The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of oral berberine (BBR) and inulin combined with insulin therapy on diabetes care in patients with LADA.
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a hybrid form of diabetes, characterized by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells as well as insulin resistance and is triggered by environmental factors in the context of genetic susceptibility. Meanwhile,blood glucose management is the cornerstone of diabetes care and poor glycemic control will cause a series of diabetes complications. This study will focus on improving the quality of life of LADA patients and blood glucose management as the starting point to explore the improvement effects of combined drugs on the development of diabetes. Inulin is a common prebiotic that has been shown to improve glycemic control, alter the gut microbiota and suppress inflammation. Berberine(BBR), a small alkaloid isolated from medicinal plants, has been reported to have many therapeutic effects, including anti-bacteria, anti-diabetes, and lipid-lowering. Besides, studies revealed that BBR exerts antidiabetic effects by modulating gut microbiota. In a multicentre, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled 12-week clinical trial conducted in 409 drug-naive T2D patients, Wang et al. confirmed the hypoglycaemic effect of BBR in Chinese participants and demonstrated the BBR-induced changes in the human gut microbiome in comparison with the placebo. Moreover, Ho et al. conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 38 children with type 1 diabetes using placebo or prebiotic oligofructose-enriched inulin for 12 weeks, and found that oral supplement of the prebiotic could improve glycemic status and β cell function. So we speculate that BBR and inulin combination can also improve glycemic control in the patients with LADA. This study is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The study comprises once screening, the 1-month run-in period, the 3-month treatment period and the 9-month follow-up period. After obtaining the informed consent from the patient who is willing to participate the 3-month treatment will enter to the 1-month run-in period. According to the inclusion/exclusion criteria, the eligible patients will be randomized to the 3-month treatment period. Patients will be randomized into four groups : BBR-alone, inulin+BBR, inulin-alone, or placebo. The primary outcome is to assess the change in glycated hemoglobin levels. Dynamic blood glucose parameters, β-cell function and gut microbiota, as well as adverse events and quality of life will be monitored.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
240
0.6g (6 pills) of Berberine tablets administered twice a day orally before meal for 3 months
0.6g (6 pills) of Inulin tablets administered twice a day orally before meal for 3 months
0.6g (6 pills) of Berberine placebo tablets administered twice a day orally before meal for 3 months
Institute of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Changsha, Hunan, China
Change in HbA1c
The primary outcome measure is the change in mean HbA1c level, reflecting the blood glucose management status of the patients.
Time frame: 1 year after start of trial
Change in C-peptide
C-peptide are measured before and after a mixed meal tolerance test.
Time frame: 1 year after start of trial
Incidence of acute and chronic diabetes complications
In this study, the chronic diabetes complications recorded mainly include diabetic macrovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy.
Time frame: 1 year after start of trial
Change in gut permeability
Gut permeability is measured by amount of mannitol and lactulose in urine.
Time frame: 1 year after start of trial
Change in gut microbiota composition
The changes of gut microbiota are mainly detected by multi omics technology.
Time frame: 1 year after start of trial
Assessment of quality of life
Quality of life will be assessed by the Chinese version of the Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL-19).
Time frame: 1 year after start of trial
Gastrointestinal side effects and other drug-related side effects
The gastrointestinal side effects need to be self-reported by the patient, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, etc.
Time frame: 1 year after start of trial
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0.6g (6 pills) of Inulin placebo tablets administered twice a day orally before meal for 3 months
Hypoglycemic events
Hypoglycemia events are divided into mild hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia.
Time frame: 1 year after start of trial