ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00471614Updated May 16, 2012

Effects of Uridine Supplementation on Metabolic Side Effects of Stavudine and Zidovudine

A Phase 2 interventional study of NucleomaxX (contains uridine) in HIV Infections, Insulin Resistance and Hyperlactatemia, sponsored by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2012-05-16.

Sponsored by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
3
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether uridine supplementation will improve insulin sensitivity and overall carbohydrate metabolism in HIV-positive subjects who are currently undergoing treatment with antiretroviral regimens containing stavudine or zidovudine and who have evidence of impaired mitochondrial function and insulin resistance.

Read the detailed description

Treatment of HIV infection with nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) has been associated with numerous toxicities that have been attributed to impaired mitochondrial function secondary to a reduction in the levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Abnormalities in mitochondrial function have been implicated in the development of insulin resistance in patients with HIV infection and have also been hypothesized to underlie many of the pathophysiologic features of type 2 diabetes mellitus in non-HIV infected individuals.

Uridine, a pyrimidine nucleoside that plays an essential role in the synthesis of RNA and other key physiologic processes, has been proposed as a therapy for NRTI-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Uridine supplementation protected bone marrow cells from the toxicity of zidovudine, normalized the growth of neurons exposed to NRTIs, and abrogated mitochondrial toxicity of NRTIs in HepG2 cells in vitro. A food supplement called NucleomaxX®, extracted from the stem of sugar cane, raises plasma uridine concentrations to levels known to prevent mitochondrial toxicity in vitro. In a recent case report, oral administration of uridine, given in the form of NucleomaxX®, ameliorated the mitochondrial toxicity caused by stavudine and led to improvements in myalgias and liver and muscle enzymes, despite continuing treatment with stavudine. In a clinical study of 14 HIV-infected patients treated with stavudine or zidovudine, NucleomaxX® led to improved hepatic mitochondrial function as assessed by the 13C-methionine breath test.

We will perform a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in 20 HIV-positive subjects who are currently undergoing treatment with antiretroviral regimens containing stavudine or zidovudine and who have evidence of impaired mitochondrial function and insulin resistance. Subjects will be hospitalized in the SFGH CTSI Clinical Research Center (CCRC) for 6 days to undergo comprehensive metabolic studies. Subjects will then be randomized, in a 1:1 fashion, to receive either NucleomaxX® or placebo for two months, after which they will repeat the 6-day CCRC-based assessments. This study is designed to test the hypothesis that, in comparison to placebo, uridine supplementation will enhance mitochondrial function, and this will be associated with concomitant improvements in glucose and lipid metabolism.

02

Conditions studied

  • HIV Infections
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Hyperlactatemia

Keywords

  • HIV
  • AIDS
  • uridine
  • mitochondria
  • insulin resistance
  • Treatment Experienced
03

In context

HIV Infections

4,734 studies on the registry are indexed under HIV Infections; 244 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 3 is below the median of 80 across 3,489 interventional studies indexed under HIV Infections.

Browse HIV Infections studies →

Lead sponsor

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is the lead sponsor of 223 studies on the registry; 7 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Confirmed -1 infection
  • HIV-1 RNA \<10,000 copies/mL within 30 days of study entry
  • Treatment with stavudine or zidovudine for at least 12 months prior to entry and no plan to discontinue for the duration of the study
  • Stable antiretroviral regimen for at least 3 months prior to entry and no plan to change antiretroviral therapy for the duration of the study
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction as evidenced by a fasting plasma lactate level > 1.5 mmol/L
  • Insulin resistance as evidenced by a HOMA-IR > 2.77 as calculated from fasting blood samples (for glucose and insulin) obtained during the screening visit
  • performance score >= 80
  • Women who are on stable regimens of hormonal or hormone replacement therapy for at least 6 months prior to enrollment may participate
  • Men who are on stable doses of testosterone replacement therapy for 6 months prior to enrollment may participate
  • Subjects on a stable dose of lipid lowering agents for 6 months prior to enrollment may participate

