Effects and Interactions of Liquorice and Grapefruit on Glucocorticoid Replacement Therapy in Addison's Disease
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Addison's disease is a rare disease, wherein the adrenals can not produce sufficient steroid hormones (cortisol and aldosterone). Patients with Addison's disease report impaired subjective health status, and they have increased all-cause mortality. Conventional therapy is by oral replacement of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid hormones, but this strategy imperfectly mimic the diurnal cortisol variations, and render the patients both over- and under-treated. Anecdotally, some patients with adrenal insufficiency may benefit from the use of various nutritional compounds. We hypothesised that liquorice and grapefruit altered the metabolism and absorption of cortisone acetate.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
In the present study, cortisone acetate absorption and metabolism are assessed in subjects with Addison's disease on three occasions. On the first occasion, the subjects are on their regular diet, but avoid ingestion of grapefruit and liquorice. At the end of the baseline assessment the order of the nutritional compounds (liquorice-grapefruit juice or grapefruit juice-liquorice) to be investigated in the next two assessments are randomised.
On the two next occasions, the absorption and metabolism of cortisone acetate is studied when study subjects consume liquorice and grapefruit juice. Between the use of grapefruit and liquorice there is a wash out period of at least 3 weeks.
For studies on liquorice effects, the subjects ingest 24-gram liquorice per day (equivalent of 150-mg glycyrrhizinic acid per day). For studies on grapefruit juice effects, subjects drink 200-ml grapefruit juice three times a day for three days. They maintain their regular medication and usual diet.
Time-series of cortisol and cortisone are obtained in serum and saliva samples on the third day of liquorice/grapefruit juice use. 24-hour urine is also collected.
Measurements of cortisol and metabolites in serum and saliva are used to calculate pharmacokinetical parameters. The measurements from samples obtained when using the investigated nutritional compounds are compared to the baseline assessment in each subject. Metabolites in 24-hour urine are compared similarly to investigate changes in urinary excretion, and to estimate the activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of cortisol (5alfa-reductase, 5beta-reductase, cytochrome P450 3A4 system, 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase).
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Active Comparator: Liquorice Liquorice eq to 150 mg glycyrrhizinic acid. Results are compared to a baseline assessment without liquorice/grapefruit juice ingestion. |
Dietary Supplement: Liquorice
24 gram liquorice eq. to 150 mg glycyrrhizinic acid, taken orally, for three days.
|
| Active Comparator: Grapefruit juice 200 ml pink grapefruit juice three times a day. Results are compared to a baseline assessment without liquorice/grapefruit juice ingestion. |
Dietary Supplement: Grapefruit Juice
200 ml pink grapefruit juice three times a day, taken orally, for three days.
|
| No Intervention: Baseline Baseline assessment without intake of liquorice or grapefruit juice |
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- AUC Serum Cortisol - Levels of cortisol in serum during the first 2.6 hours after oral administration of cortisone acetate. [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
The area under the curve (AUC) of cortisol is calculated based on serum time-series sampling (every 20 minutes for 2.6 h after oral administration of cortisone acetate). The AUCs obtained during liquorice and grapefruit juice intakes are compared to the baseline assessment (without these nutritional compounds). All other pharmacokinetic properties (primary and secondary outcome measures) are compared analogously.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Serum Cortisol levels at the end of time-series sampling (t=160min) [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
At the end of time series sampling (160 minutes after orally administered cortisone acetate) on all three assessments
- Serum Cortisone levels at the end of time-series sampling (t=160min) [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
At the end of time series sampling (160 minutes after orally administered cortisone acetate) on all three assessments
- Saliva Cortisol levels at the end of time-series sampling (t=160min) [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
At the end of time series sampling (160 minutes after orally administered cortisone acetate) on all three assessments
- Saliva Cortisone levels at the end of time-series sampling (t=160min) [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
At the end of time series sampling (160 minutes after orally administered cortisone acetate) on all three assessments
- Time of maximum concentration of serum Cortisol [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Based on time-series sampling at each of the three assessments
- Time of maximum concentration of serum Cortisone [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Based on time-series sampling at each of the three assessments
- Time of maximum concentration of Saliva Cortisol [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Based on time-series sampling at each of the three assessments
- Time of maximum concentration of Saliva Cortisone [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Based on time-series sampling at each of the three assessments
- Half life of serum cortisol [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Based on time-series sampling at each of the three assessments
- Half life of serum cortisone [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Based on time-series sampling at each of the three assessments
- Urinary aTHF/THF-ratio [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Measured in 24h urine obtained at the three assessments. aTHF = allo-tetrahydrocortisol, THF = tetrahydrocortisol
- AUC Serum Cortisone [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Similar to primary outcome Serum AUC Cortisol
- Urine total metabolites (Urinary cortisol+cortisone+6OHF+aTHF+THF+THE) [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
24-hour urine collected on each of the three assessments aTHF = allo-tetrahydrocortisol, THF = tetrahydrocortisol, THE = tetrahydrocortisone, 6OHF = 6beta-hydroxycortisol
- Urinary ratio (aTHF+THF)/THE [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Assessed in 24h urine obtained at the three assessments (baseline, after liquorice and after grapefruit juice). It is an index of 5-reductase activity. 24-hour urine collected on each of the three assessments aTHF = allo-tetrahydrocortisol, THF = tetrahydrocortisol, THE = tetrahydrocortisone
- Urinary Ratio Cortisol/6beta-OH-Cortisol [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Assess the enzymatic activity of CYP3A4 by the index urinary cortisol/6beta-oh cortisol ratio obtained at the three assessments (baseline, after liquorice and after grapefruit juice. 6OHF = 6beta-hydroxycortisol
- Urine total metabolites (Urinary cortisol+cortisone+6OHF+aTHF+THF+THE) [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
24-hour urine collected on each of the three assessments 24-hour urine collected on each of the three assessments aTHF = allo-tetrahydrocortisol, THF = tetrahydrocortisol, THE = tetrahydrocortisone, 6OHF = 6beta-hydroxycortisol
- AUC Saliva cortisone [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Similar to primary outcome Saliva AUC Cortisol, but for cortisone.
- AUC Serum Cortisone [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Similar to primary outcome Serum AUC Cortisol, but for cortisone.
- AUC Saliva Cortisol [Outcome measures are assessed when all subjects have completed the study, approximately 1.5-2.0 years after study start.]
Similar to AUC Serum Cortisol, but measurements are on saliva.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Verified diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease)
-
Stable cortisone acetate replacement therapy
-
Written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
-
Malignant disease
-
Pharmacological treatment with other glucocorticoids
-
Pregnancy
-
Current minor disease (ie the flu)
-
Major disease or accident requiring hospitalization the last three months
-
Use of grapefruit juice or liquorice the last two weeks before study start
-
Blood pressure above 150mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haukeland University Hospital, Helse-Bergen HF | Bergen | Norway | 5020 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Haukeland University Hospital
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Paal Methlie, MD, University of Bergen. Helse-Bergen HF
- Principal Investigator: Kristian Løvås, MD, PhD, University of Bergen. Helse-Bergen HF.
- Principal Investigator: Eystein S Husebye, Prof, MD, University of Bergen. Helse-Bergen HF.
- Principal Investigator: Ernst A Lien, Prof. MD., University of Bergen
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 3.2007.2620 (REK)
- 17775 (NSD)
- 07/5829 (SHdir)
- 3.2007.2620