Processed Meat and Brain Regions Related to Reward and Addiction

NCT ID: NCT02474147

Last Updated: 2018-03-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2015-08-31
• Study Completion Date: 2017-12-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to

1. Compare effects of two isocaloric meals (processed meat hamburger vs. vegetarian sandwich) in response to the postprandial period by using functional brain imaging of reward circuitry implicated in food motivation and energy balance in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), obese subjects and healthy controls.

2. Characterize some of the pathophysiological mechanisms of action of different meals in obese and T2D subjects vs. in healthy controls (serum concentrations of glucose, FFA, IRI, C-peptide, gastrointestinal hormones, oxidative stress markers)

Detailed Description

The mesolimbic dopaminergic system of the brain, which converges on the nucleus accumbens (part of the striatum), plays a central role in reward and craving, and this system appears to mediate hedonic food responses. In rodent studies, extracellular concentrations of dopamine and its metabolites in the nucleus accumbens increased more after the consumption of highly palatable food than standard rodent feed pellets. Furthermore, microinjections of opiate into the nucleus accumbens increased food intake and the reward value of food. Clinical studies that used functional brain imaging have reported greater activation in the nucleus accumbens or other regions of the striatum in obese than lean individuals after they viewed or consumed palatable, high-calorie food. Of particular interest, striatal dopamine D2 receptor availability was significantly lower in obese individuals than in nonobese matched controls, which raised the possibility that overeating may compensate for low dopaminergic activity. The recurrent activation of the striatum may down-regulate dopamine availability and further heighten the drive to overeat. However, the information on the exact effect of different foods and nutrients on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system is missing.

Preliminary findings that lead to the project

A positive association between high consumption of total and red meat, especially processed meat, and incidence of T2D has been demonstrated. Previous studies support the concept that increased oxidative stress may play an important role in T2D manifestation. Dietary fat quality has been proposed to be a critical factor. Several studies have suggested that a high intake of saturated fatty acids naturally present in meat contributes to the risk of glucose intolerance. In an intervention study, humans suffering from metabolic syndrome who were consuming a diet rich in saturated fats displayed higher oxidative stress markers postprandially. It is not clear if saturated fatty acids per se or via increased oxidative stress markers may activate the mesolimbic dopaminergic system.

In contrast, some intervention trials (including ours) demonstrated a greater improvement in insulin sensitivity, glycemic control and a reduction in oxidative stress markers in T2D patients consuming a vegetarian diet compared to a conventional diabetic diet. The effect of a vegetarian diet on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system has not been studied yet.

Aims and priorities of the project

The purpose of this study is to

1. Compare effects of two isocaloric meals (processed meat hamburger vs. vegetarian sandwich) in response to the postprandial period by using functional brain imaging of reward circuitry implicated in food motivation and energy balance in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), obese subjects and healthy controls.

2. Characterize some of the pathophysiological mechanisms of action of different meals in obese and T2D subjects vs. in healthy controls (serum concentrations of glucose, FFA, IRI, C-peptide, gastrointestinal hormones, oxidative stress markers)

Hypothesis

1. Obese and T2D subjects relative to lean healthy controls will show greater activation in the gustatory cortex and in somatosensory regions in response to the intake of processed meat hamburger (vs. a vegetarian sandwich). However, they will also show decreased activation in the caudate nucleus in response to consumption of processed meat hamburger (vs. a vegetarian sandwich).

2. Changes in serum concentrations of glucose, FFA, IRI, C-peptide, gastrointestinal hormones and oxidative stress markers will be involved in gut-brain axis signaling. The investigators hypothesise to find an association between postprandial changes in serum concentrations of FFA and postprandial changes in activation in the gustatory cortex and in somatosensory regions of the brain.

The actual need for this study The pandemic of obesity and diabetes especially in western countries calls for high-quality research and relevant action. A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the stimulation of brain regions involved in reward and craving in response to processed meat, one of the most significant present risk factors for obesity and type 2 diabetes, is needed in order to develop more effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Type 2 diabetics

Patients with type 2 diabetes Interventions: processed meat hamburger and vegan sandwich

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Processed meat hamburger

Intervention Type: OTHER

MacMuffin Fresh 300 ml Cafe Latte + 21 g sugar Energy: 513.6 kcal Carbohydrates 55g (44.8%) Proteins 20.5g (16.7%) Lipids 22 g (38.6%)

Vegan sandwich

Intervention Type: OTHER

Burger with tofu + 300 ml green tea Energy 514.9 kcal Carbohydrates 54.2 g (44%) Proteins 19.9 g (16.2%) Lipids 22.8 g (39.8%)

