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CompletedNCT03234361Updated Nov 4, 2022

Preventing Hypertension and Sympathetic Overactivation by Targeting Phosphate

A Phase 2 interventional study of High Phosphate Phase and Low Phosphate Phase in Hypertension, sponsored by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-11-04.

Sponsored by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
94
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

An increasing number of studies have indicated that most fast food and common grocery items, contain large amount of inorganic phosphate-based food additives , which are highly absorbable. The long-term cardiovascular consequences of a high phosphate diet are unknown but the existing database implicates phosphate excess as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events in individuals with and without chronic kidney diseases (CKD). High phosphate consumption clearly induces BP elevation in rats with normal kidneys. However, the mechanisms underlying phosphate-induced hypertension and the relevance of these rodent studies to human hypertension have not been determined. We seek to investigate the role of high phosphate diet in human hypertension and assess the effect of high phosphate diet on muscle sympathetic nerve activity and the exercise pressor reflex.

Read the detailed description

Animal studies suggest that high phosphate diet raises blood pressure but the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is not known. To study the effect of high phosphorus diet on blood pressure in humans, we will perform randomized crossover studies in stage 1 prehypertensive subjects. To ensure stable Pi intake prior to randomization, Pi consumption will be estimated by food recall during a run-in and washout phase for 2 consecutive days, using the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour (ASA24®) Dietary Assessment Tool (https://epi.grants.cancer.gov/asa24/). After the run-in period, all subjects will be maintained on a low Pi diet (700 mg/d) and a low Na diet of approximately 1,930 mg/d throughout the study for 8 weeks. Subjects will also be randomized to receive Sodium Phosphate 2 capsules daily (containing a total of 500 mg of Pi, 372mg of sodium) for 4 weeks during the high Pi phase (total Pi intake 1,200 mg/d) vs 2 capsules of Sodium Chloride (NaCl, containing a total of 372mg of sodium) to match Na content to Sodium Phosphate without extra Pi daily for 4 weeks during the low Pi phase (total Pi intake = 700 mg/d).

The total Na intake during the entire study will be at recommended level of 2,300 mg/d. Investigational drug service at UT Southwestern will dispense Sodium Phosphate vs. NaCl tablets tablets and the study subjects will be blinded to the type of supplement they receive.

During the periods of high and low Pi phases, we will monitor 24-hr UPiV to ensure adherence. Since approximately 70% of ingested Pi is absorbed and excreted in the urine, we expect 24-hr UPiV excretion to be approximately 840 mg during the high Pi phase and 490 mg during the low Pi phase. If 24-hr UPiV is \< 800 mg during the high Pi diet or > 500 mg during the low Pi diet, the research dietitian will provide additional counseling to improve adherence to the menu plan. If needed, the research diet will be altered to be more compatible with subject preference. 24-hr UPiV will be reassessed within 1 week in these individuals. If the levels remain below goal, subjects will be excluded from the study.

24-hr urinary Pi, Na, K, Cr, and Ca excretion will be assessed after weeks 2 and 4 of the low and high Pi phases. Serum electrolytes and Pi will be monitored every 2 weeks. Serum FGF23, PTH, and soluble Klotho levels and 24-h ambulatory BP will be obtained after 4 weeks on the study diet. Then, on a separate day, we will assess muscle SNA and BP at rest and during rhythmic handgrip of 30% and 45% each for 3 minutes. Additionally, we will test the role of dietary Pi on the response to isometric exercise by assessing SNA and BP during static handgrip at 30% MVC for 2 minutes followed by post exercise circulatory arrest (PECA). The latter maneuver will maximally activate the metaboreflex. Each exercise intervention will be separated by at least 30 minutes. The order of exercise intervention will be randomized. Subsequently, subjects will stop the first study supplement and undergo washout for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of washout, they will receive the 2nd study supplement. Measurement of 24-h ambulatory BP, SNA at rest and during handgrip exercise will be repeated in the same fashion.

02

Conditions studied

  • Hypertension

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Keywords

  • Hypertension
  • High phosphorus diet
  • FGF 23
  • 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure
  • Muscle sympathetic nerve
03

In context

Hypertension

6,689 studies on the registry are indexed under Hypertension; 965 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 94 is close to the median of 90 across 4,995 interventional studies indexed under Hypertension.

Browse Hypertension studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 990 studies on the registry; 201 are open to participants now.

