An interventional study of Metyrapone And Hydrocortisone and Placebo in Glucocorticoids, Overweight and Obesity and Overeating, sponsored by Eleonora Seelig. Completed at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-22.
Sponsored by Eleonora Seelig · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
The investigator aim to understand whether food-induced glucocorticoids influence fat mass in overweight and obese people.
In a randomized, cross-over study, 23 overweight and obese volunteers will receive a block and replace therapy that mimics physiological glucocorticoid (GC) rhythm (metyrapone plus hydrocortisone) or placebo. Participants will undergo two identical overfeeding periods with each treatment. With the block and replace therapy food-induced GC peak will be suppressed. Metabolic and immunological parameters will be compared to reveal the effects of GCs during excessive overfeeding, particularly to understand changes in body fat.
Obesity is one of the most serious health problems of the 21st century, and new therapies are urgently needed.
Glucocorticoids (GCs) increase with acute food intake. Several clinical studies have found that glucocorticoids contribute to common obesity, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, the investigator aim to understand whether GCs influence the total body fat in obese and overweight study participants during excessive overfeeding.
In a randomized, cross-over study, 23 overweight and obese individuals will receive a block and replace therapy that mimics physiological GC rhythm (Metyrapone plus hydrocortisone) or placebo. Participants will undergo two identical overfeeding periods with each treatment. With the block and replace therapy, food-induced GC peak will be suppressed. Metabolic, autonomic, and immunological parameters will be compared.
A) Participants will receive hydrocortisone 19.9mg/d day 1 to day 6 and 12mg on day 7 subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion (eight times/day) and metyrapone per os (starting with a dose of 750mg/d on day 1 to 2500mg on day 3, which will be kept constant until day 6 and then reduced to 750mg on day 7)
B) Participants will receive placebo (0,9% NaCl solution) 19.9mg/d day 1 to day 6 and 12mg on day 7 subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion (eight times/day) and placebo pills per os (starting with a dose of 750mg/d on day 1 to 2500mg on day 3, which will be kept constant until day 6 and then reduced to 750mg on day 7)
11,522 studies on the registry are indexed under Obesity; 2,033 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 23 is below the median of 67 across 9,006 interventional studies indexed under Obesity.
Browse Obesity studies →Eleonora Seelig is the lead sponsor of 6 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.
Compared within Obesity, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Overweight. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
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.
Exclusion Criteria:
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.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
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.
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.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
During one of the study periods, subjects receive hydrocortisone 19.9 mg/d day 1 to day 6 and 12 mg/d on day 7 subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion (eight times/day) and metyrapone per os (starting with a dose of 750 mg/d, then the dose will be increased on day 3, where 2500mg/d is achieved and reduced on day 7 to 750mg).
Drug: Metyrapone And Hydrocortisone
During the other study period, subjects receive placebo (0,9% NaCl solution) the same dose of placebo instead of hydrocortisone subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion and the same dose of placebo tablets p.o instead of metyrapone.
Drug: Placebo
Drug pages: Metyrapone · Hydrocortisone
Drug: Metyrapone 250 mg Oral Tablets During one phase of the study: Metyrapone (pills of 250mg) on full stomach: Day 1 0-1-2, day 2 1-2-2, day 3 3-3-4 day 4 3-3-4 day 5 3-3-4 day 6 3-3-4 day 7 3-0-0 Drug: Hydrocortisone 19,9mg/12mg s.c., pulsatile with a flow rate of 10μl/s Hydrocortisone will be delivered subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion with a flow rate of 10μl/s from day 1 to day 6 in a total daily dose of 19.9mg and 12mg on day 7
Drug: Placebo 250 mg Tablets During another phase of the study: identical looking placebo pills starting Day 1 During one phase of the study: Metyrapone (pills of 250mg) on full stomach: Day 1 0-1-2, day 2 1-2-2, day 3 3-3-4 day 4 3-3-4 day 5 3-3-4 day 6 3-3-4 day 7 3-0-0 Drug: Placebo (0,9% NaCl solution) Placebo (0,9% NaCl solution) 19.9 mg/d subcutaneously via a pump in a pulsed fashion with a flow rate of 10μl/s from day 1 to day 6 and 12mg on day 7
Total body fat
Change in total body fat assessed with a Dual-Energy-X-Ray-Absorptiometry (DXA)
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Total lean mass
Change in total lean mass assessed with DXA
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Insulin sensitivity
Change in insulin sensitivity assessed with a mixed meal tolerance test
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Glucose
Change in Glucose assessed with a mixed meal tolerance test
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Insulin
Change in Insulin assessed with a mixed meal tolerance test
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
C-peptide
Change in C-peptide assessed with a mixed meal tolerance test
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Energy expenditure
Basal metabolic rate measured with indirect calorimetryy
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Substrate utilization
Respiratory quotient assessed with indirect calorimetry
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Assessment of blood pressure with a standard blood pressure monitor.
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Weight
Measurement of weight with a standard scale
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Lipids (mmol/l) ((total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides)
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Immune cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells)
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Satiation
Amount of food intake with ad libitum buffet
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Satiety
Appetite rating with visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0mm-100mm (0mm=not at all and 100mm=extreme)
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Motivation
Motivation to eat measured with a speed clicking test
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
IL-6 (Inflammatory markers)
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
IL-1RA (Inflammatory markers)
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
IL-8 (Inflammatory markers)
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
CRP (Inflammatory markers)
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Thyroid hormones
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Growth hormone
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
IGF1
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Catecholamines
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
GLP-1
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
GIP
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Glucagon
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
PYY
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
CCK
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
FGF21
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Leptin
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Ghrelin
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
GDF15
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Cortisol
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Aldosterone
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Renin
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
ACTH
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Pregnenolone
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Progesterone
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
11-deoxycorticosterone
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Corticosterone
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
18-hydroxycorticosterone
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
17-hydroxypregnenolone
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
17-hydroxyprogesterone
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
11-deoxycortisol
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Oxytocin
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Untargeted metabolomics of blood
Blood sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Untargeted metabolomics of adipose tissue
Adipose tissue sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Untargeted metabolomics of muscle
Muscle tissue sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Gene expression analysis of adipose tissue
Adipose tissue sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Gene expressions analysis of muscle tissue
Muscle tissue sample
Time frame: Two 7-day intervention periods
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Ran from Sep 2024 to primary completion in Feb 2026, 17 months.
Of 3,680 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Obesity, half reached primary completion within 23 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 43. This study's 17 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 3,843 studies reached it within 22 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 42.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Studies of the drugs tested here: Metyrapone · Hydrocortisone
Eleonora Seelig