Probing the Role of Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress in Impaired Vascular Function Among Young Adults With Early Life Adversity

Part of paid clinical trials in Iowa City, Iowa.

Sponsor
University of Iowa
Study ID
NCT07244809
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Adverse Childhood Experience
  • Endothelial Function (FMD)
  • Endothelial Injury
  • Mitochondrial Function
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Psychosocial Influence on Cardiovascular Disease

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 29 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Mitoquinone mesylate (MitoQ) — DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
    Participants will consume a single 160 mg dose of mitoquinone mesylate, provided in the form of 6, 20 mg capsules, with water.
  • Placebo — DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
    Participants will consume a single 160 mg dose of microcrystalline cellulose and tapioca (placebo), provided in 20 mg capsules, with water.

Study Details

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) represent highly stressful events in the first 18 years of life that include abuse, neglect, and household and community-level dysfunction. Greater exposure to ACEs are associated with greater increases in the risk of cardiovascular diseases and death. Our laboratory has previously observed that vascular function is disrupted in young adults with prior ACE exposure, even though these individuals appear to be healthy clinically (i.e., no classic clinical cardiovascular disease risk factors). There is a need to identify and understand the biological mechanisms underlying these vascular impairments to inform effective interventions to reduce cardiovascular risks the millions of individuals affected by ACEs. The body's response to stress is coordinated across various systems, all of which depend on energy supplied by mitochondria (often referred to as the "powerhouse of cells"). Based on new evidence across multiple physiological systems from our team, our overarching hypothesis is that disruption of mitochondrial function contributes to cardiovascular impairments among young adults with ACEs. Here we propose the initial pilot work necessary to begin to understand these associations, which will directly inform identification of individuals who may be most vulnerable to stress-related cardiovascular risk and the development of interventions to promote cardiovascular-stress resilience. Our aims are to: 1. Determine whether mitochondrial oxidative stress contributes to impaired vascular function among young adults who experienced early life adversity. 2. Determine whether reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress improves the cellular stress and integrated cardiovascular response to laboratory-based psychosocial stress among young adults who experienced early life adversity.

Key Dates

Start date
Oct 13, 2025
Status verified
Nov 2025
Primary completion
Jul 31, 2026
Completion
Dec 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
300 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Mitoquinone Mesylate (MitoQ)
    Mitoquinone Mesylate (160 mg, single dose)
  • Placebo Comparator: Placebo
    Matched placebo (microcrystalline cellulose and tapioca, 160 mg, single dose)

Primary Outcome Measure

Vascular endothelial function [ Time Frame: Prior to supplementation and 60 minutes after supplementation ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Integrative Laboratory of Applied Physiology and Lifestyle MedicineIowa CityIowa52242
Nathaniel Jenkins, PhD
[email protected]
3194673091

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By research site
Integrative Laboratory of Applied Physiology and Lifestyle Medicine· Iowa City, IA

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