The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockade in healthy participants in a systemic proinflammatory state after a meal high in fat and glucose, which is associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Participants will include normal-weight, healthy males (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≤ 25 kg/m\^2) between the ages of 18-45, without hypertension and clinical evidence of metabolic, cardiovascular or any other kind of diseases. After a 12-hour (h) fast, participants will be assigned to a combination of oral fat-loading test (OFLT) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (day 1), followed by a two-week treatment with 50 mg eplerenone. After two weeks, participants will receive the second OFLT/OGTT treatment (day 15). Starting 5 days prior to the first intervention (day1), the participant's usual diet (ad lib) will be supplemented with 2 bullion broths each day. Standardization of sodium intake is necessary as variations in dietary sodium intake may affect outcome measures. We will evaluate the following parameters at day 1 and day 15 of the study. Prior to OFLT/OGTT, and 2h, 4h thereafter, we will measure a parameter of vascular and systemic inflammation: interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
16
50 mg daily for 14 days
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Vascular and Systemic Inflammation as Measured by Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Serum Levels
At Visit 1, blood was drawn before and then 2h and 4h after a high-fat/high-glucose meal (50 g fat, 75 g glucose). Participants then followed a low-dose eplerenone treatment (50 mg daily) for 14 days. At Visit 2, blood was drawn again before, 2h, and 4h after a high-fat/high-glucose meal after 14 days.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 hours, and 4 hours, measured before and after 2 weeks of eplerenone treatment
Post-prandial Glucose Serum Levels
At Visit 1, blood was drawn before and then 2h and 4h after a high-fat/high-glucose meal (50 g fat, 75 g glucose). Participants then followed a low-dose eplerenone treatment (50 mg daily) for 14 days. At Visit 2, blood was drawn again before, 2h, and 4h after a high-fat/high-glucose meal after 14 days.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 hours, and 4 hours, measured before and after 2 weeks of eplerenone treatment
Post-prandial Insulin Serum Levels
At Visit 1, blood was drawn before and then 2h and 4h after a high-fat/high-glucose meal (50 g fat, 75 g glucose). Participants then followed a low-dose eplerenone treatment (50 mg daily) for 14 days. At Visit 2, blood was drawn again before, 2h, and 4h after a high-fat/high-glucose meal after 14 days.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 hours, and 4 hours, measured before and after 2 weeks of eplerenone treatment
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