Of its 135 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 100 (74%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 80 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: (answer must be yes to all to enter trial; check yes or no)

º ≥ 18 years of age

º Stage 1 Prehypertension (office BP 120-129/80-84 mmHg and normal ABPM \<130/80)

Exclusion Criteria: (answer must be no to all to enter trial)

º Diabetes mellitus or other systemic disease

º Cardiopulmonary disease

º Treatment with antihypertensive medications

º eGFR\< 60 ml/min/1.73m2

º Pregnancy

º Hypersensitivity to nitroprusside or phenylephrine

º Psychiatric illness

º H/o substance abuse or current smoker

º H/o malignancy

º Serum Phos \<2.4 mg/dL or >4.5 mg/dL

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
94 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    High Phosphate Phase

    All subjects will be on a low Pi diet containing 700mg/day of phosphate and 2 capsules of sodium phosphate with 500mg/day of phosphate for 4 weeks.

    Dietary Supplement: High Phosphate Phase

  • Placebo comparator
    Low Phosphate Phase

    All subjects will be on a low Pi diet containing 700mg/day of phosphate and 2 capsules of sodium chloride for 4 weeks.

    Dietary Supplement: Low Phosphate Phase

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementHigh Phosphate Phase

    2 capsules of sodium phosphate with 500mg/day of phosphate.

  • Dietary supplementLow Phosphate Phase

    2 capsules of sodium chloride.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. 24-hour Blood Pressure measured by Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor.

    Blood pressure will be measured through an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring device by Space Labs # 90217, worn by each participant after completing each phase, This will suggest if participant's blood pressure increased during high phosphorus phase as compared to low phosphorus phase.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity (MSNA)

    MSNA will be measured during both diet phases using microelectrodes inserted in the peroneal nerve. This will assess the impact of phosphate intake on MSNA.

    Time frame: 4 weeks after high phosphorus and 4 weeks after low phosphorus diet

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
    Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Sullivan CM, Leon JB, Sehgal AR. Phosphorus-containing food additives and the accuracy of nutrient databases: implications for renal patients. J Ren Nutr. 2007 Sep;17(5):350-4. doi: 10.1053/j.jrn.2007.05.008. PubMed 17720105 ↗
  • Benini O, D'Alessandro C, Gianfaldoni D, Cupisti A. Extra-phosphate load from food additives in commonly eaten foods: a real and insidious danger for renal patients. J Ren Nutr. 2011 Jul;21(4):303-8. doi: 10.1053/j.jrn.2010.06.021. Epub 2010 Nov 5. PubMed 21055967 ↗
  • Ketteler M, Wolf M, Hahn K, Ritz E. Phosphate: a novel cardiovascular risk factor. Eur Heart J. 2013 Apr;34(15):1099-101. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehs247. Epub 2012 Oct 7. No abstract available. PubMed 23045267 ↗
  • Karp H, Ekholm P, Kemi V, Itkonen S, Hirvonen T, Narkki S, Lamberg-Allardt C. Differences among total and in vitro digestible phosphorus content of plant foods and beverages. J Ren Nutr. 2012 Jul;22(4):416-22. doi: 10.1053/j.jrn.2011.04.004. Epub 2011 Jul 13. PubMed 21741857 ↗
  • Suzuki Y, Mitsushima S, Kato A, Yamaguchi T, Ichihara S. High-phosphorus/zinc-free diet aggravates hypertension and cardiac dysfunction in a rat model of the metabolic syndrome. Cardiovasc Pathol. 2014 Jan-Feb;23(1):43-9. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2013.06.004. Epub 2013 Aug 8. PubMed 23932324 ↗
  • Scanni R, vonRotz M, Jehle S, Hulter HN, Krapf R. The human response to acute enteral and parenteral phosphate loads. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Dec;25(12):2730-9. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2013101076. Epub 2014 May 22. PubMed 24854273 ↗
  • Hu MC, Shi M, Cho HJ, Adams-Huet B, Paek J, Hill K, Shelton J, Amaral AP, Faul C, Taniguchi M, Wolf M, Brand M, Takahashi M, Kuro-O M, Hill JA, Moe OW. Klotho and phosphate are modulators of pathologic uremic cardiac remodeling. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Jun;26(6):1290-302. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2014050465. Epub 2014 Oct 17. PubMed 25326585 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 4, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03234361
Lead sponsor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Responsible party
Wanpen Vongpatanasin (Professor of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 31, 2017
Start date
Oct 16, 2017
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2022
Completion
Sep 30, 2022
Last update
Nov 4, 2022

Study contacts

Wapen Vongpatanasin, MD
principal investigator · UT southwestern

Oversight

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

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