Effect of Propionate on Mesenteric Adipose Tissue
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impact of the short chain fatty acid propionate on mesenteric adipose tissue, liver metabolism and insulin sensitivity: The PROMIS study.
IRAS ID
288071
Contact name
Gary Frost
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Compliance Office
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN11187912
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
A number of common diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases can result from the body losing the ability to control the levels of sugar and fat in the blood, this is called metabolic disease. Recent research has shown that fat around the waist has a major role in the development of metabolic diseases. The fat that lies between the gut and liver is called mesenteric fat and appears to be very important in the development of metabolic diseases. This is because this collection of fat has a blood flow that goes direly to your liver. Mesenteric fat can release chemical messages that can affect the control of sugar and fat in the blood and have further effect on the liver.\nOur previous research has shown that a chemical made by the bacteria in your gut called propionate has a positive effect on the level of sugar and fat in the blood. One of the potential reasons are propionate could decrease the risks of metabolic disease through regulating the mesenteric fat via receptors expresses on the fat cell. We have developed a special fiber that can increase the propionate in the gut.\nThis study will be a 12-week randomized, placebo controlled, double blind, parallel human study aiming to investigate the effects of the chemical made by the bacteria, propionate, on the function of mesenteric fat. If the project shows positive results this may offer an effective way to prevent a number of metabolic diseases related to high levels of sugar or fat in the blood such as diabetes and heart diseases.\n
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/1297
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion