NCT03467438

Efficacy of Zinc L-carnosine in Maintaining Remission of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Efficacy of Zinc L-carnosine (Hepilor®) in Maintaining Remission of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: a Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to the Montreal classification, is defined as a condition that develops when the reflux of stomach contents causes troublesome symptoms and/or complications. GERD, as clinically defined by the presence of heartburn, acid regurgitation, or both, at least once a week, is a global disease, being one of the most common gastroenterological disorders worldwide that affects roughly 10-30% of the general population in the Western world and less than 10% of the Asian populations. GERD complications may be life threatening and range from reflux esophagitis to Barrett's oesophagus and, eventually, adenocarcinoma. Zinc L-carnosine (brand name in Italy: Hepilor®) is a chelate compound of zinc and L-carnosine, with a long history of more than 20 years of clinical use in Japan that has recently become available in Italy for the treatment of any condition that requires a mucosal protection and mucosal repair within the gastrointestinal tract, thus including GERD. However, clinical data in western countries are limited. The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study is to demonstrate the efficacy of Zinc-l-carnosine in maintaining GERD clinical remission during a 12-week treatment.

Detailed description

The investigators hypothesise that Zinc-l-carnosine is able to maintain GERD remission, thus improving the quality of life of these patients. A comparison with a placebo is necessary, as GERD symptoms may be heavily influenced by the nocebo/placebo effect. This is a post-marketing, single center, double-blind, and randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Patients with GERD treated with an 8-week cours of proton pump inhibitors will be randomize and receive either Zinc-l-carnosine or placebo for 12-week. GERD symptoms will be assessed with a questionnaire (modified GERD questionnaire by Locke) monthly for 12 weeks and after a 4-week wash-out. Also, quality of life will be assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks with the 36-item short form survey (SF-36).

Conditions

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Zinc-l-carnosine	Patients will be asked to take the investigational product as already mentioned (blindly).
OTHER	Placebo	Patients will be asked to take placebo as already mentioned (blindly).

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-11-22
• Primary completion: 2020-04-01
• Completion: 2021-04-01
• First posted: 2018-03-16
• Last updated: 2019-02-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Italy