This study will test whether pharmacologic agents that may improve mitochondrial function and energy fuel metabolism \[Empagliflozin (Empa)\], with and without additional supplements that increase perfusion and fatty acid oxidation \[Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)\], improve submaximal exercise endurance and skeletal muscle oxidative phosphorylation capacity (SkM OxPhos) in participants with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF).
This study will test whether Empagliflozin (Empa), with and without Potassium Nitrate (KNO3), improves submaximal exercise endurance, skeletal muscle oxidative phosphorylation capacity (SkM OxPhos), intramuscular perfusion, and changes in the skeletal muscle metabolome, proteome, and respiration in participants with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
53
Empagliflozin is the active intervention that may improve mitochondrial function and energy fuel metabolism in skeletal muscle. KCl is an active control.
Empagliflozin + KNO3 is the active intervention that may improve mitochondrial function and energy fuel metabolism in skeletal muscle, as well as increase skeletal muscle perfusion during exercise.
Active control.
University of Pennsylvania Health System
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
RECRUITINGSubmaximal Exercise Endurance
Time to exhaustion while exercising at 75% peak workload
Time frame: Week 6
Intramuscular Perfusion
MRI assessment of skeletal muscle perfusion
Time frame: Week 6
VO2 Kinetics
Assess the impact of interventions on the kinetics of oxygen consumption (VO2 kinetics) during exercise and recovery. "On" and "Off" kinetics will be modeled during the submaximal exercise transient.
Time frame: Week 6
VO2 Efficiency
Assess the impact of interventions on the efficiency of oxygen consumed above basal metabolic rate compared to total work performed
Time frame: Week 6
Vasodilatory Reserve
Percent change in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) at baseline vs SVR at 4 minutes of exercise at end of each intervention period
Time frame: Week 6
Venous Substrate Concentration
Change in venous substrate concentrations at time of fatigue at end of each intervention period
Time frame: Week 6
Respiratory Exchange Ratio
Change in RER at 4 minutes of exercise at end of each intervention period
Time frame: Week 6
KCCQ Overall Summary Score
Assess impact of interventions on quality of life based on Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall summary score
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Time frame: Week 6
Ambulatory Physical Activity
Use actigraphy to document the average steps per day taken during the final week of each interventional period
Time frame: Week 6
Muscle Tissue Respirometry
Measure tissue rates of substrate metabolism and mitochondrial content
Time frame: Week 6
Muscle Proteome
Measure relative abundances of proteins related to fatty acid and ketone oxidation as well as proteins related to mitochondrial biogenesis.
Time frame: Week 6
Muscle Metabolome
Perform targeted quantitative metabolomics to assess changes in substrate metabolism
Time frame: Week 6
Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity
MRI assessment of skeletal muscle oxidative phosphorylation capacity
Time frame: Week 6
Arteriovenous O2 content difference
quotient of VO2 to cardiac output
Time frame: Week 6
Peak VO2 during Submaximal Exercise
Assess the impact of interventions on the peak oxygen consumption achieved during submaximal exercise
Time frame: Week 6