Understanding excess fat and Type 2 diabetes
Title of research
Fat metabolism in severe insulin resistance
Institution
MRC Human Nutrition Research
Name of lead investigator
Dr Albert Koulman
Research funded by
MRC Human Nutrition Research
Who to contact
Mr Michael Osei, PhD student
Tel: 0122 343 7517
Email: michael.osei@mrc-hnr.cam.ac.uk
Recruiting until
September 2012
Total number of participants needed
Seven
Who can and cannot take part?
Participants must be non-smoking people with Type 2 diabetes, aged between 18 and 50 years of age. Participant diabetes must be well-controlled (with an HbA1c less then 9%) and participants must not be intolerant or allergic to dietary treatments.
Particularly athletic participants (with a high BMI and low fat mass) and participants who are pregnant or breast-feeding cannot take part.
What is the research about?
Eating a diet that includes fat and carbohydrate helps provide the energy required for daily living. When people without diabetes eat more fat than is required to produce energy, the excess is stored in ‘white adipose’ tissue, ultimately leading to weight gain. In people with severe insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes, the ability to store excess fat may be impaired, leading to it being stored in abnormal places (such as the muscle and the liver) or burned off (oxidised).
Researchers on this project will investigate the effects of eating excess fat in individuals with Type 2 diabetes in greater detail, and compare this to what happens in people without diabetes. They hope to get a better understanding of why dietary fat is not stored normally in people with insulin resistance and Type 2 and how this influences other aspects of fat and carbohydrate management in the body.
How will it benefit people with diabetes?
Knowledge gained from this study could help to improve the current understanding of fat metabolism, and in the future could help improve the care of people with Type 2 diabetes through early detection of problems and the development of new medical treatments or dietary interventions.
What will taking part involve for participants?
Potential participants will first be screened at MRC Human Nutrition Research in Cambridge to assess their eligibility. Screening results will be verified by the study clinician and, in agreement with participant, forwarded to their GP to inform them that patients will be taking part in the study.
The study itself will take place at the Welcome Trust Clinical Research Facility at Addenbrookes’ Hospital in Cambridge, where participants will stay for a period of 3 days and 2 nights. During this time, participants will live in a special room (called a calorimeter), which has equipment that can measure the amount of energy they use when resting and is comfortably furnished with a TV, DVD player and computer to pass the time. During their stay participants will be asked to follow a programme of activities that includes specific times for meals and sleep.
Meals given to participants during their stay will contain a ‘tracer’ that can be measured in blood, saliva and breath. Upon arrival, a cannula will be inserted into a vein in the participant’s arm and used to take blood samples at regular intervals throughout the study. The total amount of blood taken will be no more than 120ml (25 teaspoons). Samples of breath and saliva will also be taken at regular intervals and participants’ urine and faeces will be collected and used to test levels of proteins and of chemicals involved in the control of energy use.
Participants will also undergo tests to measure their heart rate, movement and body temperature and the amount of lean tissue, fat and bone in their bodies.
Nurses and a medical doctor will be on hand throughout the study to monitor participants’ progress.
What are the risks involved in taking part?
The researchers predict no major risks or side effects from taking part in this study, but participants may find that some of the procedures involved are uncomfortable or restrictive. For example, insertion of a cannula into an arm vein is occasionally associated with discomfort, bruising and (on rare occasions) infection.
Participants will be required to remain within the calorimeter room for periods of 12-14 hours and may find this restrictive. However, they are free to leave at any time if they feel they are unable to stay in the room.
Is there any compensation for taking part?
In recognition of the time and commitment involved in taking part in the study, travel expenses and an honorarium of £150 will be paid to participants.