NCT03615209

Effect of Vagus Stimulation on Peripheral Glucose Metabolism

Effekte Der Transkutanen Aurikularen Vagus-Nervenstimulation (tVNS) Auf Die Postprandiale Stoffwechselregulation im Menschen

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 15 (actual)
• Sponsor: University Hospital Tuebingen · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Two important mechanisms play a major role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes: insulin resistance of the target tissues and the impaired insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. Postprandial factors (such as insulin) are perceived by the human brain and induce signals that regulate glucose metabolism via the parasympathetic nervous system. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) can be used on the outer ear to stimulate the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in humans. Heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy people can be significantly increased via tVNS, indicating a shift from sympathetic activity to parasympathetic activity. The hypothesis is that this postprandial shift results in a change in peripheral glucose metabolism. In turn, the increased parasympathetic activity could potentially result in a change in postprandial insulin sensitivity or secretion. To test this hypothesis, this study investigates the effect of vagal stimulation versus sham stimulation on insulin sensitivity, on insulin secretion, glucose tolerance, resting energy expenditure, and on parasympathetic tone (analysis of heart rate variability).

Conditions

• Insulin Resistance
• Glucose Intolerance

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transauricular vagus nerve stimulation	Stimulation will be performed for 150 minutes (throughout the entire OGTT).
DEVICE	Transauricular sham stimulation	Sham stimulation will be performed for 150 minutes (throughout the entire OGTT)

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-07-25
• Primary completion: 2018-12-01
• Completion: 2018-12-20
• First posted: 2018-08-03
• Last updated: 2019-01-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Germany