Sympathetic Activation in Obesity
- Study HIC#:2000030749
- Last Updated:01/01/0001
Are you 18 to 45 years old and in general good health?
If you are 18 to 45 years old and in general good health, you may be eligible to participate in a study investigating whether obesity is associated with increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Study procedures will include: physical examination, blood work, an oral glucose tolerance test, 2 positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and microneurography, mixed meal test (MMT), and DXA scan.
Compensation up to $775.
- Age18 years - 45 years
- GenderBoth
Contact Us
For more information about this study, including how to volunteer, contact:
Jacqueline Prinz
- Phone Number: 1-203-785-5977
Help Us Discover!
You can help our team find trials you might be eligible for by creating a volunteer profile in MyChart. To get started, create a volunteer profile, or contact helpusdiscover@yale.edu, or call +18779788343 for more information.
Trial Purpose and Description
The primary objective of this study is to determine whether sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in adipose tissue (WAT and BAT), muscle and brain is altered in individuals with obesity in comparison to individuals with normal weight. Simultaneous multi-organ SNS activation will be obtained with a radiotracer for norepinephrine transporters (NET) for whole-body Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging and microneurography (gold standard test for assessment of muscle SNS activity).
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
- Age 18-45 years
- In good general health as evidenced by medical history and lean (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) or non-diabetic obese (BMI 30-50 kg/m2) with a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) <100 mg/dL and a hemoglobin A1c <5.7%.
Exclusion Criteria:
An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
- Hypertension
- Cardiac or pulmonary disease,
- Known history of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
- Hepatic disease, swallowing and gastrointestinal disorders
- Current use of anti-obesity medications, supplements and/or anti-hyperglycemic medications
- Neurological injury or illness, and psychiatric medications
- Women who are pregnant or lactating
- Subjects who suffer from claustrophobia
- Subjects who have received a diagnostic or therapeutic radiopharmaceutical within 7 days prior to participation in this study
- Radiation works or participation in other research studies involving ionizing radiation within one year of the PET scans that would cause the subject to exceed the yearly dose limits.
- Subjects with history of IV drug use which would prevent venous access for PET tracer injection
- Severe motor problems that prevent the subject from lying still for PET and MR imaging
- Subjects who complain of chronic pain
- Blood donation within 8 weeks of the study
