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Arthritis, RheumatoidNCT04739852

An Exploratory Clinical Study on Autophagy During Fasting

A study testing Fasting in people with Arthritis, Rheumatoid and Syndrome, Metabolic, run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 1 site in Germany.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

Autophagy is considered one of the key molecular mechanisms for the broad preventive and therapeutic effects of periodic fasting. While it is generally known that fasting induces autophagy, there are no human studies that focus on the size and temporal kinetics of autophagy and its association with fasting specific… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 85 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Fasting
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteGermany
Study dates
1 Feb 2021to 1 Jul 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 85 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • One of the following diagnoses: rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome OR healthy volunteer
  • Beginning (first 24h) inpatient treatment or hospital stay at Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Department of Naturopathy OR healthy volunteer
  • Present written declaration of consent

Who cannot join

  • Insufficient linguistic communication
  • Dementia or other cognitive disorder
  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Simultaneous participation in another clinical trial

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Germany1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Hochschulambulanz für Naturheilkunde der Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin am Immanuel-Krankenhaus

    Berlin, 14109

    Miriam Rösner, Study nurse, 00493080505682, miriam.roesner@immanuel.de

    Andreas Michalsen, Prof. Dr.

    Recruiting

Other trials in Germany

About this study

Official title: The Kinetics of Autophagy During Periodic Fasting in Healthy People and Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis or Metabolic Syndrome - an Exploratory Clinical Study

Autophagy is considered one of the key molecular mechanisms for the broad preventive and therapeutic effects of periodic fasting. While it is generally known that fasting induces autophagy, there are no human studies that focus on the size and temporal kinetics of autophagy and its association with fasting specific signaling pathways. The kinetics of autophagy in patients with chronic diseases will now be compared with the kinetics of autophagy in healthy subjects, who both fast according to the same scheme; and further changes in metabolic and inflammatory parameters will be investigated.

Read the detailed description

Therapeutic fasting has been used for many decades in naturopathy and integrative medicine clinically successfully in the treatment of chronic diseases and pain syndromes. In particular, fasting therapy is used for chronic rheumatic, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases with increasing patient demand in specialized clinical facilities (fasting clinics).

Within the various historically developed forms of fasting, the fasting program according to the Buchinger Wilhelmi method has established itself worldwide as the most frequently applied method. This involves a subtotal caloric restriction with a daily caloric intake (200-400kcal/day) in the form of liquid components over a defined period of at least 10 days, accompanied by supporting measures of a health-promoting lifestyle program with elements such as exercise therapy, manual procedures, stress reduction and hydro-balneotherapy.

In early randomized studies and a systematic review, the effectiveness of inpatient fasting therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis was proven with 1a evidence. For the other indications, there is mainly empirical evidence or data from observation or prospective uncontrolled studies. In recent years, extensive basic science research activity has developed in the area of caloric restriction and intermittent fasting. In this context, a large number of favorable animal experimental findings have been demonstrated by defined fasting periods, including reductions in insulin, IGF-1, increases in adiponectins, insulin sensitivity, neurotrophic factors, and, over longer observation periods, a decrease in the incidence of cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic, and more recently oncological diseases in a wide variety of animal species.

Numerous experimental studies have demonstrated that fasting or total or subtotal caloric restriction is a potent inducer of cellular autophagy. For autophagy, numerous beneficial effects on chronic diseases or disease defense functions have now been experimentally documented and also hypothesized for humans, including neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, but also acute infections and inflammatory diseases. Unclear to date is the kinetics of the autophagy enhancing effect of fasting. In theoretical transfer from animal experimental data, an increase is postulated between 12 and 36h of fasting and possibly a decrease after several days.

Against this background, autophagy will now be investigated for the first time in blood samples from fasting healthy and diseased individuals in an exploratory clinical study.

Being tested
Fasting
Keywords
Fasting, Autophagy
Medical subject headings
Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Metabolic Syndrome, Fasting

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • FastingOther

    Patients undergo a 5-10 day fasting period with a dietary energy supply 350-400kcal per day with fruit and vegetable juices or, if not feasible, an established fasting-mimicking diet of 600-800 kcal according to Longo et al.

Study groups in NCT04739852
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Healthy ParticipantsActive comparatorHealthy participants
Receives: Other: Fasting
Metabolic SyndromeActive comparatorParticipants with diagnosed metabolic syndrome
Receives: Other: Fasting
Rheumatoid ArthritisActive comparatorParticipants with diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis
Receives: Other: Fasting

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Exploratory Proteomics of Autophagy Processes I

    • Change in protein levels of autophagy biomarkers (LC3II \& p62) of isolated PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) by Western Blotting, change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  2. Exploratory Proteomics of Autophagy Processes II

    • Change in protein levels and protein phosphorylation by untargeted mass spectrometry-based proteomics and phosphoproteomics of isolated PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

Secondary outcomes (39)
  1. Muscle mass

    Estimation of the body composition via bio-electrical impedance analysis (muscle mass in kg)

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  2. Body fat

    Estimation of the body composition via bio-electrical impedance analysis (body fat and visceral fat in %)

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  3. Resting blood pressure

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  4. Cutaneous carotenoid level (CCL)

    Cutaneous carotenoid level (CCL), correlating with the overall antioxidant status, measured with a noninvasive skin carotenoid sensor (Biozoom®)

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  5. Heart rate

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  6. Waist to Hip Ratio

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  7. Body Mass Index (kg/m2)

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  8. Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS-28-CRP)

    Change from Baseline in the DAS-28-CRP, range from 2.0 to 10.0 while higher values meaning a higher disease activity and below of 2.6 meaning remission

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  9. Health Assessement Questionnaire (HAQ)

    Change from Baseline in the HAQ, range from 0 to 3 while higher values meaning a higher grade of disability

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  10. Simplified Disease Activity Index Score (SDAI)

    Change from Baseline in the SDAI, range from 0 to 86 with assumed range from 0.1 to 10mg/dL for CRP. Higher values mean a higher disease activity and below of 34 meaning remission.

