Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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TERMINATED
NA
59 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2020-06-15
2021-06-14
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Glycine is the major agonist of glycine receptors (GlyR), which are chloride channels that hyperpolarize cell membranes of inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, turning them less sensitive to proinflammatory stimuli. In addition, glycine possesses a cytoprotective effect, improves endothelial function, and diminishes platelet aggregation.
In laboratory animals, in a rat model of endotoxic shock a 5% glycine-rich diet lowers mortality, reduces pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation and hepatic lesions, and avoids elevation of serum TNF-alpha. In animal models of ischemia-reperfusion injury, glycine protects the gut and lungs.
In in vitro studies, glycine diminishes the expression and release of TNF-alpha and IL-6 from adipose tissue, 3T3-L1 cells, and alveolar macrophages, probably through inhibition of phosphorylation of NF-kappaB. Finally, glycine diminishes platelet aggregation.
In human beings, glycine has been used for many years for the management of some ailments. In diabetic patients, oral glycine reduces glycosylated hemoglobin levels and serum TNF-alpha, and in patients with cystic fibrosis glycine improves the clinical and spirometric status, and tend to lower serum TNF-alpha, IL-6 and G-CSF.
Glycine is a white microcrystal powder soluble in water, with a sweet taste and relatively low cost.
This controlled, randomized, two-branches clinical trial will recruit participants of any sex, any age, with COVID-19 confirmed (or awaiting confirmation) by PCR, that are to initiate (or with \<48 h of) mechanical ventilation. After obtaining an informed consent, participants will be randomly assigned to two branches: 1) Experimental group, n=41 participants, that along with habitual management for their condition will receive 0.5 g/kg/day glycine divided in four doses every 6 h through nasogastric tube. 2) Control group, n=41 participants that will only receive habitual management. Pregnant women and subjects already participating in another study protocol will be excluded, and those with voluntary discharge or referenced to another institution will be discarded.
Blood samples for measurements of serum cytokines (Bio-Plex Human Cytokine 17-Plex, Bio-Rad) will be obtained at the beginning of the study and every 7 days thereafter.
The major outcome will be mortality. Secondary outcomes will be diminution of number of days under mechanical ventilation and evolution of PaO2/FiO2, proinflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, Sequence Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II).
Routine test such as arterial blood gases, blood chemistry, blood count, coagulation test, and ECG will also be analyzed by using the weighted average in certain time-periods (probably 7-days periods).
Group comparisons will be carried out by means of Fisher exact/chi-square tests and Student's t-/Mann-Whitney U-tests. Feasibility of multivariate analysis will be evaluated.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Glycine
Along with habitual treatment for their severe condition, participants will receive 0.5 g/kg/day glycine by nasogastric tube, divided in four equal doses in a day, since their enrollment and until they are weaned from mechanical ventilator or die.
Glycine
Along with habitual treatment for their severe condition, participants will receive 0.5 g/kg/day glycine by nasogastric tube, divided in four equal doses in a day, since their enrollment and until they are weaned from mechanical ventilator or die.
Control
Participants will receive the habitual treatment for their severe condition.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Glycine
Along with habitual treatment for their severe condition, participants will receive 0.5 g/kg/day glycine by nasogastric tube, divided in four equal doses in a day, since their enrollment and until they are weaned from mechanical ventilator or die.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Any sex.
* With COVID-19 confirmed (or awaiting confirmation) by PCR.
* With a clinical decision of initiation of mechanical ventilation or with \<48 h under mechanical ventilation.
* Informed consent signed by the participant's responsible.
Exclusion Criteria
* Already participating in another research protocol.
Elimination Criteria:
* Voluntary hospital discharge or referenced to another institution.
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias
OTHER_GOV
Responsible Party
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Mario H. Vargas
Senior Researcher
Principal Investigators
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Mario H Vargas, MSc
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias
Locations
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Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias
Mexico City, , Mexico
Countries
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References
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Gomez-Zamudio JH, Garcia-Macedo R, Lazaro-Suarez M, Ibarra-Barajas M, Kumate J, Cruz M. Vascular endothelial function is improved by oral glycine treatment in aged rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2015 Jun;93(6):465-73. doi: 10.1139/cjpp-2014-0393. Epub 2015 Mar 4.
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Vargas MH, Del-Razo-Rodriguez R, Lopez-Garcia A, Lezana-Fernandez JL, Chavez J, Furuya MEY, Marin-Santana JC. Effect of oral glycine on the clinical, spirometric and inflammatory status in subjects with cystic fibrosis: a pilot randomized trial. BMC Pulm Med. 2017 Dec 15;17(1):206. doi: 10.1186/s12890-017-0528-x.
Vargas MH, Chavez J, Del-Razo-Rodriguez R, Munoz-Perea C, Romo-Dominguez KJ, Baez-Saldana R, Rumbo-Nava U, Guerrero-Zuniga S. Lower Serum Magnesium Is Associated with Mortality in Severe COVID-19: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2025 Apr 15. doi: 10.1007/s12011-025-04619-9. Online ahead of print.
Vargas MH, Chavez J, Del-Razo-Rodriguez R, Munoz-Perea C, Romo-Dominguez KJ, Baez-Saldana R, Rumbo-Nava U, Guerrero-Zuniga S. Glycine by enteral route does not improve major clinical outcomes in severe COVID-19: a randomized clinical pilot trial. Sci Rep. 2024 May 21;14(1):11566. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-62321-7.
Other Identifiers
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C40-20
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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