CClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07213843CDINUpdated Oct 9, 2025

Combined Circulatory and Dietary Interventions for Neuropathy

An interventional study of INF® Therapy and NVIf in Diabete Type 2 and Neuropathy, Painful, sponsored by Loma Linda University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 35 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-10-09.

Sponsored by Loma Linda University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
35 Years to 85 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of three different interventions in improving neuropathy symptoms in individuals aged 35-85 with moderate to severe neuropathy. The study will compare three treatment groups: Intraneural Facilitation® (INF®) therapy alone, INF® therapy combined with Neuro vascular index (NVI) food-guided elimination (NVIf), and NVIf alone. The aim is to determine which treatment results in the greatest improvement in neuropathy symptoms, including quality of life, sensory and pain improvements, and functional outcomes.

Read the detailed description

The purpose of this investigator-initiated study is to observe the effectiveness of a manual physical therapy technique known as Intraneural Facilitation (INF®), both independently and in combination with a Nutritional Vascular Inflammation focused (NVIf) dietary intervention, in improving neurovascular function, pain, and physical performance in individuals with moderate to severe peripheral neuropathy (PN). Subjects will be randomized into one of the three interventions arms: (1) INF® therapy alone, (2) NVIf intervention alone or (3) a combination of both. INF® is a manual therapy, while NVIf utilizes ultrasound guided food elimination. Outcomes include pain (Visual analog scale), sensory function (Semmes Weinstein Monofilament), physical function (Lower extremity functional scale, 10-meter walk test, timed up and go) quality of life (Norfolk Quality of life-Diabetic neuropathy), and neurovascular blood flow analysis. Study participants will be 35-85 years old with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of moderate to severe lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and at least one symptom: numbness, tingling, burning, sharp pain, or increased sensitivity. They must score 0-60 on the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), speak and understand English, provide written informed consent, and be willing to complete all study procedures, including intervention and follow-up visits. Participants must be able to ambulate independently with or without an assistive device. Subjects will be recruited using email and flyer through the Neuropathic Therapy Center (NTC) research interest list and through providers at Loma Linda's University (LLU) Health offices. 60 subjects will be recruited, and consent will take place at the LLU or at the Murrieta study site prior to randomization, administered by trained study staff authorized to obtain informed consent.

02

Conditions studied

  • Diabete Type 2
  • Neuropathy, Painful

Keywords

  • neuropathy
  • diabetes type 2
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 planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 80 across 7,525 interventional studies indexed under Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2.

Browse Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 studies →

Lead sponsor

Loma Linda University is the lead sponsor of 297 studies on the registry; 48 are open to participants now.

Of its 28 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 23 (82%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
35 Years to 85 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Confirmed diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities by a physician
  • Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) score between 0-60 (indicating moderate to significant difficulty in lower extremity function)
  • Ability to speak and understand English
  • Ability to provide appropriate written informed consent
  • Willingness to participate in all study procedures, including the intervention and follow-up visits
  • Ability to ambulate independently with or without an assistive device

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria

  • Any medical condition suggesting potential decline in function over the next 6 months (e.g., ongoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or dialysis)
  • Active alcohol or drug misuse
  • End-stage renal failure
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Severe dyslipidemia
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Active inflammation
  • Shingles-related neuropathy
  • Presence of any lower extremity amputations or significant wounds
  • Severe chronic medical conditions requiring active treatment that could interfere with study outcomes
  • Morbid obesity
  • Concomitant use of medications or devices that may interfere with study results or are not allowed per protocol
  • Inability to comprehend or provide informed consent
  • Inability to speak or understand English
  • Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy during the study period (female participants)
  • Inability or unwillingness to adhere to study procedures, including dietary guidelines or follow-up visits
  • Inability to complete all required study assessments, including follow-up appointments and questionnaires
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    INF® Therapy Only Group

    INF® therapy is a manual technique designed to improve neural circulation by using a series of manual holds administered by a trained practitioner. Participants will receive 60-minute sessions, 2-3 times per week, for a total of 8 sessions.

    Other: INF® Therapy

  • Experimental
    NVIf Only Group

    NVIf, is a dietary intervention that uses a patented ultrasound technology to assess vascular responses to food allergens. By identifying foods that exacerbate inflammation and restrict circulation, the intervention guides patients to eliminate these foods, thereby improving nerve health. Those in this group will participate in follow-up for food elimination adherence, including daily tracking of foods ingested. Week 1-2: 4 x NVI food guided-elimination visits. Week 2-5 complete weekly Likert scale inquiring about food eliminations and weekly phone call check-in attempts will be made by research staff.