Obese subjects

Obese subjects without diabetes Interventions: processed meat hamburger and vegan sandwich

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Processed meat hamburger

Intervention Type: OTHER

MacMuffin Fresh 300 ml Cafe Latte + 21 g sugar Energy: 513.6 kcal Carbohydrates 55g (44.8%) Proteins 20.5g (16.7%) Lipids 22 g (38.6%)

Vegan sandwich

Intervention Type: OTHER

Burger with tofu + 300 ml green tea Energy 514.9 kcal Carbohydrates 54.2 g (44%) Proteins 19.9 g (16.2%) Lipids 22.8 g (39.8%)

Healthy lean controls

Healthy lean controls Interventions: processed meat hamburger and vegan sandwich

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Processed meat hamburger

Intervention Type: OTHER

MacMuffin Fresh 300 ml Cafe Latte + 21 g sugar Energy: 513.6 kcal Carbohydrates 55g (44.8%) Proteins 20.5g (16.7%) Lipids 22 g (38.6%)

Vegan sandwich

Intervention Type: OTHER

Burger with tofu + 300 ml green tea Energy 514.9 kcal Carbohydrates 54.2 g (44%) Proteins 19.9 g (16.2%) Lipids 22.8 g (39.8%)

Interventions

Processed meat hamburger

MacMuffin Fresh 300 ml Cafe Latte + 21 g sugar Energy: 513.6 kcal Carbohydrates 55g (44.8%) Proteins 20.5g (16.7%) Lipids 22 g (38.6%)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Vegan sandwich

Burger with tofu + 300 ml green tea Energy 514.9 kcal Carbohydrates 54.2 g (44%) Proteins 19.9 g (16.2%) Lipids 22.8 g (39.8%)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Type 2 diabetes mellitus for at least one year

2. Treatment of T2D: diet or oral antidiabetic agents (stable drug therapy at least 3 month before the trial

3. The presence of metabolic syndrome - any three of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal obesity - waist circumf. in men> 102 cm, in women > 88 cm
• Diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes or raised fasting plasma glucose level (FPG>5,6 mmol/l)
• Raised blood pressure (BP): systolic BP > 130 mm Hg or diastolic BP >85 mm Hg, or treatment of previously diagnosed hypertension
• Reduced HDL cholesterol in men < 1 mmol/l, in women < 1,3 mmol/l (or treatment)
• Raised triglycerides > 1,7 mmol/l (or treatment)

4. HbA1c (according to IFCC) ≥4.2 a ≤10.5%

5. Men and women aged 30-70 years

6. Body Mass Index (kg/m2) in the range of 25- 45

7. The signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Type 1 diabetes mellitus

2. Unstable drug therapy at least 3 month before the trial

3. Treatment with Byetta or Victosa

4. Pregnancy (positive β-HCG test), breast feeding or trying to become pregnant

5. Presence of pacemaker or other metal implant in the body (MR)

6. Alcoholism or drug use

7. Significant weight loss (more than 5% of body weight) in previous 3 months before the screening

8. Presence of other medical condition, which occurs during physical examination, laboratory tests, ECG, including pulmonary, neurological or inflammatory disease, which would be considered by the examiner to distort the consistency of data

9. Metal in the body (fMRI)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Hana Kahleova

MD, PhD

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Dagmar Koveslygetyova, Bc

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Locations

Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Prague, Czech Republic, Czechia

Countries

Czechia

References

Malinska H, Klementova M, Kudlackova M, Veleba J, Hoskova E, Oliyarnyk O, Markova I, Thieme L, Hill M, Pelikanova T, Kahleova H. A plant-based meal reduces postprandial oxidative and dicarbonyl stress in men with diabetes or obesity compared with an energy- and macronutrient-matched conventional meal in a randomized crossover study. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2021 Sep 10;18(1):84. doi: 10.1186/s12986-021-00609-5.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 34507586 (View on PubMed)

Kahleova H, Tintera J, Thieme L, Veleba J, Klementova M, Kudlackova M, Malinska H, Oliyarnyk O, Markova I, Haluzik M, Pavlovicova R, Hill M, Tura A, Pelikanova T. A plant-based meal affects thalamus perfusion differently than an energy- and macronutrient-matched conventional meal in men with type 2 diabetes, overweight/obese, and healthy men: A three-group randomized crossover study. Clin Nutr. 2021 Apr;40(4):1822-1833. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.10.005. Epub 2020 Oct 9.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 33081982 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

G251

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id