Dietary Essential Fatty Acid Regulation of Omega-3 HUFA Metabolism; Satiety and Body Composition

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Weight Gain, Healthy Subjects, Obesity, Women

In brief

Background: \- Rates of obesity have increased dramatically in recent decades, and researchers are investigating how changes in diets and physical activity have contributed to this increase. To understand how weight might be controlled, it is important to learn what kinds of dietary changes can affect hunger and might lower body weight. Essential fatty acids, for instance, are an important part of a healthy diet, but researchers have not yet determined the ideal amount of essential fatty acids that people should eat. By studying how different diets affect body chemistry and hormone levels in women who are overweight or obese, researchers hope to be able to determine better diets or treatments to help people reach and maintain an optimum healthy weight. Objectives: \- To examine how certain fats in the diet affect body metabolism, hormones, and weight regulation. Eligibility: \- Healthy women between 18 and 50 years of age who are overweight or obese (body mass index between 25 and 35). Design: * This study has an initial screening visit and three phases. All participants will be involved in the first two phases of the study, and some participants will be involved in the third phase. * Participants will be screened with a physical examination and medical history, in addition to blood and urine tests and questionnaires about eating habits and other diet factors. * Phase 1: Participants will have three visits to the National Institutes of Health over a 4-week period. At the visits, participants will have blood and urine tests, complete questionnaires, and have other tests including brain and body imaging studies. Participants will then be assigned to one of three study diets. * Phase 2: Participants will have a 12-week diet phase, with all foods supplied by the study researchers. Participants will keep a daily log of food and beverage intake, and will have three testing sessions with procedures similar to those performed in Phase 1. * Phase 3: Participants assigned to a particular study diet (one-third of all participants) will be given the option of continuing the diet for an additional 36 weeks (9 months), with food consumption, monitoring, and testing procedures similar to those performed in Phase 2....

Key facts

Study ID: NCT01251887
Run by: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
People needed: 85
Starts: 2010-11-12
Expected to finish: 2018-07-25
Last updated by the study team: 2021-09-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 50. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may not qualify if…

Participants are not eligible for this research study if they:
Have been pregnant or have breast fed within the last 2 years.
Work, or have an immediate family member who works, with a study investigator. Immediate family is defined as a spouse, parent, child or sibling, whether biological or legally adopted.
Are HIV positive.
Have any current, unstable medical conditions including respiratory insufficiency requiring oxygen therapy; cardiac ischemia; cardiac or hepatic failure; or acute neurological illness as assessed by history and physical exam.
Have evidence of diseases that may influence metabolism (e.g. overt diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, cancer)
Have any current or past history of eating disorders such as binge eating or anorexia nervosa.
Have had weight loss (bariatric) surgery.
Have gained or lost more than 3% of your current weight in the past 3 months.
Exercise strenuously, like running, swimming, or basketball, 4 or more times per week.
Are planning to begin a strenuous exercise program in the next 4 months.
Take supplements that contain omega-6 or omega-3 fatty acids (e.g. fish, cod liver, borage, evening primrose oils)
Have significant dietary limitations (e.g. multiple food allergies/intolerances, vegan diet) or special dietary requirements that are difficult to accommodate with study diets
Have significant claustrophobia that would preclude study tests.
Have a history of alcohol or substance abuse or dependence in the past 5 years.
Drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages per day, on average, or 6 drinks per sitting in the past year. Participants may drink up to one alcoholic beverage per day during the study.
Used marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, or heroin even once over the last year. Participants may not use marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, or heroin during the study.
Have smoked 2 or more cigarettes per week, on average, over the past year.
Participants may not use tobacco products during the study.
Eat fish 3 or more times per week on average.
Have a known bleeding disorder.
Take medications or supplements that may interfere with this study by altering energy metabolism, nutrient absorption, or food intake. Regular use of the following compounds warrants exclusion: medications for the management of diabetes (Type 1 or 2), typical and atypical antipsychotics, thyroid medications, glucocorticoids, orlistat, decongestants, anti-histamines, and medications for cardiac conditions (e.g. beta blockers), attention disorders (e.g. amphetamine derivatives), blood lipid disorders (e.g. statins, fibrates), and hypertension (e.g. thiazide diuretics), as well as certain anti-depressants (e.g. tricyclics), and supplements that impact energy metabolism, such as ephedrine.
Regularly take an anticoagulant medication, such as warfarin or aspirin.
Have a pacemaker, brain stimulator, or other implanted electrical device, permanent eyeliner, metallic prosthesis (including metal pins and rods, heart valves, and cochlear implants) that would preclude MRI scans.
Are currently participating in any other clinical research studies that include blood draws or other procedures.

Where it is running

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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