CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00911482Updated Nov 7, 2012

Production of Free Fatty Acids From Blood Triglycerides

An observational study in Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Insulin Resistance and Dyslipidemias, sponsored by Mayo Clinic. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 35 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2012-11-07.

Sponsored by Mayo Clinic · Observational

Study type
Observational
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
16
Ages
35 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The overall hypothesis of these studies is that circulating triglycerides, coming primarily from fat in the diet, are an important source of free fatty acids. Free fatty acids are the major fat fuel in the body, and when they are elevated in the blood they are thought to raise the risk of cardiovascular disease by causing insulin resistance (in some cases leading to diabetes), raising blood pressure, and other effects. The investigator will use sophisticated methods for tracing triglycerides and free fatty acids in the blood. These methods involve the administration of low doses of radioactive and stable isotopes of naturally occurring fats. The studies will determine the contribution of triglycerides to free fatty acids in normal people and also in people with diabetes.

Read the detailed description

Lipid energy is transported in the blood in several forms, including chylomicrons and free fatty acids (FFA). Chylomicrons are key elements in the absorption and storage of dietary fat, and also play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis via the production of remnant particles, but their role as a direct fuel source has not been explored. FFA are the major lipid fuel in the body, and increases in their concentration have been shown to cause insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction and increases in the production of very low density lipoproteins. FFA are released into the blood through the action of hormone sensitive lipase on triglyceride stores in fat cells. Very little is known about the role of chylomicrons in FFA metabolism, but the potential contribution of chylomicrons to FFA is considerable, especially in people who consume high fat diets. Initial studies indicate that in addition to the role of chylomicrons in fat storage, a portion of chylomicron fatty acids are released as FFA in a process called "spillover". These studies indicate that the contribution of chylomicrons to FFA is increased in type 2 diabetes. A study of spillover in the splanchnic bed found very high rates of splanchnic spillover in overweight and obese individuals with hypertriglyceridemia. Extremely accurate and precise methods have been developed by the investigator for the measurement of the concentration and specific activity of FFA and chylomicron triglyceride fatty acids in plasma. In addition, a tracer method for accurately determining the kinetics of chylomicrons has been developed. In the proposed studies, the tracer technique will be used to systematically investigate the contribution of chylomicrons to total FFA availability. The technique will be applied to normal subjects at rest and after exercise, as well as subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia. Specifically, these studies will: 1) determine whether weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes reduces spillover from chylomicrons; 2) determine whether acute lowering of FFA with insulin infusion reduces spillover in nondiabetic individuals with dyslipidemia; 3) determine whether noninsulin-mediated lowering of FFA reduces spillover in diabetic individuals with dyslipidemia, and 4) determine whether obese, insulin-resistant individuals have increased spillover in the splanchnic bed.

02

Conditions studied

  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Dyslipidemias

Keywords

  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Dyslipidemia
  • FFA
  • Triglycerides
  • Tracers
03

In context

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

9,359 studies on the registry are indexed under Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; 1,318 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 16 is below the median of 300 across 1,588 observational studies indexed under Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2.

Browse Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 studies →

Lead sponsor

Mayo Clinic is the lead sponsor of 3,218 studies on the registry; 670 are open to participants now.

Of its 445 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 313 (70%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
35 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

Volunteers from the region around Rochester, Minnesota who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited.

Inclusion criteria

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Atherogenic dyslipidemia
  • Obesity

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Retinopathy
  • Neuropathy
05

Study design

Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
16 participants (actual)
Biospecimen retention
Samples without dna

Groups and cohorts

  • Diabetes/weight loss

    12 individuals with type 2 diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia

  • Nondiabetic/hypertriglyceridemic

    10 insulin resistant nondiabetic individuals with dyslipidemia

  • Normotensive/nondiabetic

    10 insulin resistant, normotensive, nondiabetic individuals

  • Insulin resistant/dyslipidemic

    14 insulin resistant nondiabetic individuals with dyslipidemia

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Spillover of free fatty acids from chylomicrons

    Time frame: Measured at 1 to 6 days

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Mayo Clinic
    Rochester, Minnesota 55905, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 7, 2012, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00911482
Lead sponsor
Mayo Clinic
Collaborators
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
First posted
Jun 2, 2009
Start date
Jun 2008
Primary completion
Jan 2012
Completion
Jan 2012
Last update
Nov 7, 2012

Study contacts

John M. Miles, MD
principal investigator · Mayo Clinic

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

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

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion