The Effect of Welchol on Glucose Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetics

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose The goal of this study was to determine the metabolic mechanism for a certain type medication's ability to lower blood sugar after a meal in Type 2 Diabetics, in order to develop a better understanding of it's potential role in the treatment of obesity.
ConditionType 2 Diabetes
InterventionDrug: Colesevelam
Other: Placebo
Behavioral: Diet
Drug: Metformin
PhasePhase 4
SponsorMayo Clinic
Responsible PartyMayo Clinic
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT00951899
First ReceivedJuly 31, 2009
Last UpdatedOctober 17, 2013
Last verifiedOctober 2013

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateJuly 31, 2009
Last Updated DateOctober 17, 2013
Start DateAugust 2009
Estimated Primary Completion DateDecember 2012
Current Primary Outcome MeasuresTotal Disposition Index [Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks] [Designated as safety issue: No]Total Disposition Index (DI) is a calculated value which represents the ability of a person's pancreas to lower blood glucose. A higher number means the pancreas is better able to lower blood glucose and a lower number means the pancreas is less able to lower blood glucose.
Current Secondary Outcome Measures
  • Total Fasting Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Concentration [Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks] [Designated as safety issue: No]GLP-1 is thought to increase insulin secretion and was measured in the blood and reported in picomoles per liter.
  • Plasma Glucose Concentration [Time Frame: Baseline, 12 Weeks] [Designated as safety issue: No]Fasting glucose concentrations were measured at baseline and 2 hours post-meal using the glucose oxidase method.
  • Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) [Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks] [Designated as safety issue: No]HbA1c is the percent of red blood cell hemoglobin with glucose attached to it and an indicator of average blood glucose over the previous two to three months.
  • Insulin Concentration [Time Frame: Baseline, 12 Weeks] [Designated as safety issue: No]Fasting insulin levels were measured in the plasma using a chemiluminescence assay and is reported in nanomoles over 6 hours.
  • Fasting Endogenous Glucose Production (EGP) [Time Frame: Baseline, 12 Weeks] [Designated as safety issue: No]EGP was measured using a triple-tracer mixed meal and calculated using the Steele's model, reported in micromoles per kilogram per minute.
  • Rate of Meal Glucose Appearance (Meal Ra) [Time Frame: Baseline, 12 Weeks] [Designated as safety issue: No]Meal Ra was measured using a triple-tracer mixed meal and reported in micromols in 6 hours. Meal derived glucose is a function of both gastric emptying and splanchnic meal extraction. Meal Ra was calculated by multiplying rate of appearance of [1-^13C] glucose (obtained from the infusion rate of [6-^3H] glucose and the clamped plasma ratio of [6-^3H] glucose and [1-^13C] glucose) by the meal enrichment.
  • Rate of Meal Glucose Disappearance (Meal Rd) [Time Frame: Baseline, 12 Weeks] [Designated as safety issue: No]Meal Rd is the rate at which glucose leaves the systemic circulation. It was measured using a triple-tracer mixed meal and reported in micromols over 6 hours. Meal Rd was calculated by subtracting the change in glucose mass from the overall rate of glucose appearance (i.e., meal Ra + EGP).
  • Lipid Values [Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks] [Designated as safety issue: No]Lipids are fat-like substances in the blood.