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  11. Stress questionnaire (Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, CPSS)

    Change from Baseline in the CPSS, range from 0 to 4 in each item. Scores are obtained by reversing responses (e.g., 0 = 4, 1 = 3, 2 = 2, 3 = 1 \& 4 = 0) to the positively stated items and then summing across all scale items, higher values meaning a higher grade of perceived stress.

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  12. Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)

    Assessing full scale, range from 15 to 90, higher score values meaning a better outcome.

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  13. Numerical Analog Scales

    Assessing stress, back pain, headache, shoulder/neck tension, sleep quality and duration, exhaustion, nervousness, digestive complaints, mood on 0-10 points each.

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  14. Quality of Life questionnaire (WHO-5)

    Change from Baseline in the WHO-5, range from 0 to 100 %, higher values meaning a higher grade of well-being

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  15. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    Assessing full scale, range 0-42, lower score meaning a better outcome

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  16. General Self-efficacy Short Scale (ASKU)

    Assessing full scale, range 3-15, higher score meaning a better outcome

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  17. Mood questionnaire (Profile of Mood States, POMS)

    Change from Baseline in Emotional Distress will be measured using the German Version of the Profile of Mood States (ASTS) short version (19 items, 7-point Likert scale; 0=not at all, 6=extremely). Lower scores indicate more stable mood profiles.

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  18. Sociodemographic Measurements

    Age, gender, education level, household income, employment status, marital status, language spoken, complete family history, current and previous illness and co-morbidities, and current medications

    Measured: Day 1 (baseline)

  19. Behavioral Factors

    Physical inactivity, coffee, health promoting activities via Likert Scales, range from 0 to 5 while higher values meaning a higher grade of agreement

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  20. Behavioral Factors: alcohol consumption

    Number of alcoholic beverages on average per week in the last month

    Measured: Day 1 (baseline), after 2 and 6 weeks

  21. Behavioral Factors: smoking

    Number of cigarettes on average per week in the last month

    Measured: Day 1 (baseline), after 2 and 6 weeks

  22. Behavioral Factors: fasting experience

    Type, definition, duration and date of previous fasting experiences

    Measured: Day 1 (baseline)

  23. Expectation questions

    For fasting on a 5-point likert scale from 1 (nothing at all) to 5 (very strong)

    Measured: Day 1 (baseline)

  24. Creatinine in µmol per liter (µmol/L)

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  25. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in milliliter per minute (mL/min)

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  26. Electrolytes

    potassium (mmol/L) sodium (mmol/L)

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  27. Blood lipids and fasting glucose

    triglycerides (mmol/L) total cholesterol (mmol/L) LDL (mmol/L) HDL (mmol/L) fasting glucose (mmol/L)

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  28. Insulin (mU/L)

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  29. ß-Hydroxybutyrate

    Evaluate change in ketone body production by POCT

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  30. CrP (mg/L)

    Evaluate change in CrP levels in participants with RA

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  31. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in millimeters per hour (mm/h)

    Evaluate change in ESR in participants with RA

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  32. Rheumatoid factor (RF, IgM) (U/mL)

    Evaluate RF status in participants with RA

    Measured: Day 1 (baseline)

  33. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACPA) (U/mL)

    Evaluate change in ACPA levels in participants with RA

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  34. Metabolic processes

    Targeted and quantitative analysis by mass spectrometry of change in metabolites of plasma, change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  35. Lipid profiling

    Targeted and quantitative analysis by mass spectrometry of change in plasma lipids, change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  36. Transcription expression patterns

    Change of the gene expression profile by RNA sequencing of isolated PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  37. Proteome/phosphoproteome/ubiquitinome patterns

    Evaluate proteome expression patterns through blood based proteome, phosphoproteome, and ubiquitinome analysis assessed prior to intervention (pre) vs. after 5-day fasting, day 2 of refeeding and 7 days post intervention

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  38. Epigentic patterns

    Evaluate epigentic methylation patterns through blood based epigenome analysis assessed prior to intervention (pre) vs. after 5-day fasting, day 2 of refeeding and 7 days post intervention

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

  39. Exosomal protein patterns

    Evaluate exosomal protein content through blood based metabolome analysis assessed prior to intervention (pre) vs. after 5-day fasting, day 2 of refeeding and 7 days post intervention

    Measured: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted5 Feb 2021
  2. Study start1 Feb 2021
  3. Primary completion1 Feb 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Jul 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
3 groups of different inclusion criteria (healthy, metabolic syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis) undergoing the same intervention
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04739852
Sponsor's protocol ID
Autophagy Fasting
Status last verified
Dec 2023
First submitted
5 Jan 2021
Last updated
2 Jan 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Fasting in people with Arthritis, Rheumatoid and Syndrome, Metabolic, run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 1 site in Germany.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jan 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Nadine Sylvester (+4930 80505 734, nadine.sylvester@immanuelalbertinen.de), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Exploratory Proteomics of Autophagy Processes I (time frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jan 2024.

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