Research has over decades showed that marine food carries nutritional characteristics that promote human health. As seen in epidemiological studies and based on in vitro and in vivo studies, it is hypothesized that unrefined salmon oil as dietary supplement have anti-inflammatory effect. However, there is sufficient preliminary data to indicate bioactive compounds effect for clinical use, and further clinical trials investigating effect are needed. This trial will investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effect and reduction in the risk of cardio artery disease in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive disease, COPD.
This study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, investigating unrefined salmon oil, CARDIO®, additional to standard care for patients suffering from COPD. The investigational product is an unrefined salmon oil based soft-gel formulation containing 21 different fatty acids (more than 99.1%), lipopeptides (less than 0.9%), antioxidants and other micro metabolites. Research has shown that marine foods carry nutritional characteristics that promote human health, particularly the high intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA), eicosapentaeonic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Cell culture and mouse studies have shown that n-3 PUFAs, such as EPA and DHA, reduce lung leucocyte infiltration and decrease inflammatory cytokines. Accumulating evidence points to elevated circulating levels of oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) as a key factor that couples COPD with coronary artery disease (CAD). When normal lipoprotein (LDL) becomes oxidized, the structural alteration confers highly pro-inflammatory properties, inducing inflammation and oxidative stress processes central to both COPD and CAD. Ox-LDL is a potent activator of eosinophils, after which the eosinophils appear to mediate chronic inflammation. Based on the literature and studies on the investigational product, the investigators will investigate if CARDIO® can influence eosinophilic inflammation and ox-LDL. This could have positive consequences for improving COPD control and reducing the risk of exacerbations and cardiovascular events. The generalized anti-inflammatory effects and inflammation-resolution promoting effects of unrefined salmon oil might reduce systemic inflammation and benefit COPD patients with co-existing CAD. In this study, the investigators intend to recruit patients with raised oxidative stress represented by patients with serum ox-LDL level at the 25th percentile and above. Therefore, the investigators intend to recruit 20 participants (part 1) with the same inclusion criteria as in part 2, but only measure/analysis serum ox-LDL. The ox-LDL levels derived from part 1 of the study will provide a cut-off level of ox-LDL for patient inclusion into the study part 2. Patient with an ox-LDL value above the 25th percentile will be asked to participate in part 2 of the study. The investigators believe that this will provide the most accurate inclusion of patients to part 2 of the study - the intervention study. However, clinical trials in humans diagnosed with COPD, have shown varied results investigating n-3 PUFA supplementation. The objective of this study is to evaluate specifically the impact of CARDIO® compared to placebo, on ox-LDL, forced expiratory airflow, blood eosinophils and markers of inflammation in COPD. Data will be collected by pulmonary function tests (spirometry), blood sample, nutritional log, quality of life questionnaires (CAT), and blood and stool collected for research biobanking. Study intervention period will be 20 weeks, plus 4 weeks post-intervention follow-up, foremost of safety reasons. As this study is explorative in nature, a sample size which balance the need of statistical power and resource constraints is chosen. The available resources, predetermine those 100 participants, 50 in each arm, can be recruited. Expecting a drop-out rate of about 20% in total (10 subjects per group), and assuming a standard deviation of Ox-LDL of 6 ng/mL the given sample size enables us to detect a mean difference in ox-LDL levels of 3.85 ng/mL. This corresponds to an effect size of 0.64 and shows that the study is reasonably powered. These calculations are done under the standard assumption of power equal to 80% and a significance level of 5%.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
CARDIO® is manufactured according to Good Manufacturing Practices for food facilities complying with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles. The product is intended for use in manufacturing of human food products and human consumption, including food supplements, and have been Generally Recognized as Safe (self-affirmed GRAS). The fresh unrefined salmon oil is produced by Hofseth Biocare ASA
MCT oil
Hofseth Biocare ASA
Ålesund, More and Romsdal, Norway
Level of oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)
Across time, change in mean serum level of oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Change of C-reactive protein (CRP)
Measure mean serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (mg/L), measured between the two treatment groups. Blood samples taken at day 0 (baseline) and 20 week.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Pulmonary airflow measure
Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) measured with spirometry at baseline, week 6,12 and 20.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Self-reported measurement in COPD
Mean score of COPD assessment test (CAT), measured at week 6,12 and 20.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Pulmonary exacerbation
The rate of moderate and severe exacerbations. Moderate exacerbation is defined as use of rescue medication of bronchodilators in combination of antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids. Severe exacerbation is defined as one that requires hospitalization.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Change of immunregulatory cytokines
Mean serum pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, measured between the two treatment groups. Blood samples taken at day 0 (baseline) and 20 week.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Rate of composite event
Number of composite score events defined as if one of the following occurs: A worsening of 2 points in self-reported measurement CAT, FEV1 reduction of 100 ml, or Moderate and severe exacerbations. The number of composite score events will be calculated from day 0 (baseline) to 6 weeks, from 6 to 12 weeks, and for 12 to 20 weeks.
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Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to 20 week.
Rate of cardiovascular event
Number of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event (MACE) events is defined as if one of the following occurs: Myocardial infarct, Stroke or Cardiovascular death
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Concentration of SCFA in stool
Determine fecal microbiota composition (16S rRNA) and fecal/plasma metabolome (short-chain fatty acid, SCFA) , measured between the two treatment groups. Stool samples taken at day 0 (baseline) and 20 week.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Change in concomitant medication
Any adjustment in concomitant medication during
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Change of white blood cells
Changes in blood eosinophils (µL), measured between the two treatment groups. Blood samples taken at day 0 (baseline) and 20 week..
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 20.
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
Safety profile of CARDIO® for each participant randomized to this investigating treatment group. Safety parameters from blood sample of liver function, hemoglobulin, and kidney function will be investigated. The trial will be monitored according to Good Clinical Practice, this to secure the participants safety and well-being. The time frame will be until week 24, four weeks post ended investigational product.
Time frame: Day 0 (baseline) to week 24.