Effects of PPAR Ligands on Ectopic Fat Accumulation and Inflammation
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The relationship between obesity and insulin resistance is known, however the mechanism(s)
associating obesity with insulin resistance is not well understood. Inflammation and
accumulation of fat in non fat tissue (like muscle) are conditions found on obesity which
could be the potential link between obesity and insulin resistance. This study is designed to
test the effects of two different drugs on numerous features of the obesity and insulin
resistance in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. Impaired glucose tolerance is a
condition where blood sugar is too high after drinking a sugary drink containing 75 grams of
sugar. Impaired glucose tolerant subjects are insulin resistant and at risk of developing
diabetes. The drugs to be used are fenofibrate and pioglitazone. Fenofibrate is used to
reduce the amount of fat (triglycerides) in the blood while pioglitazone is routinely used to
make the body more sensitive to insulin in patients with diabetes. The purpose of this study
is to compare the effects of either of these two medications (pioglitazone and fenofibrate)
alone or the combination of both on fat accumulation in body (muscle) and inflammation. The
amount of fat accumulation in muscle is thought to affect insulin sensitivity. In addition,
the changes in the level of proteins produced by fat tissues will be studied in response to
the two medications in this study. These proteins are thought to be involved in diabetes and
insulin resistance.
These studies are designed to examine fundamental clinical mechanisms underlying the
metabolic syndrome and diabetes.