A Study to Investigate the Effect of HMB on Skeletal Muscle Wasting in Early Critical Illness (HMB-ICU)

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2

Conditions: Critical Illness

Treatments: Other: Lactose (placebo); Dietary Supplement: HMB

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03464708

2016-003557-15 (EudraCT Number)

17/LO/1635

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to investigate the effect of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) on skeletal muscle wasting, physical function, strength and quality of life in survivors of critical illness. In addition, protein turnover, muscle biology and muscle histology will be investigated.

Full description

This is a double blind, placebo controlled, randomised controlled trial with the primary objective of investigating the effect of HMB on skeletal muscle wasting in early critical illness. Secondary objectives include determining the effect of HMB on skeletal muscle quality, strength, function and quality of life in survivors of critical illness. In addition, the effect of HMB on muscle protein turnover, muscle protein signalling, muscle fibre size and protein:DNA ratio will be investigated in a sub-group of participants.

Eligible participants will be randomised to receive either 3 g/day HMB or 3 g/day placebo within 24 hours of admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This will be continued until hospital discharge or 28-days, whichever comes first.

Enrollment: 68 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 99 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

(i) ≥18 years old (ii) Due to receive enteral nutrition via a nasogastric or naso-jejunal tube as part of routine care (iii) Receiving mechanical ventilation and likely to continue this for more than 48 hours (iv) Likely to remain on the ICU for >7 days (v) Likely to survive intensive care admission. (vi) Admitted to recruiting ICU <24 hours from hospital admission and referring ICU ≥7 days from hospital admission (vii) Agreement obtained from legal representative (viii) Able to comply with protocol and study procedures (ix) No known allergy to IMP or any of its excipients

Participants in other trials can be recruited where protocols are not deemed likely to interfere with endpoints of either study and agreement has been obtained from the respective Chief Investigators.

Since participants in the trial will be abstaining by virtue of their illness, contraception is not required as an eligibility requirement.

Exclusion criteria

(i) Pregnancy or breast feeding (ii) Active disseminated malignancy (diagnosed) (iii) Bilateral lower limb amputees (iv) Non-ambulant or acute unilateral lower limb amputees (v) Patients with a primary neuromyopathy (vi) Patients entered into trials of interventions which would affect muscle mass (vii) Patients assessed as requiring sole parenteral nutrition (viii) Admission to ICU within the previous 3 months (ix) Any reason excluding ultrasound measurement being performed (x) Insufficient understanding of the trial by the legal representative (xi) Intolerance to lactose and/or milk protein allergy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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68 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

HMB

Experimental group

Description:

HMB 3 g/day until hospital discharge or 28-days (whichever comes first). HMB to be provided in powder form and administered via enteral feeding tube whilst in the ICU and orally once able to eat and drink.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: HMB

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo (lactose) 3 g/day until hospital discharge or 28-days (whichever comes first). Placebo to be provided in powder form and administered via enteral feeding tube whilst in the ICU and orally once able to eat and drink.

Treatment:

Other: Lactose (placebo)