Mayo clinic probes belly fat's stubbornness with niacin test
NCT ID NCT06175403
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at why people who carry extra weight around their belly have fat cells that don't respond normally to signals that should 'turn off' fat release. Researchers at Mayo Clinic will give niacin (a B vitamin) to 32 overweight and lean adults and measure how their fat tissue responds. The goal is to understand the differences in fat cell behavior, not to treat or cure weight gain.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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About 32 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2024
- Expected to finish
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May 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Males and females between 18 and 65 years of age who are able to comprehend instructions, follow study procedures, willing to sign an informed consent form, and consume an isoenergetic diet eating all meals from Mayo CRTU for at least 3 days prior to study. * Overweight/Obese volunteers will have a BMI 29.0 - 40.0 kg/m2. * Upper body/visceral obesity (UBO) in women will be defined as those with a waist-hip ratio (WHR) \> 0.85 and/or increased visceral fat by single slice CT scan, usually with \> 120 cm2 of visceral fat by CT scanning or a visceral fat/total fat ratio of \> 0.30, and/or biochemical evidence of metabolic syndrome as defined by ATP III criteria (fasting plasma triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL, HDL-cholesterol \< 50 mg/dL for women and \< 40 mg/dL for men, fasting plasma glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL). Upper body obesity in men will be defined as a waist-hip ratio of \> 0.95 and/or increased visceral fat (visceral fat area \> 180 cm2 or a visceral/total fat abdominal ratio by CT of \> 0.40) by single slice CT scan and/or biochemical evidence of metabolic syndrome as defined by ATP III criterial. These visceral fat values are based upon the data collected at Mayo Clinic using our methods, and are correlated with dyslipidemia and hyperinsulinemia. * Female subjects are eligible if they meet the following criteria: are not pregnant or nursing; all women of childbearing potential will have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening and a negative urine pregnancy test within 48 hours before administering study drug; all women of childbearing potential will use an appropriate contraceptive method, including barrier method, oral contraceptive medication, contraceptive device or abstinence while participating in the study. They will confirm use of one of these methods. * Recent or current research participation in a study that involves an investigational drug. Participants in other clinical trials that involve an investigational drug will not be able to participate in this study until 12 weeks after their participation in the other study is complete or \> than five half-lives of the compound, whichever is longer: if Yes look at consent form and f/u visits: current use of medications that alter fatty acid or adipose metabolism possibly given: if yes, exclude; * Amount of blood drawn during the study (if our study plus this one draw ≥ 450 ml these should be separated by 8 weeks. * Previous labs: HbA1C \< 6.5% for non-diabetic UBO; Fasting glucose \< 126 mg/dl for non-diabetic UBO; Hb ≥ 11.0 for women and ≥ 12 for men; platelets \> 100 000. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals with a history of a disease process such as: ischemic heart disease; atherosclerotic valvular disease; persistent blood pressure greater than 160/95 despite antihypertensive medication. * Smokers. * Concomitant use of medications that can alter free fatty acid metabolism: high dose fish oil (\>3g per day), (if yes, discontinue for 6 weeks); statins (if yes hold for 4 weeks and receive primary care provider's approval); Niacin; Fibrates; thiazolidinediones; Beta-blockers; Oral or injected corticosteroids or anabolic steroids; any history of use of pioglitazone; atypical antipsychotics. * Allergy to lidocaine. * Allergy to Niaspan documented by immunological testing. * Allergy to indocyanine green.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Mayo Clinic
RECRUITINGRochester, Minnesota, 55904, United States