Effects of Oral Glucosamine on Insulin and Blood Vessel Activity in Normal and Obese People
Effects of Oral Glucosamine on Insulin and Blood Vessel Activity in Normal and Obese People
NCT ID: NCT00065377 Phase: PHASE1 Status: COMPLETED Enrollment: 60 Completion: 2006-06
Conditions
Obesity, Insulin Resistance
Interventions
Glucosamine Hydrochloride
Summary
This study will examine whether glucosamine affects the way the body responds to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that causes the body to use glucose (sugar). Insulin does not work as well in overweight people, causing a condition called insulin resistance. Insulin also increases the flow of blood into muscle by opening inactive blood vessels. This study will test whether glucosamine, a nutritional supplement that many people take to treat arthritis, can cause or worsen insulin resistance or change how blood vessels react to insulin in normal weight and overweight people.
Healthy normal weight and overweight volunteers between 21 and 65 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a brief physical examination, medical history, and blood and urine tests. After screening, participants will have three additional outpatient clinic visits for the following procedures:
Visit 1
- Glucose clamp test to measure the body's response to insulin: For this procedure, a needle is placed in a vein of each arm, one for drawing blood samples, and one for infusing glucose and a potassium solution. The glucose is infused continuously during this 4-hour test and blood is drawn frequently to monitor glucose and insulin levels. After the test, blood glucose levels are monitored for another 2 hours to make sure they remain at an adequate level to prevent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- Blood flow measurement: Blood flow in the brachial artery of the arm is measured to assess how many capillaries (very small blood vessels) are being used to supply nutrients and oxygen to the muscle in the forearm. This test is done at the same time as the glucose clamp test. Blood flow is measured using a technique called contrast ultrasound. A small amount of contrast agent consisting of gas-filled bubbles the size of red blood cells is infused over 10 minutes through one of the catheters placed in the vein for the glucose clamp test. The contrast agent is infused twice,