Lifestyle Intervention Trial in High Metabolic Risk Chinese

Overview

In this single-blind, randomized trial, 395 eligible volunteers, who have higher metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk and aged 20-65 years, will be assigned to one of two smartphone-based lifestyle intervention arms: 1) Programmed-smartphone intervention or 2) Programmed-smartphone plus dietitian intervention. Before and after 6-month intervention, "PhenFlex test" (PFT) was performed to examine and quantify improved metabolic flexibility. This intervention trial will be conducted by researchers in Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) collaborating with Zhejiang University affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committees in Shanghai Institutes of Nutrition and Health, and in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital. The main aims of this study are to determine 1) efficacy of lifestyle interventions with different intensity in reducing MetS and its risk factors; 2) improved metabolic responses or flexibility defined by PFT-based homeostasis index; and 3) major genetic and nongenetic determinants for the efficacy of interventions among high MetS risk Chinese.

Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of multiple metabolic disturbances, including central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia, is associated with 2-5-fold heightened risks of CVD and T2D. Compelling evidence showed that lifestyle intervention is one of effective approaches for preventing and controlling cardiometabolic diseases. However, there were considerably variations among different interventions and different persons. With widely available smartphone and APP-connected wearable devises, it is possible to provide programmed nutrition and lifestyle education to help participants achieve intervention targets, and closely monitor compliance. However, few studies investigated the efficacy of lifestyle interventions with programmed smartphone and APP-connected wearable devises in MetS management. Moreover, since present disease-based diagnoses and biomarkers may not adequately define health status, the concept of "re-redefining health" has attracted growing attention. The phenotypic flexibility and "PhenFlex test" are one of approaches to measure individuals' adaptive capacity to maintain hemostatic condition after having a standardized challenge drinker. To date, the PFT has been studied among 10,000 subjects in western countries and few studies, if any, have conducted in Chinese who have different genetic background and dietary patterns. It remains to be established whether and to what extent that the PFT-based hemostatic index system can precisely evaluate the metabolic health in Chinese. In the current trial, 395 subjects with MetS risks were randomly assigned to either smartphone-based lifestyle intervention arms: 1) Programmed-smartphone intervention; or 2) Programmed-smartphone plus dietitian intervention. The intervention duration will be 6-month and then have 2-year follow-up. During starting and end of 6-month intervention, we included PFT during the physical examination hold in the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital. All the subjects were given a standardized challenge drinker (75g glucose, 60 fat and 20g protein). Fasting and multiple postprandial time points samples (blood, t=0,1,3h) and urine and feces were collected to measure clinical and omics markers like metabolomics, gut microbiota and SNPs. Finally, the homeostasis index will be built to estimate improvement of individual metabolic health after the intervention. In conclusion, this study will provide scientific evidence and novel insights about the effectiveness of new intervention strategies and precise diagnostic and assessment system for cardiometabolic management.