The Health Influences of Puberty (HIP) Study



Status:Completed
Conditions:Obesity Weight Loss, Endocrine, Diabetes
Therapuetic Areas:Endocrinology
Healthy:No
Age Range:9 - 17
Updated:7/19/2018
Start Date:June 2011
End Date:May 31, 2018

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Combined Influence of Puberty and Obesity on Insulin Resistance in Adolescents

The Health Influences of Puberty (HIP) Study is designed to explore the relationships between
puberty and the onset of type 2 diabetes in adolescents. The results of this study will help
us better understand how to prevent type 2 diabetes in these youth. Children go through many
changes during puberty, including important hormonal and behavioral alterations. Among these
changes, it has long been known that, during puberty, insulin does not work as well as it
does before and after puberty. This is called physiologic insulin resistance. In healthy
children, this does not cause diabetes or affect blood sugar in any way because the body is
able to compensate by making more insulin. Indeed, this is thought to be an important part of
the adolescent growth spurt. However, in some children with increased risk for developing
type 2 diabetes due to obesity and genetics, the worsening insulin resistance of puberty
cannot be compensated for and these youth get diabetes early. The investigators believe this
is because type 2 diabetes is rarely, if ever, seen before puberty begins, and the peak of
diabetes onset in adolescents occurs at the time of the worst insulin resistance. This
specific research project has two goals: 1. To examine effects of obesity on how well the
body's insulin works during puberty, and 2. To see if treatment of obese children during this
critical period of puberty with a medication that improves insulin resistance (metformin)
will help prevent early onset type 2 diabetes.

Specific Aims:

Pediatric insulin resistance and related disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),
are increasing in prevalence, and portend significant end-organ and cardiovascular morbidity
and mortality. Thus, measures aimed at understanding its causes and preventing its onset are
critical. The physiologic decrease in insulin sensitivity in all adolescents during puberty
is well-established. It is also known that obese adolescents start out less insulin sensitive
at the onset of puberty than lean adolescents, and that their insulin sensitivity worsens as
puberty progresses. While there are both longitudinal and cross-sectional data confirming the
natural recovery of pre-pubertal insulin sensitivity in normal weight adolescents after
puberty is completed, it is unknown whether obese adolescents recover their pre-pubertal
insulin sensitivity. Failure to regain pre-pubertal insulin sensitivity at the end of
puberty, and failure of compensatory insulin secretion, may accelerate progression from
obesity to insulin resistance to T2DM in at-risk youth and contribute to long-term
cardiovascular risk.

In addition, obesity and insulin resistance are associated with earlier onset of puberty and
premature adrenarche in females. Insulin resistance also contributes to the gonadal
dysfunction of polycystic ovarian disease in fully pubertal females and is associated with
hypogonadism in older adult males. Little is known about effects of obesity and insulin
resistance on gonadal function in young males. However, persistent metabolic changes at the
end of puberty may contribute to gonadal dysfunction in obese youth. Currently, there are few
longitudinal studies in either sex that evaluate the interactions among obesity, insulin
resistance and gonadal function during puberty.

The investigators' long-term goal is to better understand the metabolic changes that occur
during puberty, their underlying mechanisms, and their potential contribution to adult
disease. The overall aim is to evaluate the effects of obesity on the evolution of insulin
sensitivity and gonadal function during puberty. In addition, because improvement in insulin
action during puberty may slow β-cell deterioration, the investigators will evaluate whether
compensatory insulin secretion is also affected in obese adolescents and whether treatment
with metformin improves β-cell response.

HYPOTHESES:

1. Obese adolescents will show decreased improvement in insulin sensitivity from Tanner
stage 2/3 to Tanner 5 when compared with lean counterparts.

2. Obese adolescents treated with metformin will have greater improvement in insulin
sensitivity from Tanner stage 2/3 to Tanner 5 vs. those treated with placebo. (See
hypothesis schematics below)

To test these hypotheses, we propose to address the following Specific Aims:

SPECIFIC AIM 1 (Observational Arm):

1. To compare longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity and secretion and their
correlates in obese and normal weight adolescents during puberty.

1. Primary outcome: Change in insulin sensitivity (Si), as measured by frequently
sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), from early puberty to puberty
completion in obese and normal weight adolescents.

2. Secondary outcomes: Change in insulin secretion (AIR) and disposition index (DI) as
measured by IVGTT, body composition, fat distribution, markers of gonadal function,
and inflammatory markers over time in these groups.

SPECIFIC AIM 2 (Treatment Arm):

2. To compare longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity and secretion and their
correlates in obese adolescents treated with metformin or placebo during puberty.

1. Primary outcome: Change in Si from early puberty to puberty completion in obese
controls and obese adolescents treated with metformin.

2. Secondary outcome: Change in AIR and DI, body composition, fat distribution,
markers of gonadal function, and inflammatory markers over time in these groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

- BMI ≥ 95th percentile

- At least Tanner 2, but no more than Tanner 3

- Age ≥ 9 years

- Absence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or Type 2
diabetes mellitus (T2DM)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Presence of T2DM, IGT or IFG

- Any disorder or medication known to effect glucose tolerance;

- Hypertension or hyperlipidemia requiring pharmacological intervention;

- Weight >300lbs. due to limits of imaging tables.

- Chronic illness
We found this trial at
1
site
13123 E 16th Ave
Aurora, Colorado 80045
(720) 777-1234
Principal Investigator: Megan Kelsey, MD, MS
Children's Hospital Colorado At Children's Hospital Colorado, we see more, treat more and heal more...
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Aurora, CO
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