Metabolic syndrome is a condition involving elevated levels of fat in the blood, a tendency
towards diabetes, hypertension, and too much fat around the abdomen (an increased waistline).
Individuals with metabolic syndrome often have impaired glucose tolerance, which is a
condition where blood sugar is normal when fasting (before eating), but is too high after
drinking a sugary drink. This is due to an abnormality in the body's sensitivity to insulin
(insulin resistance), which is due in part to an inability of the muscle to take up glucose.
People with metabolic syndrome have inflammation in their fat tissue and in their blood
stream, and the changes in the level of inflammatory chemicals produced by cells in your fat
tissues will be studied. One possible source of the inflammation may be the bacteria in the
intestine. When individuals eat fatty foods, some of the bacterial products become attached
to the fat in their blood and then get directed to fat tissue. The investigators wish to
determine whether individuals have an excessive amount of inflammation in their fat tissues,
and whether this inflammation comes from the bacteria in their intestines. To determine this,
the investigators wish to treat individuals with an antibiotic that reduces the bacteria in
their intestines and in their blood, and determine whether this reduces their overall level
of inflammation.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Philip Kern
Collaborator:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)