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Updated: Oct 6, 2025
On-Chip Endothelial Inflammatory Phenotyping
Published on: July 21, 2012
The effect of trehalose administration on vascular inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease
Tannaz Jamialahmadi1, Farshad Emami2, Ramin Khameneh Bagheri3
1Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Background:
In recent years, several trials investigated the role of anti-inflammatory agents in reducing cardiovascular events. Trehalose is a natural disaccharide able to reduce inflammation by enhancing macrophage autophagic activity. This action has been demonstrated to attenuate atherosclerotic plaque development in various pro-atherogenic animal models. However, at present, no data about the efficacy of this compound in human subjects have been published.
Methods:
We performed a randomized, double-blind trial involving 15 patients with history of myocardial infarction and evidence of systemic inflammation (defined as C-reactive protein > 2 mg/L). The patients were randomly assigned, in 2:1 ratio, to receive either intravenous trehalose (15 g once weekly) or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy end-point was the change in arterial wall inflammation, assessed by quantifying 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake in carotid arteries and ascending aorta.
Results:
The MDS TBR change of the index vessel at 3-month follow-up was not significant in treatment and placebo groups. Furthermore, we could not demonstrate any significant difference between the trehalose group and control group in changes of cIMT from baseline to 3 months in the overall population. No significant changes in echocardiographic measurement were noted after trehalose treatment. Except for the change in urea level in placebo group (31.00 ± 6.59 vs. 25.60 ± 6.402 P = 0.038) no other changes were detected after treatment. Also, there was a significant difference between changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) trehalose and placebo groups.
Conclusion:
This was the first study that specifically assessed the effects of intravenous trehalose on atherogenesis in human subjects. Trehalose treatment was characterized by an optimal safety profile, but no significant reduction in arterial wall inflammation could be observed. This might be a consequence of the small sample size of this trial. Larger studies are needed to better assess the efficacy of this compound in this clinical context.
Insights
This study investigated trehalose for reducing arterial inflammation in heart attack patients. While safe, trehalose did not significantly reduce inflammation, suggesting larger trials are needed to confirm its cardiovascular benefits.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Inflammation Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cardiovascular events are a major health concern, with anti-inflammatory agents being investigated as a therapeutic strategy.
- Trehalose, a natural disaccharide, reduces inflammation by enhancing macrophage autophagy, a mechanism shown to attenuate atherosclerosis in animal models.
- No prior human studies have evaluated trehalose's efficacy in reducing cardiovascular inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of intravenous trehalose in reducing arterial wall inflammation in patients with a history of myocardial infarction and systemic inflammation.
- To evaluate the safety and tolerability of trehalose treatment in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 15 patients experiencing myocardial infarction and elevated C-reactive protein (> 2 mg/L).
- Patients received either intravenous trehalose (15 g weekly) or placebo for 12 weeks.
- Arterial wall inflammation was primarily assessed using 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake in the carotid arteries and ascending aorta.
Main Results:
- No significant reduction in arterial wall inflammation was observed in the trehalose group compared to placebo, as measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT or carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT).
- Echocardiographic measurements showed no significant changes post-treatment.
- Trehalose demonstrated an optimal safety profile, with no significant adverse events reported, although changes in urea and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were noted between groups.
Conclusions:
- This first-in-human study found that intravenous trehalose was safe but did not significantly reduce arterial wall inflammation in patients with recent myocardial infarction.
- The lack of efficacy may be attributed to the small sample size.
- Larger clinical trials are warranted to definitively determine trehalose's potential role in managing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.
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