Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Reducing the health impact of dietary sugar intake is a public health priority. Mulberry leaf extract may reduce blood glucose responses following dietary sugar intake by reducing absorption of carbohydrates in the gut. Mulberry leaf extracts are widely consumed in Asia. This study will test a water-extracted mulberry-leaf food supplement (currently available over the counter) in adults with normal (non-diabetic) blood sugar levels. The study will test the effect of a single administration of three doses of mulberry leaf extract capsules and a placebo (dummy) capsule when taken at the same time as a standard sugary drink.
Who can participate?
32 healthy adults aged 18-65 with a BMI of 20-30.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be recruited to attend for four visits, at least 48 hours apart, in order to test each of the mulberry and placebo capsules. The capsules will all have an identical appearance. Neither participants nor the study team will be aware of the order that the supplements are given until all of the tests have been completed. Blood glucose and insulin levels will be measured at time-points over 2 hours.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Mulberry extract has an excellent safety profile, is widely consumed in Asia and is available over the counter in England. As far as we are aware, mulberry extract does not have any reported adverse reactions other than mild stomach symptoms such as wind and bloating. Participants will have a cannula/drip sited (small plastic tube in a vein) and there will be a risk of bruising and a small risk of inflammation/infection at the site. Local infection control/procedures will be followed when inserting the cannula.
Where is the study run from?
The Southampton Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (UK).
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study will commence in the first quarter of 2015 and we aim to run the study over 3-6 months until we have completed four visits for 32 participants.
Who is funding the study?
The study is being funded by the Technology Strategy Board as part of a nutrition for life Programme led by Phynova.
Who is the main contact?
Dr Mark Lown
Tel: +44 (0) 7525493650
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Christopher Byrne
ORCID ID
Contact details
Human Development and Health Academic Unit
Faculty of Medicine
University of Southampton
Institute of Developmental Sciences (IDS building)
University of Southampton
Southampton General Hospital
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
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c.d.byrne@soton.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
MULBERRY 1.1
Study information
Scientific title
Mulberry extract to modULate Blood glucosE Responses in noRmoglYcaemic adults (MULBERRY): a pilot study
Acronym
MULBERRY
Study hypothesis
An appropriate dose of mulberry extract co-administered with oral maltodextrin will reduce the incremental area under the curve for plasma glucose concentration over 120 minutes in normoglycaemic adults in a dose-dependent manner when compared to co-administration with placebo.
Ethics approval
Not provided at time of registration - submission pending
Study design
Single-centre double-blind randomised four-arm single-dose cross-over design to determine the efficacy, dose-response relationship and gastrointestinal side effects with respect to placebo
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised cross over trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Carbohydrate absorption
Intervention
The study will evaluate single doses (500 mg, 250 mg and 125 mg) of mulberry extract given at least 48 hours apart against placebo:
1. 500 mg mulberry extract (IminiNorm capsule) (equivalent to 25 mg deoxynojirimycin [DNJ])
2. 250 mg IminoNorm capsule (containing 12.5 mg DNJ)
3. 125 mg IminoNorm capsule (containing 6.75 mg DNJ)
4. Matched placebo capsule containing 500 mg microcrystalline cellulose
For co-administration with:
Maltodextrin 50 g dissolved in 150 ml water to be consumed within two minutes.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Incremental area-under-the-curve (IAUC) for plasma glucose concentration over 120 minutes. The glucose and insulin values will be measured every 15 mins for two hours eg. 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 mins at each visit.
Secondary outcome measures
1. IAUC for plasma insulin concentration over 120 minutes
2. IAUC for plasma glucose and insulin concentration over 120 minutes
3. Plasma glucose concentration at the nine timepoints
4. Plasma insulin concentration at the nine timepoints
5. Gastrointestinal tolerability - abdominal bloating may be experienced due to reduced carbohydrate absorption. Gastrointestinal symptoms will be measured via questionnaire for 24 hours following each study visit
The glucose and insulin values will be measured every 15 mins for two hours eg. 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 mins at each visit.
Overall trial start date
01/01/2014
Overall trial end date
01/07/2014
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Consent to study protocol
2. Age 18-65 years
3. BMI 20-30
4. Normal fasting glucose (fasting plasma glucose concentration <= 7.0 mmol/l)
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
32
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Previous diagnosis of impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance
2. Type I/II diabetes mellitus
3. BMI <20 or >30
4. Alcohol consumption in the previous 12 hours
5. Current oral hypoglycaemic medication use
6. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
7. Symptomatic irritable bowel syndrome
8. Current participation in another clinical trial
9. History of renal or liver disease
10. History of clotting or bleeding disorders
11. Taken antibiotics in the last 3 weeks prior to screening
12. Taking daily medications or dietary supplements that are not suitable for the study in the opinion of the principal investigator and/or that are prohibited (as per protocol)
13. Known intolerance or allergy to mulberry extract or any ingredients in the study products
Recruitment start date
01/01/2014
Recruitment end date
01/07/2014
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University of Southampton
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
Sponsor details
Tremona Rd
Southampton
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
-
c.d.byrne@soton.ac.uk
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Technology Strategy Board Nutrition for Life (UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
We are aiming to publish the trial results, but not the protocol.
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not expected to be available
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
1. 2015 protocol in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26511964
2. 2017 results in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28225835