N-Acetylcysteine and Milk Thistle for Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy

NCT ID: NCT01265563

Last Updated: 2018-10-19

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

108 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2011-01-31

Study Completion Date

2016-12-31

Brief Summary

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The study is done to find out whether the combined use of the nutritional supplements N-acetylcysteine and Siliphos (milk thistle extract) corrects the shedding of urine protein and oxidative damage (damage to cells and organs often compared to fast aging) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic kidney disease.

Detailed Description

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Oxidative stress and glutathione (GSH) imbalance are major contributors to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Current options for the treatment of oxidative stress in diabetic nephropathy are limited and only partially effective, thus interest in the development of new strategies is high.

The study intends to test the hypothesis that combined oral supplementation of the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and milk thistle flavonolignan silibin (as silibin-phosphatidylcholine) will reduce proteinuria and urinary and systemic manifestations of oxidative stress and inflammation, which are characteristically observed in patients with T2DM and related nephropathy. The investigators expect these effects to be achieved with minimal or no side effects, and with good patient tolerance.

The trial is designed as a two-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, modified-factorial dose-ranging design, five-arm pilot study in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and advanced diabetic nephropathy with proteinuria.

Intervention consists of three-month oral administration of NAC, silibin, and/or respective placebos for three months. Subjects are randomized to the following five intervention arms: (A) placebo; (B) NAC; (C) silibin; (D) NAC + silibin; and (E) NAC + double-dose silibin.

The primary outcome measure is urinary excretion of albumin, a marker of glomerular injury. Secondary outcome measures are alpha-1 microglobulin, a marker of tubular injury, and urinary excretion of inflammatory cytokines and C-C chemokines, i.e. markers of renal inflammation. In addition, peripheral blood monocytes from the same patients are analyzed for GSH content and activity of GSH metabolizing enzymes. All outcome measures are monitored in relation to both treatment allocation and prevalent blood and urine levels of the active treatment. Safety and tolerability of this combination treatment are monitored throughout the trial.

Conditions

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Diabetic Nephropathy Proteinuria Oxidative Stress

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

Study Groups

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NAC placebo and Silibin placebo

Drug: N-acetylcysteine placebo and Drug: Silibin placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

N-acetylcysteine placebo and silibin placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine placebo excipient and silibin placebo orally twice daily for three months

NAC active and Silibin placebo

Drug: N-acetylcysteine and Drug: Silibin placebo

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

N-acetylcysteine active and silibin placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine 600 mg orally twice daily and silibin placebo orally twice a day for three months

NAC placebo and Silibin active

Drug: N-acetylcysteine placebo and Drug: Silibin active

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

N-acetylcysteine placebo and silibin active

Intervention Type DRUG

Dietary Supplement: silibin 480 mg orally twice daily and N-acetylcysteine placebo orally twice a day for three months

NAC active and Silibin active

Drug: N-acetylcysteine active and Drug: Silibin active

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

N-acetylcysteine active and silibin active

Intervention Type DRUG

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine 600 mg orally twice daily and silibin 480 mg orally twice daily for three months

NAC active and High-dose Silibin active

Drug: N-acetylcysteine active and Drug: Silibin higher dose active

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

N-acetylcysteine active + high-dose silibin active

Intervention Type DRUG

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine 600 mg orally twice daily and silibin 960 mg orally twice daily for three months

Interventions

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N-acetylcysteine placebo and silibin placebo

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine placebo excipient and silibin placebo orally twice daily for three months

Intervention Type DRUG

N-acetylcysteine active and silibin placebo

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine 600 mg orally twice daily and silibin placebo orally twice a day for three months

Intervention Type DRUG

N-acetylcysteine placebo and silibin active

Dietary Supplement: silibin 480 mg orally twice daily and N-acetylcysteine placebo orally twice a day for three months

Intervention Type DRUG

N-acetylcysteine active and silibin active

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine 600 mg orally twice daily and silibin 480 mg orally twice daily for three months

Intervention Type DRUG

N-acetylcysteine active + high-dose silibin active

Dietary Supplement: N-acetylcysteine 600 mg orally twice daily and silibin 960 mg orally twice daily for three months

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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NAC placebo, Silibin-phosphatidylcholine placebo, Siliphos placebo NAC, Silibin-phosphatidylcholine placebo, Siliphos placebo NAC Placebo, Silibin-phosphatidylcholine, Siliphos NAC, Silibin-phosphatidylcholine, Siliphos NAC, Silibin-phosphatidylcholine, Siliphos

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Males or females age 18-76 years old
* Type 2 diabetes mellitus
* Diabetic nephropathy, as defined by:

* estimated GFR between 60 and 15 ml/min
* presence of proteinuria
* Current medical treatment with low dose aspirin
* Treatment of hypertension with (but not limited to):

