Trial Outcomes & Findings for Clinical and Imaging Trial of Uridine for Veterans With Suicidal Ideation (NCT NCT03265964)

NCT ID: NCT03265964

Last Updated: 2025-08-15

Results Overview

The hypothesis is that 4 weeks of uridine 2000 mg daily will decrease the probability and severity of suicidal ideation measured with the C-SSRS, compared with placebo. Scores range from 0 to 25 with higher scores representing more severe suicidal ideation.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE4

Target enrollment

75 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

4 weeks

Results posted on

2025-08-15

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Uridine
Subjects randomized to this study arm will receive uridine 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks Uridine: Uridine is the active treatment in this clinical trial.
Placebo
Subjects randomized to this arm of the study will receive placebo 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks. Placebo: Pill placebo is the inactive treatment comparator in this clinical trial.
Overall Study
STARTED
37
38
Overall Study
COMPLETED
32
35
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
5
3

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Clinical and Imaging Trial of Uridine for Veterans With Suicidal Ideation

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Uridine
n=37 Participants
Subjects randomized to this study arm will receive uridine 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks Uridine: Uridine is the active treatment in this clinical trial.
Placebo
n=38 Participants
Subjects randomized to this arm of the study will receive placebo 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks. Placebo: Pill placebo is the inactive treatment comparator in this clinical trial.
Total
n=75 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
37 Participants
n=99 Participants
38 Participants
n=107 Participants
75 Participants
n=206 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Age, Continuous
40.89 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.33 • n=99 Participants
37.65 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.14 • n=107 Participants
39.29 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.88 • n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
8 Participants
n=107 Participants
14 Participants
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
31 Participants
n=99 Participants
30 Participants
n=107 Participants
61 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
3 Participants
n=99 Participants
7 Participants
n=107 Participants
10 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
34 Participants
n=99 Participants
31 Participants
n=107 Participants
65 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
37 Participants
n=99 Participants
38 Participants
n=107 Participants
75 Participants
n=206 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: Participants who were non-adherent to the study protocol or had medication changes throughout the clinical trial were removed from this analysis.

The hypothesis is that 4 weeks of uridine 2000 mg daily will decrease the probability and severity of suicidal ideation measured with the C-SSRS, compared with placebo. Scores range from 0 to 25 with higher scores representing more severe suicidal ideation.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Uridine
n=29 Participants
Subjects randomized to this study arm will receive uridine 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks Uridine: Uridine is the active treatment in this clinical trial.
Placebo
n=26 Participants
Subjects randomized to this arm of the study will receive placebo 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks. Placebo: Pill placebo is the inactive treatment comparator in this clinical trial.
Change From Baseline in Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
Baseline: Week 0
13.69 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.04
14.46 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.73
Change From Baseline in Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
End of Treatment: Week 4
8.27 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.45
10.87 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.20

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: Participants who were non-adherent to the study protocol or had medication changes throughout the clinical trial were removed from this analysis.

The hypothesis is that 4 weeks of uridine 2000 mg daily will decrease the probability and severity of suicidal ideation measured with the BSSI compared with placebo. The BSSI is a 19 item measure on a 0-2 point scale for a range of 0-38, with higher scores indicating higher suicidal ideation or worse outcomes.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Uridine
n=29 Participants
Subjects randomized to this study arm will receive uridine 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks Uridine: Uridine is the active treatment in this clinical trial.
Placebo
n=26 Participants
Subjects randomized to this arm of the study will receive placebo 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks. Placebo: Pill placebo is the inactive treatment comparator in this clinical trial.
Change From Baseline in Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI)
Baseline: Week 0
14.52 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.26
17 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.78
Change From Baseline in Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI)
End of Treatment: Week 4
6.35 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.37
10.57 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.26

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 week

Population: Statistical outliers and motion-corrupted neuroimaging data were removed from this analysis.

The hypothesis is that Brain Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)/NAA levels will show a greater increase after 1 week, in uridine-treated vs. placebo-treated veterans with suicidal ideation. Proton-1 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a safe and non-invasive method for in-vivo measurement of brain chemistry relevant to mental health, including the neurotransmitters, glutamate, glutamine, and GABA.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Uridine
n=31 Participants
Subjects randomized to this study arm will receive uridine 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks Uridine: Uridine is the active treatment in this clinical trial.
Placebo
n=33 Participants
Subjects randomized to this arm of the study will receive placebo 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks. Placebo: Pill placebo is the inactive treatment comparator in this clinical trial.
Change From Baseline in Brain Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)/NAA Levels, Measured With Proton-1 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) Neuroimaging
0.00113 ratio of GABA/NAA
Standard Deviation 0.0327
0.00564 ratio of GABA/NAA
Standard Deviation 0.0279

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 week

Population: Statistical outliers and motion-corrupted neuroimaging data were removed from this analysis.

Proton-1 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a safe and non-invasive method for in-vivo measurement of brain chemistry relevant to mental health, including the neurometabolites, choline and N-acetylaspartate.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Uridine
n=31 Participants
Subjects randomized to this study arm will receive uridine 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks Uridine: Uridine is the active treatment in this clinical trial.
Placebo
n=33 Participants
Subjects randomized to this arm of the study will receive placebo 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks. Placebo: Pill placebo is the inactive treatment comparator in this clinical trial.
Change From Baseline in Brain Total Choline/N-acetylaspartate (NAA) Levels, Measured With Proton-1 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) Neuroimaging
0.00461 ratio of tCho/NAA
Standard Deviation 0.012
-0.00117 ratio of tCho/NAA
Standard Deviation 0.0106

Adverse Events

Uridine

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 21 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 27 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Uridine
n=37 participants at risk
Subjects randomized to this study arm will receive uridine 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks Uridine: Uridine is the active treatment in this clinical trial.
Placebo
n=38 participants at risk
Subjects randomized to this arm of the study will receive placebo 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks. Placebo: Pill placebo is the inactive treatment comparator in this clinical trial.
Psychiatric disorders
Suicidal Ideation/Behavior
0.00%
0/37 • 4 weeks
2.6%
1/38 • 4 weeks

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Uridine
n=37 participants at risk
Subjects randomized to this study arm will receive uridine 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks Uridine: Uridine is the active treatment in this clinical trial.
Placebo
n=38 participants at risk
Subjects randomized to this arm of the study will receive placebo 2000 mg daily by mouth for 4 weeks. Placebo: Pill placebo is the inactive treatment comparator in this clinical trial.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Abdominal cramp, Nausea, Indigestion, Diarrhea
35.1%
13/37 • 4 weeks
36.8%
14/38 • 4 weeks
Nervous system disorders
Headache, lightheadedness
13.5%
5/37 • 4 weeks
15.8%
6/38 • 4 weeks
Psychiatric disorders
Psychiatric
5.4%
2/37 • 4 weeks
10.5%
4/38 • 4 weeks
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Respiratory
2.7%
1/37 • 4 weeks
10.5%
4/38 • 4 weeks

Additional Information

Dr. Douglas Kondo

VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, VISN 19 Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention

Phone: 801-587-1549

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place