    Other: NVIf

  • Experimental
    INF® Therapy + NVIf Group

    INF® therapy and NVI Food-Guided Elimination Group: Week 1-2: 4 x NVI food guided-elimination visits. Participants will receive 60-minute sessions, 2-3 times per week, for a total of 8 sessions. As well as participate in NVIf, which is a dietary intervention that uses a patented ultrasound technology to assess vascular responses to food allergens. By identifying foods that exacerbate inflammation and restrict circulation, the intervention guides patients to eliminate these foods, thereby improving nerve health. Those in this group will participate in follow-up for food elimination adherence, including daily tracking of foods ingested. Week 2-5 complete weekly Likert scale inquiring about food eliminations and weekly phone call check-in attempts will be made by research staff as well as INF® therapy for 60-minute sessions, 2-3 times per week, for a total of 8 sessions.

    Other: INF® Therapy · Other: NVIf

Interventions

  • OtherINF® Therapy

    INF® therapy is a manual technique designed to improve neural circulation by using a series of manual holds administered by a trained practitioner,

    Also known as: Intranerual Facilitation

  • OtherNVIf

    NVIf is a dietary intervention that uses a patented ultrasound technology to assess vascular responses to food allergens

    Also known as: Neuro vascular index food-guided elimination

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Pain Intensity

    Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale. Improvement will be indicated by reduced VAS scores. Unit of Measure: Millimeters on a 0-100 mm scale.

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 4-5)

  2. Change in Sensory Function

    Sensory function will be assessed using the Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament test. Improvement will be indicated by increased monofilament detection. Detection threshold in grams (monofilament response: detected/not detected)

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), mid-treatment (Week 3), and post-intervention (Week 4-5)

  3. Change in Functional Limitation

    Functional limitation related to neuropathy will be assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale. Improvement will be indicated by higher Lower Extremity Functional Scale scores. Scale score (0-80).

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 4-5)

  4. Change in Gait Speed

    Gait speed will be assessed using the 10-Meter Walk Test. Improvement will be indicated by faster walk time. Seconds to complete 10 meters (converted to meters/second if applicable)

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), mid-treatment (Week 3), and post-intervention (Week 4-5)

  5. Change in Mobility and Fall Risk

    Mobility and fall risk will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Improvement will be indicated by shorter completion times. Unit of Measure: Seconds.

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), mid-treatment (Week 3), and post-intervention (Week 4-5)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Quality of Life

    Quality of life will be measured using the Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy questionnaire to determine the effect of each treatment approach on overall patient well-being. Higher scores indicate greater impairment; a reduction reflects improved quality of life. Lowest score=0, means best quality of life with little to no neuropathy impacts. A maximum score of 138, means worst quality of life with severe impairments.

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 4-5)

Other outcomes

  1. Change in Neurovascular Function and Inflammation

    Mechanistic analysis will be performed using the Neurovascular Index with Philips Affinity 50 Ultrasound to evaluate changes in microvascular resistance and neurovascular blood flow, as well as the effect of NVI-guided food elimination on reducing neurovascular inflammation.

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 4-5)

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Neuropathic Therapy Center
    Loma Linda, California 92354-0200, United States
    • Mark Bussell, DPT · Contact · mbussell@llu.edu · 909-558-6799
    • Kyan Z Sahba, PhD · Contact · kyansahba@llu.edu · 7142350087
    • Kyan Sahba, PhD · Principal investigator
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — No plan to share individual participant data (IPD). De-identified aggregate data may be made available upon reasonable request to the Principal Investigator, following study completion and publication of primary results, in accordance with institutional policies and IRB approval.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 9, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07213843
Lead sponsor
Loma Linda University
Responsible party
Kyan Sahba (Principal Invetigator, Loma Linda University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 9, 2025
Start date
Oct 1, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Oct 1, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 1, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 9, 2025

Study contacts

Kyan Sahba, Post Doctoral Fellow, PhD
Contact
kyansahba@llu.edu
9095586799
Mark Bussell, Clinical Director, DPT
Contact
mbussell@llu.edu
9095586799
Kyan Sahba, PhD
principal investigator · Loma Linda University

Oversight

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

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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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