ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02384551DietGERDUpdated Sep 19, 2024Results posted

Dietary Carbohydrate and GERD in Veterans

An interventional study of Dietary Carbohydrate in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Obesity, sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-09-19.

Sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
150
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
21 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

4-Arm Diet Intervention Investigating Effects of Dietary Carbohydrate Type and Amount on gastroesophageal pH, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and medication use.

Read the detailed description

delayed due to COVID related research shutdown

Specific Hypothesis: The preliminary findings suggest a physiological mechanism between dietary intake and GERD that may be related to type of dietary carbohydrate intake (complex vs simple carbohydrate). The investigators hypothesize that modifying the type of dietary carbohydrate consumed - by reducing the proportion of simple carbohydrate (sugars) consumed - will reduce or resolve GERD symptoms and medication use in obese Veterans with chronic GERD. The investigators further hypothesize that the mechanistic effects of reducing simple carbohydrate intake is related to either: a) improved dietary fiber intake and/or glycemic load, and thus, reduced amount and duration of esophageal acid exposure; and/or b) improved insulin sensitivity which would positively influence the function of key gastrointestinal hormones (ie, gastrin, glucagon, GLP-1, ghrelin11) that regulate gastric motility and/or lower esophageal sphincter function.

Aim 1: To determine effects of dietary carbohydrate consumed (amount and type) on percent time with esophageal pH \< 4.0, as well as number of reflux episodes, GERD symptoms and GERD medication use, in 200 obese Veterans who have chronic high frequency of GERD symptoms. To meet this aim the investigators will use a randomized controlled trial in which the investigators manipulate amount of total and simple dietary carbohydrate intake for duration of 9 weeks.

Aim 2: To assess associations between GERD resolution variables and factors related to potential mechanisms by which modifying dietary carbohydrate intake could resolve/reduce GERD in obese Veterans.

2a: The investigators will investigate associations related to whether the effect is nutritionally mediated by measuring change in dietary fiber load and dietary glycemic load, and thus, whether these changes are related to improved gastric acid secretion (% time pH \< 4), gastric motility, and/or the other parameters that comprise the Johnson-DeMeester score.

2b: The investigators will also investigate whether effects are associated with changes in the hormonal milieu by measuring hormonal response of gastrin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), ghrelin and insulin, which could potentially influence gastric acid secretion, gastric motility and/or lower esophageal sphincter function.

02

Conditions studied

  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
  • Obesity

Keywords

  • GERD
  • diet
  • carbohydrate
  • obesity
03

In context

Gastroesophageal Reflux

1,086 studies on the registry are indexed under Gastroesophageal Reflux; 187 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 150 is above the median of 72 across 724 interventional studies indexed under Gastroesophageal Reflux.

Browse Gastroesophageal Reflux studies →

Lead sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development is the lead sponsor of 1,767 studies on the registry; 394 are open to participants now.

Of its 209 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 183 (88%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
21 Years and older
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

Age 21 or over BMI 30-39.9 GERD

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of type 1 diabetes
  • Hernia or strictures
  • Gastroparesis
  • Extra-esophageal GERD
  • Barrett's esophagus or Esophageal adenocarcinoma
  • History of gastric or bariatric or esophageal surgery, radiation or cancer
  • History of gastrointestinal malabsorption
  • Alcohol averaging > 2 drinks per day during past 3 months
  • Pregnancy / Lactation
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
150 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    HTHS

    High total carbohydrate with high total simple carbohydrate diet

    Other: Dietary Carbohydrate

  • Experimental
    HTLS

    High total carbohydrate with low total simple carbohydrate diet

    Other: Dietary Carbohydrate

  • Experimental
    LTHS

    Low total carbohydrate with high total simple carbohydrate diet

    Other: Dietary Carbohydrate

  • Experimental
    LTLS

    Low total carbohydrate with low total simple carbohydrate diet

    Other: Dietary Carbohydrate

Interventions

  • OtherDietary Carbohydrate

    9 week menu of dietary carbohydrate modification

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Gastroesophageal pH

    ambulatory ph monitoring for percent time gastroesophageal ph \< 4 in 24 hrs

    Time frame: 24 hours

Secondary outcomes

  1. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERDQ) Score

    GERD symptoms using Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERDQ) Score, score is based on a scale, from 0-18, with higher score indicating more symptoms. There is not a measure of central tendency, just the total score as reported.

