Anti-Oxidant Supplementation for the Prevention of Acute Mountain Sickness
NCT ID: NCT00664001
Last Updated: 2008-04-22
Study Results
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Basic Information
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COMPLETED
PHASE3
83 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2003-03-31
2003-12-31
Brief Summary
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Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to alter the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in severe ischaemia, causing vasogenic cerebral oedema. Endogenous antioxidant systems may have some capacity to respond to oxidative stress in hypoxia. The plasma concentration of urate, a powerful endogenous antioxidant, rises on acute exposure to high altitude and may play a crucial antioxidant role in systemic hypoxia. This antioxidant prevents free-radical induced cerebral oedema in animal models.
There are numerous sources of ROS in hypoxia, including the mitochondrial electron transfer chain, haemoglobin (Hb) autoxidation and xanthine oxidase activity. There have been several reports of raised markers of oxidative stress in humans at moderate altitude (\<3000m).
Oral antioxidant supplementation with preparations containing vitamins C and E in humans at altitude has been shown to decrease breath pentanes (a marker of oxidative stress), and improve erythrocyte filterability. In a small randomised controlled trial, Bailey and Davies demonstrated a significant reduction in symptoms of AMS in subjects taking an oral antioxidant cocktail.
The antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E act synergistically to provide membrane protection from free radical damage, and may protect against hypoxia-induced vascular leakage. We hypothesised that this combination of antioxidants would reduce the severity of acute mountain sickness, and reduce pulmonary artery pressures, in healthy lowlanders acutely exposed to high altitude.
Detailed Description
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Several features suggest that raised intracranial pressure (ICP) may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of AMS. Magnetic resonance imaging of HACE patients has demonstrated that the oedema in HACE is of the vasogenic, rather that cytotoxic, type. Thus it is likely that cerebrovascular permeability has an important role in the development of AMS and HACE.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to alter the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in severe ischaemia, causing vasogenic cerebral oedema. Endogenous antioxidant systems may have some capacity to respond to oxidative stress in hypoxia. The plasma concentration of urate, a powerful endogenous antioxidant, rises on acute exposure to high altitude and may play a crucial antioxidant role in systemic hypoxia. This antioxidant prevents free-radical induced cerebral oedema in animal models.
The pathogenesis of HAPE is understood to have two components: (i) increased pulmonary arterial pressures secondary to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and; (ii) an increase in endothelial permeability, possibly due to stress rupture of pulmonary capillaries. There is much debate surrounding the cellular mechanisms of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, but it is likely that ROS have an important role.
There are numerous sources of ROS in hypoxia, including the mitochondrial electron transfer chain, haemoglobin (Hb) autoxidation and xanthine oxidase activity. There have been several reports of raised markers of oxidative stress in humans at moderate altitude (\<3000m).
Oral antioxidant supplementation with preparations containing vitamins C and E in humans at altitude has been shown to decrease breath pentanes (a marker of oxidative stress), and improve erythrocyte filterability. In a small randomised controlled trial, Bailey and Davies demonstrated a significant reduction in symptoms of AMS in subjects taking an oral antioxidant cocktail.
The antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E act synergistically to provide membrane protection from free radical damage, and may protect against hypoxia-induced vascular leakage. We hypothesised that this combination of antioxidants would reduce the severity of acute mountain sickness, and reduce pulmonary artery pressures, in healthy lowlanders acutely exposed to high altitude.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
PREVENTION
QUADRUPLE
Study Groups
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Control
Placebo tablet
Matched placebo for anti-oxidant supplementation
Matched placebo for anti-oxidant supplementation
Intervention
Anti-oxidant supplementation
Anti-oxidant supplementation
Daily dose of 1g L-ascorbic acid, 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol acetate, and 600mg of alpha-lipoic acid in sealed capsules as anti-oxidant supplementation.
Interventions
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Anti-oxidant supplementation
Daily dose of 1g L-ascorbic acid, 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol acetate, and 600mg of alpha-lipoic acid in sealed capsules as anti-oxidant supplementation.
Matched placebo for anti-oxidant supplementation
Matched placebo for anti-oxidant supplementation
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
* Gasto-intestinal illness
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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University of Edinburgh
OTHER
Altitude Physiology Expeditions
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Apex
Principal Investigators
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Kenneth Baillie
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Apex Bioscience
Locations
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University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, , United Kingdom
Countries
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References
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Hall DP, MacCormick IJ, Phythian-Adams AT, Rzechorzek NM, Hope-Jones D, Cosens S, Jackson S, Bates MG, Collier DJ, Hume DA, Freeman T, Thompson AA, Baillie JK. Network analysis reveals distinct clinical syndromes underlying acute mountain sickness. PLoS One. 2014 Jan 22;9(1):e81229. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081229. eCollection 2014.
MacCormick IJ, Somner J, Morris DS, MacGillivray TJ, Bourne RR, Huang SS, MacCormick A, Aspinall PA, Baillie JK, Thompson AA, Dhillon B. Retinal vessel tortuosity in response to hypobaric hypoxia. High Alt Med Biol. 2012 Dec;13(4):263-8. doi: 10.1089/ham.2011.1097.
Baillie JK, Thompson AA, Irving JB, Bates MG, Sutherland AI, Macnee W, Maxwell SR, Webb DJ. Oral antioxidant supplementation does not prevent acute mountain sickness: double blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. QJM. 2009 May;102(5):341-8. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcp026. Epub 2009 Mar 9.
Related Links
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Related Info
Other Identifiers
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Anti-oxidant
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id