Trial Outcomes & Findings for Effects of Pioglitazone on Exogenous Carbohydrate Oxidation During Steady-State Exercise at High Altitude (NCT NCT06164665)

NCT ID: NCT06164665

Last Updated: 2026-03-19

Results Overview

Determine the effects of PIO on exogenous glucose oxidation (g/min) during exercise under acute HA exposure compared to PLA

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE4

Target enrollment

9 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

8 hours

Results posted on

2026-03-19

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Pioglitazone First, Then Placebo
Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Followed by: Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos
Placebo First, Then Pioglitazone
Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos followed by; Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days
First Intervention (5 days)
STARTED
4
4
First Intervention (5 days)
COMPLETED
3
4
First Intervention (5 days)
NOT COMPLETED
1
0
Washout (2 weeks)
STARTED
3
4
Washout (2 weeks)
COMPLETED
3
4
Washout (2 weeks)
NOT COMPLETED
0
0
Second Intervention (5 days)
STARTED
3
4
Second Intervention (5 days)
COMPLETED
3
4
Second Intervention (5 days)
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Pioglitazone First, Then Placebo
Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Followed by: Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos
Placebo First, Then Pioglitazone
Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos followed by; Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days
First Intervention (5 days)
Adverse Event
1
0

Baseline Characteristics

Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Pioglitazone First, Then Placebo
n=4 Participants
Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Followed by: Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos
Placebo First, Then Placebo
n=4 Participants
Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos Followed by: Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days
Total
n=8 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=8 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
4 Participants
n=4 Participants
4 Participants
n=4 Participants
8 Participants
n=8 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=8 Participants
Age, Continuous
22 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4 • n=4 Participants
26 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8 • n=4 Participants
23 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6 • n=8 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=8 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
4 Participants
n=4 Participants
4 Participants
n=4 Participants
8 Participants
n=8 Participants
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
0 Participants
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.
Region of Enrollment
United States
4 participants
n=4 Participants
4 participants
n=4 Participants
8 participants
n=8 Participants
High Altitude VO2peak
31 ml/kg/min
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2 • n=4 Participants
35 ml/kg/min
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4 • n=4 Participants
33 ml/kg/min
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3 • n=8 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 8 hours

Determine the effects of PIO on exogenous glucose oxidation (g/min) during exercise under acute HA exposure compared to PLA

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pioglitazone
n=7 Participants
Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days
Placebo
n=7 Participants
Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos
Rate of Exogenous Glucose Oxidation
0.31 g/min
Standard Deviation 0.03
0.32 g/min
Standard Deviation 0.09

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 8 hours

Determine the effects of PIO on inflammation during acute HA exposure compared to PLA.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pioglitazone
n=7 Participants
Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days
Placebo
n=7 Participants
Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos
Concentration of Interleukin-6
2.51 pg/mL
Standard Deviation 0.61
2.57 pg/mL
Standard Deviation 1.34

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 8 hours

Determine the effects of PIO on markers of iron status during acute HA exposure compared to PLA

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pioglitazone
n=7 Participants
Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days
Placebo
n=7 Participants
Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos
Concentration of Serum Hemoglobin
15.2 g/dL
Standard Deviation 0.8
15.0 g/dL
Standard Deviation 0.6

Adverse Events

Pioglitazone

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

Placebo

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

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Pioglitazone
n=8 participants at risk
Pioglitazone administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days Pioglitazone 15mg: Pioglitazone (PIO) will be administered as a 15 mg oral dose per day for 5 days
Placebo
n=7 participants at risk
Microcrystalline cellulose pill administered as an oral dose per day for 5 days Placebo: 100% microcrystalline cellulos
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea
12.5%
1/8 • Number of events 1 • 8 hours
0.00%
0/7 • 8 hours

Additional Information

Dr. Lee Margolis

USARIEM

Phone: 508-206-2335

Results disclosure agreements

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