Disturbances in brain insulin-sensitivity are not only observed in abdominal obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), but also during brain aging and in dementia. Inorganic nitrate may improve brain insulin-sensitivity, which can be quantified by measuring the gray-matter cerebral blood flow (CBF) response to intranasally administered insulin, through beneficial effects on brain vascular function. Therefore, we now hypothesize that inorganic nitrate, which can be found in several vegetables such as beetroot, improves brain insulin-sensitivity, as assessed by the gray-matter CBF response to intranasally administered insulin, in abdominally obese men.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
18
Acute intervention (5.5 hours)
Acute intervention (5.5 hours)
Maastricht University Medical Center
Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Brain insulin sensitivity
MRI arterial spin labeling, cerebral blood flow measurements before and after a nasal insulin spray
Time frame: Change from placebo intervention at 2 hours after supplement intake
Brain vascular function
MRI arterial spin labeling, cerebral blood flow measurements
Time frame: Change from placebo intervention at 2 hours after supplement intake
Vascular function markers
Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial and femoral artery
Time frame: Change from fasting at 4 hours after supplement intake
Cold pressure test
Carotid artery response to cold pressure test
Time frame: Change from placebo at 4 hours after supplement intake
Cardiometabolic risk markers (1)
Plasma markers for low-grade systemic inflammation (CRP)
Time frame: Change from placebo at 4 hours after supplement intake
Cardiometabolic risk markers (2)
Plasma marker for endothelial dysfunction (NOx)
Time frame: Change from placebo at 4 hours after supplement intake
Cardiometabolic risk markers (3)
Office blood pressure
Time frame: Change from placebo at 4 hours after supplement intake
Cardiometabolic risk markers (4)
Plasma brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
Time frame: During the 5.5 hours following supplement intake
Postprandial metabolism (1)
Serum lipid metabolism
Time frame: During the 5.5 hours following supplement intake
Postprandial metabolism (2)
Plasma glucose metabolism
Time frame: During the 5.5 hours following supplement intake
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