We're building a better ClinicalTrials.gov. Check it out and tell us what you think!
Working…
ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov Menu

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) for Food Craving in Obese Individuals. (taVNS)

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03217929
Recruitment Status : Unknown
Verified July 2017 by Ruth Bartelli Grigolon, Federal University of São Paulo.
Recruitment status was:  Not yet recruiting
First Posted : July 14, 2017
Last Update Posted : July 14, 2017
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Ruth Bartelli Grigolon, Federal University of São Paulo

Study Description
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Brief Summary:

Background: Obesity is one of the most important diseases around the globe; with a continuous increase and public health concern. Current treatments present some limitations. Craving is a symptom usually noticeable and has been described as a "strong desire or urge to use", especially with foods. The vagus nerve and its relations to the neurocircuitry of the reward system play essential roles in food intake regulation and this can be done transcutaneously trough the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (taVNS). Based on the neurobiology of food craving and on the initial data on taVNS demonstrating safety and efficacy in open-label and randomized sham controlled trials, the investigators propose the first randomized, sham controlled, triple-blind trial on taVNS for food craving in obesity.

Methods: This will be a two-arm, triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 54 subjects with food craving assigned to either: 1) a 10-session treatment protocol of real taVNS, or 2) a 10-session treatment protocol of sham taVNS, besides qualitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) and heart rate variability (HRV). Participants will be evaluated for primary outcome measures (Food Craving Questionnaire - State [FCQ-S] and Food Craving Questionnaire - Trait [FCQ-T]) before and after intervention, with a follow-up visit of 30 days after the end of treatment. A comparison between sham and active groups will be performed in three occasions [baseline (T1), at the end of the stimulation protocol (T2) and 30 days after the last day of stimulation (T3)].

Discussion: Given the epidemiological situation and economic and social burdens, the possibility of modulating the reward system neurocircuitry trough the vagus nerve with an easy-to-use, low-cost, safe and potential at-home use could represent a breakthrough in treating obesity. The investigators hypothesized that food craving in obese individuals would decrease at least 50%, as well as their intake of high fat, high sugar and processed food, commonly described as palatable foods. Beyond that, the investigators expect that these individuals would improve anxiety symptoms.


Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Obesity Craving Device: Active-taVNS Device: Sham-taVNS Not Applicable

Study Design
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Layout table for study information
Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Estimated Enrollment : 54 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) for Food Craving in Obese Individuals: a Randomized, Sham-controlled, Double Blind Clinical Trial.
Estimated Study Start Date : October 2017
Estimated Primary Completion Date : October 2018
Estimated Study Completion Date : October 2019
Arms and Interventions
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Arm Intervention/treatment
Active Comparator: Active-taVNS Device: Active-taVNS
Stimulation will be performed using the Neurodyn II (Ibramed) equipment approved by the national regulatory agency (ANVISA). The following parameters will be used: 120 Hz (hertz) of frequency, 250 μs of pulse duration and 12 milliamperes of intensity for a continuous stimulation for 30 minutes. This intensity corresponds to a non-painful mild paresthesia without muscle contraction previously described and evaluated. The 25 cm² (centimeters) electrodes will be positioned over the retroauricular area. A total of 10 sessions (one session per day during 10 week-days) will be performed. Every session will be followed by an interview with a trained psychiatrist to evaluate possible adverse effects and guarantee safety issues regarding the study itself.
Sham Comparator: Sham-taVNS Device: Sham-taVNS
Regarding sham protocol, the device will be turned off after 60 seconds of stimulation without the knowledge of the patient. After this initial period, the referred paresthesia seems to diminish due to nerve accommodation.


Outcome Measures
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Reduction of 40% of food craving symptoms [ Time Frame: Baseline, at the end of the stimulation protocol (10 days after) and 30 days after the last day of stimulation. ]
    Changes in food craving will be evaluated by the Brazilian version of the FCQ-S and FCQ-T. A comparison between sham and active groups will be performed in three occasions.


Secondary Outcome Measures :
  1. Decrease of 10% of BMI and hip/waist ratio [ Time Frame: Baseline, at the end of the stimulation protocol (10 days after) and 30 days after the last day of stimulation. ]
  2. Improve metabolic profile. [ Time Frame: Baseline, at the end of the stimulation protocol (10 days after) and 30 days after the last day of stimulation. ]
  3. Improve anxiety symptoms evaluated by the Inventory for Depressive Symptoms (Self-Report version). [ Time Frame: Baseline, at the end of the stimulation protocol (10 days after) and 30 days after the last day of stimulation. ]

Eligibility Criteria
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.


Layout table for eligibility information
Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 65 Years   (Adult, Older Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Body mass index (BMI)>29
  • Age between 18 and 55 years old
  • Food Craving Questionnaire-State and Trait (FCQ-S and FCQ-T)>108
  • Agreement to participate and sign the informed consent term before any procedure is conducted.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of head injury or epilepsy
  • Body metallic implants and pacemaker
  • Current use or in the previous six months of psychotropic or anorexigenic medications, recreational drugs and/or participation in weight-loss programs
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Indication of hospitalization
  • Substance dependence
  • Psychiatric disorder, except for anxiety disorders
  • Personality disorders
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Non-controlled clinical comorbidities.
Contacts and Locations
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03217929


Contacts
Layout table for location contacts
Contact: Ruth B Grigolon, Master 5519998639341 rbgrigolon@gmail.com
Contact: Alisson P Trevizol, PhD 5511996044825 alisson.trevizol@hotmail.com

Locations
Layout table for location information
Brazil
Federal University of São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil, 04038-020
Contact: Ruth B Grigolon, Master    5519998639341    rbgrigolon@gmail.com   
Contact: Alisson P Trevizol, PhD    5511996044825    alisson.trevizol@hotmail.com   
Sponsors and Collaborators
Federal University of São Paulo
Investigators
Layout table for investigator information
Principal Investigator: Ruth B Grigolon, Master Federal University of São Paulo
More Information
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Layout table for additonal information
Responsible Party: Ruth Bartelli Grigolon, Master, Federal University of São Paulo
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03217929    
Other Study ID Numbers: 51355115.8.0000.5479
First Posted: July 14, 2017    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: July 14, 2017
Last Verified: July 2017
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
Plan to Share IPD: Undecided

Layout table for additional information
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
Keywords provided by Ruth Bartelli Grigolon, Federal University of São Paulo:
vagus nerve
obesity
craving
food
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Layout table for MeSH terms
Obesity
Overnutrition
Nutrition Disorders
Overweight
Body Weight