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NCT00538070 · ClinicalTrials.gov registry record · NA
A Study of the Effects of Sarcosine on Symptoms and Brain Glycine Levels in People With Schizophrenia
A NA study of Schizophrenia, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital.
- Completed
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 68
- Enrollment target
- 2
- Study locations
NCT00538070: Completed NA study of Schizophrenia, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital.
NCT00538070 is a NA study of Schizophrenia that has completed, run by Massachusetts General Hospital. The registered enrollment target is 68 participants, below the 219-participant average among 315 other Schizophrenia trials with a reported enrollment target (69% lower). The trial reports 2 study locations across 1 state. According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the official US trial registry.
The verdict
NCT00538070, a NA study of Schizophrenia, has completed, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital.
- COMPLETED
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 68 participants
- Enrollment target
- 2
- Study locations
Study Summary
The NMDA receptor has been identified as having a role in substance use disorders as well as in schizophrenia. One example of the former is nicotine's effect on dopaminergic activity not only by increasing the release of dopamine in the Midbrain reward centers, but also through less direct mechanisms affecting alpha-7 nicotinic receptors, NMDA receptors, and Glycine, a co-agonist for the NMDA receptors. In terms of schizophrenia, it has been hypothesized that NMDA receptor hypofunction plays a role in the mechanism for negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in these patients. The NMDA hypofunction may be reversed with increased synaptic glycine availability. Sarcosine, or n-methyl-glycine, is a GlyT-1 and System A transport inhibitor actions which could be expected to increase the availability of glycine, in the synaptic space. Sarcosine is a dietary supplement which could be found in several food items such as egg yolks and turkey. Our collaborative team has developed a novel, non-invasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) technique for measuring brain glycine changes that allows us to study glycine homeostasis. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of sarcosine (n-methyl-glycine) on brain glycine concentrations. It is our hypothesis that oral sarcosine, at a dose of 2 grams per day, will be well tolerated and associated with increased brain glycine concentrations. It is our secondary exploratory hypothesis that increases in brain glycine will be associated with behavioral signs of increased NMDA and dopamine activity. This modulation could have future therapeutic potential for disorders of hedonic and cognitive function.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT Sarcosine
Study Locations (2)
Massachusetts
- McLean Hospital, Brain Imaging Center - Belmont
- MGH Center for Addiction Medicine - Boston
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 68 participants |
| Start Date | 2007-08 |
| Est. Completion | 2012-07 |
| Phase | NA |
What the finished NCT00538070 record still lists
NCT00538070 is an interventional study that assigns participants to a tested intervention. The registry caps enrollment at 68 participants, a relatively small participant target, below the 219-participant average among 315 other Schizophrenia trials with a reported enrollment target (69% lower).
The record links to 1 condition, with Schizophrenia appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 1 intervention - of which Sarcosine is the first listed.
NCT00538070 reports a single indexed study location in Massachusetts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT00538070 about?
NCT00538070 is a clinical study titled "A Study of the Effects of Sarcosine on Symptoms and Brain Glycine Levels in People With Schizophrenia". The NMDA receptor has been identified as having a role in substance use disorders as well as in schizophrenia. One example of the former is nicotine's effect on dopaminergic activity not only by increasing the release of dopamine in the Midbrain reward centers, but also through less direct mechanism...
What is the current status of trial NCT00538070?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 68 participants. The study started on 2007-08. Estimated completion is 2012-07.
What conditions does trial NCT00538070 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Schizophrenia.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT00538070?
The interventions under investigation include: Sarcosine (DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT).
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT00538070?
This trial is sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital, which has 2,032 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Where is trial NCT00538070 being conducted?
This trial has 2 study locations across Massachusetts. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
Learn More About Clinical Trials
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Matched on the same primary condition, ranked to surface studies in the same phase first, then by recruiting status, no relevance scoring or editorial curation.
Where NCT00538070's enrollment target sits among peer trials
68 180th of 315 higher than 135 of 315 other Schizophrenia trials
participants (enrollment target), bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more other Schizophrenia trials. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source ClinicalTrials.gov registry export · 2026-08-08
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