The investigators have previously demonstrated that Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) are associated with several chronic diseases in humans and that blood AGE levels can be significantly reduced by simply changing the way food is cooked. This is an interventional-randomized study in which we are trying to determine whether a diet low in AGE followed for 1 year can effectively reduce circulating AGE levels as well as markers of the metabolic syndrome in a group of patients with these abnormal markers.
The metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), a well-defined cluster of pathogenic conditions, includes glucose intolerance, insulin resistance (pre-diabetes), hypertension, abdominal obesity, and dyslipidemia. The MetSyn has a strong inflammatory component and raises the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) by five-fold and of diabetes by two fold in aging. Although, excessive caloric intake, i.e. "over nutrition" is known to be involved in developing the MetSyn, the actual causative agents of MetSyn in human nutrition have not been determined. The investigators have previously shown that Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) can induce oxidant stress and inflammatory responses and modulate insulin signaling in animal models and more recently in humans. These studies separated the effects of "over-nutrition" from the pro-inflammatory effects of AGEs, a factor not previously considered. These data support our hypothesis that AGE-restriction could be an important intervention in the MetSyn in aging. The investigators would like to demonstrate that this safe, practical and economical intervention can arrest the progression of three major "epidemics" of aging: diabetes, obesity, and vascular disease associated with the metabolic syndrome. This simple intervention could have significant health and economic implications. Our hypothesis is that dietary AGE restriction can reverse several cardinal manifestation of the MetSyn, specifically insulin resistance, abdominal obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Regular AGE Diet
One year reduction in dietary AGE intake.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States
Change in Blood Glucose and Insulin levels in 1 year as compared to baseline
To test whether prolonged (1 year) dietary AGE restriction, while maintaining caloric intake, can improve insulin resistance in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance will be assessed by measuring simultaneously blood glucose and insulin levels in the fasting state and during an oral glucose tolerance test.
Time frame: baseline
Change in Blood Glucose and Insulin levels in 1 year as compared to baseline
To test whether prolonged (1 year) dietary AGE restriction, while maintaining caloric intake, can improve insulin resistance in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance will be assessed by measuring simultaneously blood glucose and insulin levels in the fasting state and during an oral glucose tolerance test.
Time frame: after 1 year
Change in abdominal obesity in 1 year as compared to baseline
To test whether prolonged (1 year) dietary AGE restriction, while maintaining caloric intake, can improve abdominal obesity and markers of cardiovascular disease in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Abdominal obesity will be measured by both waist circumference and MRI. CVD markers will be measured both in the circulation as well as by MRI estimate of carotid artery intima/media thickness.
Time frame: baseline
Change in abdominal obesity in 1 year as compared to baseline
To test whether prolonged (1 year) dietary AGE restriction, while maintaining caloric intake, can improve abdominal obesity and markers of cardiovascular disease in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Abdominal obesity will be measured by both waist circumference and MRI. CVD markers will be measured both in the circulation as well as by MRI estimate of carotid artery intima/media thickness.
Time frame: after 1 year
Change in markers of cardiovascular disease in 1 year as compared to baseline
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Enrollment
383
To test whether prolonged (1 year) dietary AGE restriction, while maintaining caloric intake, can improve abdominal obesity and markers of cardiovascular disease in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Abdominal obesity will be measured by both waist circumference and MRI. CVD markers will be measured both in the circulation as well as by MRI estimate of carotid artery intima/media thickness.
Time frame: baseline
Change in markers of cardiovascular disease in 1 year as compared to baseline
To test whether prolonged (1 year) dietary AGE restriction, while maintaining caloric intake, can improve abdominal obesity and markers of cardiovascular disease in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Abdominal obesity will be measured by both waist circumference and MRI. CVD markers will be measured both in the circulation as well as by MRI estimate of carotid artery intima/media thickness.
Time frame: after 1 year