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WithdrawnNCT02098785NOCTUAUpdated Apr 19, 2018

Inhibition of VAP-1 by Caffeine in Healthy Human Volunteers Study

A Phase 1 interventional study of Caffeine citrate in Liver Disease, sponsored by University of Birmingham. Withdrawn at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-04-19.

Sponsored by University of Birmingham · Phase 1, Interventional, and Basic science

Why this study was withdrawn
Local resource issue - never actually started post ethics approval.
Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

Worldwide, liver related morbidity and mortality continue to rise. It is the 5th commonest cause of death in the UK. Liver damage consists of two main components - a) damage to the cells of the liver, called hepatocytes, meaning the liver cannot function properly leading to jaundice (yellow appearance of the skin and/or eyes) and liver failure and b) scarring of the liver, called Cirrhosis, leading to impaired function and inadequate blood flow through the liver with potential to develop into cancer. Manifestations of this state include ascites (fluid in the tummy) and varices (swollen blood vessels in the food pipe). Liver transplant is currently the only curative treatment for end stage chronic liver disease. Unfortunately its high demand has not been matched by an equivalent rise in liver donations and even when a transplant has occurred there are numerous lifestyle effects such as immunosuppression and kidney impairment thus outcome remains poor for many patients. Coffee has been shown to have mortality benefit in humans and drinking two to three cups a day was associated with a 40% reduced risk of developing cirrhosis, particularly alcohol related; and higher the more cups consumed. Previous work has demonstrated coffee reduces the level of fibrosis in the liver by interrupting signalling pathways, blocking the effects of special products, called cytokines, and reducing accumulation of iron. The investigators' hypothesis is that given the potential for caffeine to be used as a treatment in SSAO activity associated diseases it is important to see if the activity of SSAO can be blocked in healthy humans too. The Investigators' aim to examine the effect of caffeine on circulating VAP-1 levels in large numbers of healthy volunteers to assess its potential as an attractive therapeutic target in view of its low toxicity and widespread availability.

Read the detailed description

One such enzyme known as VAP-1 (vascular adhesion protein-1) is expressed at high levels in liver endothelial cells and studies involving blockage of VAP-1 activity have demonstrated it is involved in a reaction where break down products such as hydrogen peroxide and ammonia active signalling pathways to assist in the movement of cells from blood vessels to the liver. VAP-1 levels become elevated during chronic inflammation in blood vessels of the gut, tonsils, skin and synovium albeit most selectively in liver. Recently, circulating VAP-1 has been demonstrated to be elevated in certain liver diseases particularly alcoholic liver disease. Initial animal studies have shown that activity of the enzyme SSAO (Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase) can be effectively blocked by caffeine administration and that caffeine also blocks the activity of fat cells, known as adipose cells, thus protective against obesity too. SSAO arises from the same family of enzymes as VAP-1 thus importantly shares transferable properties. This information led to small, experimental studies in human liver that corroborate these findings but did not show how caffeine was affecting VAP-1 in the blood.

02

Conditions studied

  • Liver Disease

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Keywords

  • VAP
  • liver
  • hepatology
  • caffeine
03

In context

Liver Diseases

2,081 studies on the registry are indexed under Liver Diseases; 390 are open to participants now.

Browse Liver Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Birmingham is the lead sponsor of 179 studies on the registry; 30 are open to participants now.

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

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy human volunteers aged 18-70 inclusive
  • No significant medical problems (as determined by a screening questionnaire)
  • Written informed consent given by the patient

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Currently pregnant or breast feeding
  • Psychiatric, addictive or any disorder which compromises ability to give truly informed consent for participation in this study or comply with the requirements of the study
  • Other serious underlying medical conditions that could impair the ability of the patient to participate in the study
  • Unable to travel for study visit
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Caffeine citrate (Peyona) 400mg

    Caffeine Citrate (Peyona) 400mg single dose (20ml oral solution)

    Drug: Caffeine citrate

Interventions

  • DrugCaffeine citrate

    Oral solution

    Also known as: Peyona

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. VAP-1 serum levels

    The aim of the trial is to examine whether caffeine blocks vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) activity in the blood of healthy human volunteers and thus prove to be of medicinal value in liver disease.

    Time frame: VAP-1 serum levels at 60, 90 and 120 minutes post administration of caffeine citrate (Peyona)

07

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Birmingham, UK
    Birmingham, West Midlands B15 2TT, United Kingdom
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 19, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02098785
Lead sponsor
University of Birmingham
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 28, 2014
Start date
Mar 2018 (estimated)
Primary completion
Sep 2018 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 2018 (estimated)
Last update
Apr 19, 2018

Study contacts

David Adams, MD
principal investigator · University of Birmingham

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is withdrawn, as verified in May 2017. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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