* one diuretic
* one beta-blocker
* and one medication from the classes Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) or Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I)
* Treatment of hyperglycemia with (but not limited to) glipizide and the medication class insulin
* Treatment of hypercholesterolemia with (but not limited to) one medication from the class statins

Exclusion Criteria

* Type 1 diabetes mellitus
* Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) \> 10%
* \>20% variation in estimated GFR, during last 6 months
* Systolic Blood Pressure \>170 mmHg or Diastolic Blood Pressure \>100 mmHg on medications
* Other secondary forms of hypertension (endocrine, renovascular)
* History of intolerance to:

* Both ACE-I and ARBs
* The investigational supplements
* Iodinated radiologic contrast material
* Known non diabetic renal disease
* or history of solid organ transplantation
* Hepatitis virus or Human Immunodeficiency virus infections
* Use of one of the following medications within 2 months prior to enrollment in the study:

* Metformin
* Thiazolidinediones (pioglitazone or rosiglitazone)
* Phenytoin
* Warfarin
* Prescription-grade vitamin E, vitamin C, systemic steroids, and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents
* Over-the-counter vitamin E, vitamin C, and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents
* Over-the-counter antioxidants supplements including:

* Lipoic acid
* Coenzyme Q10
* N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
* Glutathione (GSH)
* Chromium
* Fish-oil extracts (omega-3 fatty acids)
* Soy extracts (isoflavones)
* Milk thistle extract (silymarin)
* Green-tea preparations
* Pomegranate extracts
* Grape extracts
* Prickly pear extract
* Active coronary artery disease or cerebral vascular disease within 3 months prior to signing the informed consent
* Hepatic dysfunction as defined by abnormal total bilirubin or liver enzymes (ALT, AST) \>2 times upper limit of normal range
* Active malignancy
* History of drug or alcohol dependency
* Psychiatric or neurological condition, preventing aware consent to the study and/or adherence to the study protocol
* Unwillingness to practice birth control throughout the study
* Participation to another clinical study within 1 month prior to signing the informed consent form
* Planned move to outside the study area, surgery or radiographic studies utilizing iodine-based contrast material within the next one year
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

76 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

VA Office of Research and Development

FED

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Paolo Fanti, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX

Locations

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South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Debnath S, Thameem F, Alves T, Nolen J, Al-Shahrouri H, Bansal S, Abboud HE, Fanti P. Diabetic nephropathy among Mexican Americans. Clin Nephrol. 2012 Apr;77(4):332-44. doi: 10.5414/cn107487.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22445478 (View on PubMed)

Giustarini D, Dalle-Donne I, Milzani A, Fanti P, Rossi R. Analysis of GSH and GSSG after derivatization with N-ethylmaleimide. Nat Protoc. 2013 Sep;8(9):1660-9. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2013.095. Epub 2013 Aug 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23928499 (View on PubMed)

Khazim K, Giustarini D, Rossi R, Verkaik D, Cornell JE, Cunningham SE, Mohammad M, Trochta K, Lorenzo C, Folli F, Bansal S, Fanti P. Glutathione redox potential is low and glutathionylated and cysteinylated hemoglobin levels are elevated in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Transl Res. 2013 Jul;162(1):16-25. doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2012.12.014. Epub 2013 Jan 17.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 23333585 (View on PubMed)

Cunningham SE, Verkaik D, Gross G, Khazim K, Hirachan P, Agarwal G, Lorenzo C, Matteucci E, Bansal S, Fanti P. Comparison of Nutrition Profile and Diet Record Between Veteran and Nonveteran End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Receiving Hemodialysis in Veterans Affairs and Community Clinics in Metropolitan South-Central Texas. Nutr Clin Pract. 2015 Oct;30(5):698-708. doi: 10.1177/0884533615575046. Epub 2015 Apr 21.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 25899538 (View on PubMed)

Fanti P, Giustarini D, Rossi R, Cunningham SE, Folli F, Khazim K, Cornell J, Matteucci E, Bansal S. Dietary Intake of Proteins and Calories Is Inversely Associated With The Oxidation State of Plasma Thiols in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients. J Ren Nutr. 2015 Nov;25(6):494-503. doi: 10.1053/j.jrn.2015.06.003. Epub 2015 Jul 31.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 26235932 (View on PubMed)

Giustarini D, Galvagni F, Orlandini M, Fanti P, Rossi R. Immediate stabilization of human blood for delayed quantification of endogenous thiols and disulfides. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2016 Apr 15;1019:51-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.02.009. Epub 2016 Feb 8.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 26896310 (View on PubMed)

Khazim K, Gorin Y, Cavaglieri RC, Abboud HE, Fanti P. The antioxidant silybin prevents high glucose-induced oxidative stress and podocyte injury in vitro and in vivo. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2013 Sep 1;305(5):F691-700. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00028.2013. Epub 2013 Jun 26.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 23804455 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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1R21AT004490-01A1

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

VA 1I01CX000264-01A2

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

CLIN-004-10S

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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