Susceptibility to Infectious Diseases in obEsity: an endocRine trAnslational socioLogic Evaluation, "SIDERALE"

ConditionsObesity Type2diabetes Lipodystrophy Infections Obesity Associated Disorder

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age18-65

SponsorFederico II University

About this trial

Obesity is a life-threatening disease, defined by excessive fat accumulation that increases the risk of other diseases such as cardiovascular events, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. Obesity is also a risk factor for nosocomial infections and is associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes, although anthropometric measurements are not routinely recorded during hospitalization and lack of a registry data does not allow performing retrospective studies.Obesity is closely related to chronodisruption, characterized by deregulation of physiological and behavioral central and peripheral circadian rhythms contributing to the obesity-related metabolic impairment. Eating and sleeping time schedules are relevant synchronizers of humans' biological clock. Several studies suggest a role of dietary interventions in rewiring the circadian rhythm, with Mediterranean diet (MD) regulating nutritional patterns. Moreover, considering its positive impact on sleep quality, melatonin intake was suggested as a potential regulator of circadian rhythms. The relation between chronodisruption, obesity and infections has not been investigated, and a first proof of concept (Pilot study) will aim at investigating it. Three cohorts of obese patients with different aetiology (essential obesity, obesity with type 2 diabetes, genetic forms of obesity) and a cohort of lipodystrophic patients will be enrolled in the study, which is designed as a two-phases protocol. During the first phase (0-12 weeks (w)) patients will be subjected to dietary intervention with hypocaloric MD; in a second phase (12-24w), melatonin 1mg/die before sleep will be added to the hypocaloric MD. The susceptibility to infections will be investigated through the evaluation of 1) the number of events - i.e. flu- or flulike syndromes, skin, respiratory, digestive, urinary infections-per patient of the 4 groups and the blood assays to detect the infection with Epstein-Barr, Cytomegalovirus, Varicella, Measles and SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM; hepatitis C and hepatitis B core antibodies and Quantiferon TB Gold, 2) the clock genes rhythm and TLRs expression in patient immune cells at baseline, 12w and 24w.The mutual relationship between biomedical values, environmental and social conditions, and lifestyle habits will be evaluated by structured questionnaires. Validation of questionnaires to explore the susceptibility to infections is another delivery planned for the current study.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

essential obesity (BMI : 30-35 Kg/m2)

genetic forms of obesity (BMI: 30-35 Kg/m2)

obesity (BMI:30-35 Kg/m2) associated with T2DM

obesity (BMI:30-35 Kg/m2) associated with endocrinopathies

Disqualifiers

pregnancy, breast-feeding, alcohol and drug abuse, known severe haematological, cardiac, liver, kidney, mental diseases, hypogonadisms, hormonal treatments including estroprogestins, intolerance to melatonin or excipients

Trial design

Design model

Crossover

Treatments tested in this trial

Mediterranean diet
Dietary supplement
Hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet consist of a nutritional regimen with customized daily energy intake, calculated considering the Basal Metabolism and Physical Activity Level (LAF) of each patient. The distribution of macronutrients will be worked out as follows: ≃ 55-60% Carbohydrates (of which 80% are complex carbohydrates, pasta, bread, rice, whole grains and 20% simple sugars), ≃ 10-15% Proteins (of which the 60% of animal origin (meat, especially white) and 40% of vegetable origin (beans, chickpeas, lentils and legumes in general), ≃ 25-30% of lipids (predominantly olive oil).
Melatonin supplementation
Dietary supplement
Melatonin (supplement formulation in capsules, 1mg/die one hour before sleep) will be associated with mediterranean diet for 12 w.

Treatment groups

100 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: Mediterranean diet groupActive comparator 1 intervention

Group B: Mediterranean diet plus melatonin groupActive comparator 2 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Investigation of the impact of hypocaloric MD and hypocaloric MD plus melatonin on the number of events - i.e. flu- or flulike syndromes, skin, respiratory, digestive, urinary infections in patients with obesity and lipodystrophy

The primary outcome will be: to investigate the impact of tailored hypocaloric MD and hypocaloric MD plus melatonin (supplement formulation, 1mg/die before sleep) on the number of events - i.e. flu- or flulike syndromes, skin, respiratory, digestive, urinary infections - per all patients, recording the number of infectious events,trough specific surveys, during the clinical and biochemical examinations in six months and 1 year follow up and detect the SARS-CoV-2, Epstein-Barr, Cytomegalovirus, Varicella and Measles IgG and IgM, hepatitis C and hepatitis B core antibodies and Quantiferon TB Gold (QFT-GIT).

Time frame