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleThe Effect of Welchol on Glucose Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetics
Official TitleThe Effect of Colesevelam Hydrochloride on Disposition Index and Incretin Concentrations in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes Using a Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group Study Design
Brief Summary
The goal of this study was to determine the metabolic mechanism for a certain type
medication's ability to lower blood sugar after a meal in Type 2 Diabetics, in order to
develop a better understanding of it's potential role in the treatment of obesity.
Detailed Description
Welchol (colesevelam hydrochloride) is a bile acid sequestrant (BAS) recently approved by
the FDA for glucose lowering in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Four randomized,
controlled clinical studies in subjects with type 2 diabetes have demonstrated significant
treatment difference in HbA1c (-0.5%). Study durations ranged from 12-26 weeks of therapy.
In diabetes clinical studies, a therapeutic response to colesevelam hydrochloride, as
reflected by reduction in A1c was initially noted following 4-6 weeks of treatment and
reached maximal or near-maximal effect after 12-18 weeks of treatment. Reductions in both
fasting plasma glucose and postprandial concentrations have been demonstrated. Simple
measures of insulin secretion and action have suggested that this is due to improved insulin
action rather than improved insulin secretion. The mechanism by which bile acids interact
with the key pathways regulating glucose concentrations is largely unknown. The
investigators propose a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial with a
parallel-group design where subjects are randomized to receive colesevelam or matching
placebo for a 12 week treatment period. A labeled mixed meal before and after treatment will
be used to measure intestinal transit, postprandial and fasting glucose fluxes, insulin
secretion and action as well as enteroendocrine secretion.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 4
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Basic Science
ConditionType 2 Diabetes
InterventionDrug: Colesevelam
Colesevelam hydrochloride; three 625mg tablets taken orally twice per day before breakfast and before the evening meal over a 12-week treatment period.
Other Names:
WelcholOther: Placebo
Three placebo tablets matching the active drug colesevelam in appearance, taken orally twice per day before breakfast and before the evening meal over a 12-week treatment period.
Behavioral: Diet
Subjects were instructed to follow a weight maintenance diet (~55% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 15% protein) for the 12 week study period.
Drug: Metformin
Subjects continued to take their pre-study therapeutic doses of metformin (Metformin 500mg tablets taken by mouth twice daily for a total daily dose of 1000 to 2000 mg) through the 12 week study period.
Other Names:
  • Glucophage
  • Glucophage XR
  • Glumetza
  • Fortamet
Study Arm (s)
  • Experimental: Colesevelam
    Treatment with colesevelam hydrochloride in addition to Metformin and Diet
  • Placebo Comparator: Placebo
    Treatment with placebo in addition to Metformin and Diet

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusCompleted
Estimated Enrollment38
Estimated Completion DateDecember 2012
Estimated Primary Completion DateJuly 2012
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Age 35-70 years old.

- Body Mass Index greater than 19kg/m^2 or less than 40kg/m^2 or a total weight less
than 130 kilograms.

- Negative pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential.

- Absence of gastrointestinal symptoms.

- Signed informed consent.

- Treatment with diet and/or metformin. Subjects must be on stable therapeutic doses
of metformin and/or lipid-lowering agents for more than 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Structural or metabolic diseases/conditions that affect the gastrointestinal system,
or functional gastrointestinal disorders. A screening Bowel Disease Questionnaire
will be used to exclude subjects with irritable bowel syndrome. Patients with a
history of dysphagia or intestinal motility disorders will be excluded.

- Prior history of pancreatitis.

- Prior history of hypertriglyceridemia (500mg/dL or greater).

- Currently using a bile-acid binding resin such as colesevelam, colestipol,
colestimide or cholestyramine.

- To ensure homogeneity between treatment groups we will exclude subjects with
insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus, subjects who have received an inhibitors of
dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4 inhibitors) or "gliptins" (a class of oral
hypoglycemics), Byetta or sulfonylurea agent in the past three months.

- HbA1c greater than 9.0%.

- Patients who have not been stable on all medications for a period exceeding 3 months.

- Use of drugs or agents within the past 2 weeks or planned use in the subsequent 4
weeks during the study period that:

- Alter GI transit including laxatives, magnesium or aluminum-containing antacids,
prokinetics, erythromycin, narcotics, anticholinergics, tricyclic
antidepressants, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and newer
antidepressants.

- Opiate-based analgesic drugs (Note: intermittent or chronic use of aspirin or
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) will be allowed).

- Antihistamines

- Anticholinergic agents

- Female subjects who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Females must be either surgically
sterilized, postmenopausal (>12 months since last menses), or, if of childbearing
potential, using reliable methods of contraception as determined by the physician.

- Clinical evidence (including physical exam and Electrocardiogram) of significant
cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, hematological,
neurological, psychiatric, or other disease that interfere with the objectives of the
study. Any candidate participants with such disorders mentioned will be referred to
their general physician.
GenderBoth
Ages35 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsNot Provided
Location CountriesUnited States

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT00951899
Other Study ID Numbers08-008284
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeYes
Information Provided ByMayo Clinic
Study SponsorMayo Clinic
CollaboratorsDaiichi Sankyo Inc.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Investigators Principal Investigator: Adrian Vella, MD Mayo Clinic
Verification DateOctober 2013

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905