Investigating Whether Acute Elevation of Fatty Acid Levels Alters Cerebral Glucose Transport and Metabolism (NCT04328337)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The goal of this study is to understand the role of brain glucose transport in individuals with obesity and the association with cerebral hypometabolism and these individuals' response to plasma glucose elevations. The main premise is that obesity leads to reduced brain glucose transport and that we can measure this reduction with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The secondary premises are that this reduction is driven by elevated non esterified fatty acids which act to turn on specific signaling pathways that regulate brain GLUT1 levels.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (4 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (17 items).
Location: Biomedical Research Imaging Center Marsico Hall (UNC) — Chapel Hill, North Carolina
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Creatinine \>1.5mg/dL
- Hematocrit \<35% for females and \<39% for males
- ALT and AST \>2.5X upper limit of normal
- Abnormal TSH
- Abnormal PT/PTT/INR
- Triglycerides \>200 mg/dL
- Known hepatic, gastrointestinal, renal, neurologic, psychiatric, cerebrovascular disease
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Current or past 3 months use of ketogenic diet
- Use of any medications, vitamins, or supplements that can alter cerebral metabolism or lipids
- Smoking
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center Marsico Hall (UNC) — Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) Burnett-Womack Building (UNC) — Chapel Hill, North Carolina
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.