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen > 1.5 (ULN)
  • Direct >2 X ULN
  • (SGOT) or ALT (SGPT) >5 x ULN
  • \< 8.5 g/dL
  • Abnormal or C serology
  • A clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or a fasting glucose > 126 mg/dl
  • Physical or functional obstruction to food intake or impaired absorption
  • A clinically suspected concomitant treatable infection that has not yet been treated
  • An opportunistic infection within the preceding 30 days
  • Ascites
  • Pregnancy
  • Treatment with growth hormone, anabolic steroids (including supraphysiologic doses of testosterone), , insulin, sulfonylureas, metformin, thiazolidinediones, or appetite stimulants within preceding 6 months
  • Dementia, active drug or alcohol abuse or dependence, or other conditions that would preclude adherence to the protocol or the ability to provide .
  • Any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would put the subject at risk
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(10)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Karnofsky performance status (KPS)

A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.

Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
3 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    1

    NucleomaxX

    Drug: NucleomaxX (contains uridine)

  • Placebo comparator
    2

    Placebo

    Drug: NucleomaxX (contains uridine)

Interventions

  • DrugNucleomaxX (contains uridine)

    Escalated doses of NucleomaxX tid

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in insulin sensitivity as measured by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (with simultaneous stable isotope tracer studies)

    Time frame: 2 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in body composition (DEXA and CT imaging)

    Time frame: 2 months

  2. Change in insulin secretion (frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test)

    Time frame: 2 months

  3. Change in resting energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry)

    Time frame: 2 months

  4. Change in markers of oxidative stress

    Time frame: 2 months

  5. Change in mtDNA levels (measured in muscle biopsy)

    Time frame: 2 months

  6. Change in HIV disease markers

    Time frame: 2 months

  7. Adverse effects

    Time frame: continuously

  8. Laboratory based toxicity

    Time frame: continuously

  9. Adherence

    Time frame: continuously

07

Study locations

1 site
  • University of California San Francisco
    San Francisco, California 94110, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Walker UA, Venhoff N. Uridine in the prevention and treatment of NRTI-related mitochondrial toxicity. Antivir Ther. 2005;10 Suppl 2:M117-23. PubMed 16152713 ↗
  • Walker UA, Venhoff N, Koch EC, Olschewski M, Schneider J, Setzer B. Uridine abrogates mitochondrial toxicity related to nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors in HepG2 cells. Antivir Ther. 2003 Oct;8(5):463-70. PubMed 14640394 ↗
  • Sommadossi JP, Carlisle R, Schinazi RF, Zhou Z. Uridine reverses the toxicity of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine in normal human granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells in vitro without impairment of antiretroviral activity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988 Jul;32(7):997-1001. doi: 10.1128/AAC.32.7.997. PubMed 3190201 ↗
  • Keilbaugh SA, Hobbs GA, Simpson MV. Anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 therapy and peripheral neuropathy: prevention of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine toxicity in PC12 cells, a neuronal model, by uridine and pyruvate. Mol Pharmacol. 1993 Oct;44(4):702-6. PubMed 8232219 ↗
  • Banasch M, Goetze O, Knyhala K, Potthoff A, Schlottmann R, Kwiatek MA, Bulut K, Schmitz F, Schmidt WE, Brockmeyer NH. Uridine supplementation enhances hepatic mitochondrial function in thymidine-analogue treated HIV-infected patients. AIDS. 2006 Jul 13;20(11):1554-6. doi: 10.1097/01.aids.0000237373.38939.14. PubMed 16847412 ↗
  • Walker UA, Langmann P, Miehle N, Zilly M, Klinker H, Petschner F. Beneficial effects of oral uridine in mitochondrial toxicity. AIDS. 2004 Apr 30;18(7):1085-6. doi: 10.1097/00002030-200404300-00025. No abstract available. PubMed 15096820 ↗
09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 16, 2012, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00471614
Responsible party
Morris Schambelan (Emeritus Professor of Medicine, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)) — Principal investigator
First posted
May 10, 2007
Start date
Apr 2007
Primary completion
Jan 2012
Completion
Jan 2012
Last update
May 16, 2012

Study contacts

Morris Schambelan, MD
principal investigator · University of California, San Francisco

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in May 2012. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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