Acesulfame K as an Exogenous Marker of Glomerular Filtration Rate
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot Study to Assess the Use of Acesulfame K as an Exogenous Marker of Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
IRAS ID
128900
Contact name
Chris O'Callaghan
Contact email
Research summary
We are interested in determining whether a widely used artificial sweetener called acesulfame K could be used to accurately determine kidney function. The most commonly used method at present is based on a measurement of a substance called creatinine, which is a breakdown product of muscle. However, this method is not very accurate, particularly at extremes of kidney function, and there are many clinical situations in which a more accurate measure of kidney function is necessary. In these situations, other markers of kidney function are available, but they require intravenous administration or involve the use of radioisotopes and require multiple blood tests afterwards.
Acesulfame K is a widely used artificial sweetener in the foods and drinks industry and is known to be safe. Some small studies on acesulfame K have demonstrated characteristics that would make it suitable as a marker of kidney function when taken orally.
We would like to confirm these findings in a pilot study in healthy volunteers and compare its accuracy to measures of kidney function that are currently in clinical use. In brief, participants will be asked to take acesulfame K, and this will be followed by blood tests and a 24 hour urine collection to measure its levels. We will be comparing the clearance of acesulfame K from the body with another marker of kidney function called iohexol, which will be administered intravenously.
We hope that not only will this allow us to accurately measure kidney function, but also do so with fewer blood tests than existing methods. In the future, we aim to extend this study to those with pre-existing kidney disease.This research has been funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and will be conducted in both University of Oxford research buildings and at the Oxford University Hospitals.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/SC/0479
Date of REC Opinion
14 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion