
Registered
2024-11-12
Start date
2024-11-12
Completion date
2025-10-31
Last updated
2024-12-18

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

Conditions

Glucose Metabolism, Insulin Secretion

Keywords

Glucagon, Glucose Metabolism, Cognition, Glucose clamp, Insulin secretion, C-peptide

Brief summary

In this study the investigators will investigate the glucose-independent effects of exogenous glucagon on insulin secretion and cognitive function in healthy subjects. Subjects will participate in two study days. The first study day is with a 240-minute infusion of glucagon and the second study day is with an infusion of glucose (clamped to match the glucose levels measured during the glucagon infusion). During the study day, blood samples will be drawn frequently and cognitive testing will be performed. The investigators will investigate glucagon's glucose-independent effects on insulin secretion and cognitive function by comparing plasma measures of C-peptide and cognitive test scores between the glucagon study day and the glucose clamp study day.

Detailed description

Five-ten subjects with normal health will be included, and each subject will participate in two study days. Participants will arrive after an overnight fast and will be placed in a hospital bed in a semi-recumbent position. In each antecubital vein an intravenous catheter will be placed; one for administration of glucagon or glucose and one for blood sampling. The first study day will be the glucagon study day. The blood measurements of glucose from the glucagon study day will be used for clamping the glucose levels during the glucose clamp study day. Baseline blood samples will be drawn. At time 0 minutes the infusion of glucagon or glucose will be initiated. Glucagon will be infused at a rate of 10ng/kg/min. Blood glucose will be measured every five minutes for the first approximately 2.5 hours, and thereafter every 10-15 minutes. During the glucose-clamp study day the infusion rate of glucose will be adjusted continuously to match the glucose levels measured on the glucagon study day. Blood samples for the analysis of plasma glucagon, insulin, C-peptide etc. will be drawn every five minutes for the first 60 minutes, and thereafter every 15-30 minutes. After approximately three hours cognitive testing will be performed. After four hours, the infusion of either glucagon or glucose will be terminated. The final blood samples will be drawn 15 and 30 minutes after termination of the infusion.

Interventions

A 240 minutes infusion of glucagon (10 ng/kg/min)

A 240 minutes infusion of 20 % w/v glucose. The infusion rate of glucose will be adjusted continuously to match the levels of glucose measured on the glucagon study day.

Sponsors

Nicolai Jacob Wewer Albrechtsen
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Capable of understanding the participant information and signing the consent form * Between 25 and 70 years of age at the time of screening * Body mass index (BMI) ≤ 25 kg/m2 at the time of screening * A minimum of 7 years of schooling

Exclusion criteria

* Enrolment in other research projects that might interfere with the study * Diabetes diagnosis (type 1 and 2) * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Use of medications which, in the opinion of the investigator, may jeopardise participant's safety or compliance with the protocol * Diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, dementias, or any other neurological disorders that in the opinion of the investigator precludes compliance with the study protocol, evaluation of the results or represents an unacceptable risk for the participants safety * Severe claustrophobia * Impaired liver function defined as either alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) ≥ 2 times normal values * Kidney disease defined as serum creatinine levels ≥ 126 μmol/L for male and ≥ 111 μmol/L for female * Cardiac problems including any of the following: 1. Classified as being in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV 2. Angina pectoris (chest pain) within the last 6 months 3. Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) within last 2 years * Inadequately treated blood pressure at screening defined as repeated resting blood pressure outside the range 90-150 mmHg for systolic and 50-100 mmHg for diastolic * Active or recent malignant disease * Inability to perform neuropsychological tests judged by the investigator (e.g. visual or auditory impairment or language barriers) * Current or history of severe alcohol use or drug/chemical abuse as per investigator's judgement * Any chronic disorders or severe diseases which, in the opinion of the investigator, might jeopardise participant's safety or compliance with the protocol

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
C-peptide (0-90 minutes)During intervention (0-90 minutes)Difference in plasma concentrations of C-peptide assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to glucagon peakDuring intervention (0-240 minutes)Time to glucagon peak on the glucagon study day
Time to glucose peakDuring intervention (0-time to plasma glucose peak concentration (assessed up to two hours)Difference in time to plasma glucose peak concentration between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Glucose infusedDuring intervention (0-240 minutes)Glucose (g) infused on the glucose clamp study day
cAMP (0-90 minutes)During intervention (0-90 minutes)Difference in plasma concentration of cAMP assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
cAMP (0-240 minutes)During intervention (0-240 minutes)Difference in plasma concentration of cAMP assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
cAMP (240-300 minutes)During intervention (240-300 minutes)Difference in plasma concentration of cAMP assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Cognitive functionDuring intervention (180-240 minutes)Difference in cognitive function assessed as a composite score from the cognitive testing (SCIP testing) between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
C-peptide to glucose ratio (0-90 minutes)During intervention (0-90 minutes)Difference in plasma concentration of C-peptide assessed as area under the curve divided by plasma concentration of glucose assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
C-peptide to glucose ratio (0-240 minutes)During intervention (0-240 minutes)Difference in plasma concentration of C-peptide assessed as area under the curve divided by plasma concentration of glucose assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
C-peptide (0-240 minutes)During intervention (0-240 minutes)Difference in plasma concentrations of C-peptide assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
C-peptide (0 minutes-glucose peak)During intervention (0-time to plasma glucose peak concentration (assessed up to two hours))Difference in plasma concentrations of C-peptide assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
C-peptide deconvolution (0-240 minutes)During intervention (0-240 minutes)Difference in deconvolution of plasma concentrations of C-peptide between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Insulin (0-90 minutes)During intervention (0-90 minutes)Difference in plasma concentrations of insulin assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Insulin (0-240 minutes)During intervention (0-240 minutes)Difference in plasma concentrations of insulin assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Time to glucagon steady stateDuring intervention (0-240 minutes)Time to glucagon steady state on the glucagon study day
Glucagon concentration at steady stateDuring intervention (0-240 minutes)Plasma glucagon steady state concentration on the glucagon infusion study day
Glucose (0-90 minutes)During intervention (0-90 minutes)Difference in plasma glucose assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Glucose (0-240 minutes)During intervention (0-240 minutes)Difference in plasma glucose assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Glucose peakDuring intervention (0-240 minutes)Difference in plasma glucose peak concentration between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Verbal fluency cognitive testDuring intervention (180-240 minutes)Difference in the verbal fluency cognitive test between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Delayed word recall cognitive testDuring intervention (180-240 minutes)Difference in the delayed word recall cognitive test between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Visuomotor cognitive testDuring intervention (180-240 minutes)Difference in the visuomotor cognitive test between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Triglycerides (0-240 minutes)During intervention (0-240 minutes)Difference in plasma concentration of triglycerides assessed as area under the curve between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Three-letter recall cognitive testDuring intervention (180-240 minutes)Difference in the three-letter recall cognitive test between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day
Word recall cognitive testDuring intervention (180-240 minutes)Difference in the word recall cognitive test between the glucagon infusion study day and the glucose clamp study day

Countries

Denmark

Contacts

Primary ContactNina L Hansen, MD
nina.lerberg.hansen.01@regionh.dk0045 21205944
Backup ContactSasha A S Kjeldsen, MSc PhD
sasha.alexandra.sampson-ceutz@regionh.dk

Outcome results

None listed

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