Preventing gestational diabetes with myo-inositol supplement
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN48872100 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN48872100 |
| Protocol serial number | 35832 |
| Sponsor | Queen Mary University of London |
| Funders | Barts and the London Charity and Related Charities; Grant Codes: MGU0373, NIHR CLAHRC North Thames, Pharmasure Ltd |
- Submission date
- 03/01/2018
- Registration date
- 15/01/2018
- Last edited
- 14/03/2022
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition with raised glucose (blood sugar) levels that is first diagnosed in pregnancy. It increases the risk of complications for mothers and their babies. There is a need for an effective, simple, acceptable and safe treatment to prevent gestational diabetes, which affects 1800 women every year in Barts Health Trust alone. To date, small studies have found that the over-the-counter nutritional supplement myo-inositol may reduce the risk of GDM. The uptake of this in mothers from inner city NHS trusts, which care for multi-ethnic, high-risk women, is not known. The aim of this small study (200 women) is to test the effectiveness of myo-inositol at preventing GDM before investing resources into a large-scale study (approx. £1.7 million).
Who can participate?
Women with a single pregnancy and at least one of the following risk factors: family history of diabetes, gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, obesity, minority ethnic family origin with a high prevalence of diabetes (such as South Asian, Middle Eastern and Black Caribbean), polycystic ovary syndrome, or previous macrosomic baby (birth weight over 4.5 kg)
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to take a sachet of powder dissolved in water containing either myo-inositol or a placebo (dummy) supplement twice daily until delivery. Follow-up visits take place at 20, 28 and 34 weeks and delivery, aligning with the routine antenatal appointments. The study process is evaluated to examine the acceptability of the study and intervention to mothers, and identify reasons for non-participation and non-retention. The effects of myo-inositol on blood sugar are also estimated.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The results of this study will aid the development of further studies examining the effect of myo-inositol on the risk of GDM. Both supplements are vegan friendly. It is safe to continue any other nutritional supplements women may already be taking along with the study supplements. The potential for pain, discomfort, distress, inconvenience or changes to lifestyle as a result of participating in this study should be minimal. Taking the supplements might be a burden but research suggests that women are willing to take a daily nutritional supplement.
Where is the study run from?
1. Royal London Hospital (UK)
2. Newham University Hospital (UK)
3. Whipps Cross University Hospital (UK)
4. Manchester Royal Infirmary (UK)
5. St Thomas’ Hospital (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2017 to April 2019
Who is funding the study?
1. Barts and the London Charity and Related Charities
2. NIHR CLAHRC North Thames
3. Pharmasure Ltd
Who is the main contact?
Dr Zoe Drymoussi
Contact information
Scientific
Yvonne Carter Building
58 Turner Street
London
E1 2AB
United Kingdom
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Prevention, Dietary |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Effectiveness and acceptability of myo-inositol nutritional supplement in the prevention of gestational diabetes: a pilot placebo-controlled double-blind randomised trial |
| Study acronym | EMmY |
| Study objectives | Gestational diabetes, a condition with raised glucose levels that is first diagnosed in pregnancy, increases the risk of complications to mothers and their babies. There is a need for an effective, simple, acceptable and safe treatment to prevent gestational diabetes, which affects 1800 women every year in Barts Health Trust alone. Our systematic review identified the promising role of the nutritional supplement myo-inositol in reducing the risk of GDM. To date, small studies have identified the potential role of over-the-counter nutritional supplement myo-inositol in preventing gestational diabetes. The uptake of the intervention in mothers from inner city NHS trusts, which care for multi-ethnic, high-risk women is not known. Prior to investing resources into a large-scale study (approx. £1.7 million) on testing the effectiveness of myo-inositol to reduce the incidence of GDM, we propose to undertake a smaller version (200 women) of the future large trial. The trialists propose to undertake a multi centre, randomised, placebo controlled, double blind pilot trial (EMmY), on myo-inositol supplementation in pregnancy to prevent GDM, to inform the large-scale definitive randomised trial. They will evaluate the study process, examine the acceptability of the study and intervention to mothers, and identify reasons for non-participation and non-retention. They will also obtain preliminary estimates of effects of myo-inositol on glycaemic parameters, and develop a core outcome set to be minimally reported in trials on prevention of GDM. |
| Ethics approval(s) | London – Queen Square Research Ethics Committee, 22/12/2017, ref: 17/EM/0394 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Specialty: Reproductive health and childbirth, Primary sub-specialty: Maternal/ Fetal medicine; UKCRC code/ Disease: Reproductive Health and Childbirth/ Other maternal disorders predominantly related to pregnancy, Metabolic and Endocrine/ Diabetes mellitus |
| Intervention | Randomisation will be done using an online system with a randomisation scheme based on permuted blocks of random block size (sizes 4, 6 and 8), stratified by participating site. No adaptive or minimisation strategies will be used in this trial. The treatment arm will receive myo-inositol, and the control arm will receive a placebo. In both arms, the supplements are to be taken twice daily, from 12+0 to 15+6 weeks until delivery. After recruitment and randomisation, follow-up visits will be at 20 weeks, 28 weeks, 34 weeks, and delivery, aligning with the routine antenatal appointments. |
| Intervention type | Supplement |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Process outcomes for the feasibility study: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Acceptability of the study and intervention assessed through qualitative research interviews and questionnaires, aimed at the participants, those who refuse consent to the study, and healthcare professionals involved in the study. Women who decline trial participation are offered an optional short open-ended questionnaire to capture any reasons. Interviews with participants will be carried out in a small proportion (approx. 10-20 women), at around 20 weeks and 34 weeks of pregnancy. Interviews with 10-15 healthcare professionals are carried out towards the end of the study. |
| Completion date | 01/04/2019 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 200 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Women with a singleton, viable pregnancy between 12+0 and 15+6 weeks gestation, based on ultrasound confirmation 2. Women with at least one of the following risk factors: family history of diabetes in any one of their first degree relatives, gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, obesity (BMI ≥30 Kg/m2), minority ethnic family origin with a high prevalence of diabetes (such as South Asian, Middle Eastern and Black Caribbean), polycystic ovary syndrome, or previous macrosomic baby (birth weight >4.5 kg) |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Women known to have pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes 2. Women considered to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, based on abnormal glycated haemoglobin (A1c) (HbA1c) levels and/or OGTT results before 15+6 weeks of pregnancy. Abnormal HbA1c levels defined as > = 48mmol/mol. Abnormal OGTT results defined as a fasting blood glucose level of > = 5.6mmol/l, or a 75g 2-hour blood glucose level of > = 7.8 mmol/l 3. Women using corticosteroids or metformin 4. Women who are not able to provide written informed consent in English |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/02/2018 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/07/2018 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
London
E1 1BB
United Kingdom
Plaistow
London
E13 8SL
United Kingdom
Leytonstone
London
E11 1NR
United Kingdom
Manchester
M13 9WL
United Kingdom
London
SE17 7EH
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 11/03/2022 | 14/03/2022 | Yes | No | |
| Protocol article | protocol | 24/09/2018 | 29/10/2019 | Yes | No |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
14/03/2022: Publication reference added.
29/10/2019: Publication reference added.
29/08/2018: The target number of participants was changed from 250 to 200.
07/02/2018: Sponsor address added.