    Time frame: 9 weeks

  2. Gastroesophageal Scale Assessment Symptom (GSAS) Score

    GERD symptoms measured as Gastroesophageal Scale Assessment Symptom (GSAS) score. Scores range from 0-45, with higher scores indicating more symptoms. Not a measure of central tendency.

    Time frame: 9 weeks

07

Results

Posted Sep 19, 2024

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneHTHSHTLSLTHSLTLS
Started35403639
Completed22262225
Not completed13141414
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up13141414

Outcome measures

PrimaryGastroesophageal pH

ambulatory ph monitoring for percent time gastroesophageal ph \< 4 in 24 hrs

Time frame:
24 hours
Reported as:
Mean · percent time ph < 4 in 24 hrs
Gastroesophageal pH
percent time ph < 4 in 24 hrsHTHSHTLSLTHSLTLS
Gastroesophageal pH7.3 ± 12.16.6 ± 8.43.7 ± 4.24.9 ± 4.7
SecondaryGastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERDQ) Score

GERD symptoms using Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERDQ) Score, score is based on a scale, from 0-18, with higher score indicating more symptoms. There is not a measure of central tendency, just the total score as reported.

Time frame:
9 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · final score
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERDQ) Score
final scoreHTHSHTLSLTHSLTLS
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERDQ) Score5.1 ± 3.83.2 ± 3.14.5 ± 4.53.5 ± 2.9
SecondaryGastroesophageal Scale Assessment Symptom (GSAS) Score

GERD symptoms measured as Gastroesophageal Scale Assessment Symptom (GSAS) score. Scores range from 0-45, with higher scores indicating more symptoms. Not a measure of central tendency.

Time frame:
9 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · total score
Gastroesophageal Scale Assessment Symptom (GSAS) Score
total scoreHTHSHTLSLTHSLTLS
Gastroesophageal Scale Assessment Symptom (GSAS) Score5.6 ± 2.44.1 ± 2.05.6 ± 2.34.5 ± 2.1

Adverse events

Collected over 9 weeks. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
HTHS0/35 (0%)0/35 (0%)0/35 (0%)
HTLS0/40 (0%)1/40 (2.5%)0/40 (0%)
LTHS0/36 (0%)0/36 (0%)0/36 (0%)
LTLS0/39 (0%)0/39 (0%)0/39 (0%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventHTHSHTLSLTHSLTLS
pill stuck in throatGastrointestinal disorders0/351/400/360/39

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)HTHSHTLSLTHSLTLSTotal
<=18 years00000
Between 18 and 65 years2226222595
>=65 years00000
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)HTHSHTLSLTHSLTLSTotal
Mean57.2 ± 11.158.4 ± 15.356.0 ± 12.859.9 ± 10.659.0 ± 12.5
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)HTHSHTLSLTHSLTLSTotal
Female333615
Male1923191980
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)HTHSHTLSLTHSLTLSTotal
American Indian or Alaska Native00000
Asian00000
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander00000
Black or African American1114111450
White1112111145
More than one race00000
Unknown or Not Reported00000
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(Participants)HTHSHTLSLTHSLTLSTotal
United States2226222595
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Nashville Campus, Nashville, TN
    Nashville, Tennessee 37212-2637, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Gu C, Olszewski T, King KL, Vaezi MF, Niswender KD, Silver HJ. The Effects of Modifying Amount and Type of Dietary Carbohydrate on Esophageal Acid Exposure Time and Esophageal Reflux Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Oct 1;117(10):1655-1667. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001889. Epub 2022 Jun 21. PubMed 35973185 ↗

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Feb 13, 2019
  • Informed consent form · Feb 22, 2016

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Data will be provided as group data upon publication

10

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Jan 2016 to primary completion in Jul 2022, 77 months.

Results were first posted in Sep 2024, 2 years 2 months after primary completion.

Of 180 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Gastroesophageal Reflux, half reached primary completion within 31 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 68. This study's 77 months is above that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 208 studies reached it within 31 months; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 60.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Mar 4, 2015
First posted
Mar 10, 2015
StartActual
Jan 25, 2016
Primary completionActual
Jul 1, 2022
CompletionActual
Jul 1, 2022
Results first posted
Sep 19, 2024
Last update
Sep 19, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 19, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02384551
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 10, 2015
Start date
Jan 25, 2016
Primary completion
Jul 1, 2022
Completion
Jul 1, 2022
Results posted
Sep 19, 2024
Last update
Sep 19, 2024

Study contacts

Kevin D Niswender, MD PhD
principal investigator · Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Nashville Campus, Nashville, TN

Oversight

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

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