Clinical Trial: Effect of the Diet on Urinary Excretion of Alpha-ketoglutarate

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional



Official Title: Effect of a Meat Versus Vegetarian Diet in 12 Healthy Volunteers on the Excretion of Alpha-ketoglutarate Measured in 24-hours Urine

Brief Summary:

  • The G coupled-protein receptors 99 (GPR99) was discovered in 2002 by Wittenberg et al. and is involved as a metabolic receptor. It has been shown that the natural ligand of GPR99 is an intermediate in the Krebs cycle, alpha-ketoglutarate (aKG). Studies done on rats have shown that aKG is measurable in the blood, freely filtered by the glomerulus and highly reabsorbed in the proximal tubule in metabolic acidosis, while it is not reabsorbed in metabolic alkalosis. No absorption or secretion of aKG intervene between the end of the proximal tubule and the final urine. Thus, having a receptor aKG in the distal tubule creates a paracrine communication with the proximal tubule, informing about the acid-base status of the body and allows adjustment of the urinary excretion of acid or base.
  • The hypothesis is that GPR99 is aKG sensor in the distal tubules and allow to report the acid-base status (determined by the metabolic activity of the proximal tubule) of the body to the distal tubule. This can then adapt the urinary excretion of acid or base in the final urine. Acidifying the body by a high meat consumption associated with a test of acidification, the kidney should reduce its aKG excretion and the concentration of this metabolite should be even lower in the urine. And vice versa in the case of alkalizing the body through a vegetarian diet associated with an alkalizing test.

  • Twelve healthy omnivorous volunteers will be selected. First inclusion visit includes verification of inclusion/exclusion criteria and signed informed consent. Urine and plasma baseline measurements will be performed and volunteers will meet a dietician. This person will tell them concerning meat and vegetarian diet as well as how to have a diet with 6g of salt per day.Volunteers are then randomized in order t