Extra-calorie tube feeding for people with ALS

Trial details

Who runs it

University of Ulm

Trial code

NCT06877143

Record updated

6 May 2026

Original description

Weight loss is a known negative prognostic factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Over the last years, various interventional studies targeting the energy deficit in ALS yielded promising results; however,it is still unclear which kind of nutrition or nutritional supplement is most beneficial. Moreover, there is lack of evidence regarding interventions in patients with a PEG in later disease stages.In a pilot study conducted in 2013, it was demonstrated that body weight can be stabilized in ALS by applying either a fat-rich or carbohydrate-rich high-caloric food supplement. In 2014, Wills et al. conducted a placebo-controlled randomized controlled pilot study, which indicated that a carbohydrate-rich, hypercaloric diet, consisting in 125% of estimated energy requirements as determined by indirect calorimetry, in patients fed via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was safe and well tolerated. Moreover, these patients showed longer survival than patients fed with a fat-rich, hypercaloric diet or an isocaloric diet . Hypercaloric, high-carbohydrate diet also showed beneficial effects on body weight and Body Mass Index . Although these results were promising, the low number of patients (n=24) was a severe limiting factor of this study. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a hypercaloric PEG nutrition, consisting of 120% of estimated calorie requierements, compared to an isocaloric nutrition. Individual energy requirement is determined by performing indirect calorimetry and activity questionnaire. The investigators hypothsize, that a hypercaloric PEG nutrition slows down disease progression as measured by neurofilament light chains (NfL) in serum after 6 months compared to placebo. Power calculation relies on the results of the lipids and calories for ALS (LIPCAL-ALS) study which tested the effect of an oral high-caloric fatty nutritional supplement in ALS. The study revealed that NfL serum values declined significantly in the intervention group while remaining stable in the placebo group over the course of the study. Assuming a similar effect size, we calculated that 76 patients had to be included in the current trial.Read full original descriptionShow less

Hypercaloric PEG Nutrition in ALS to Sustain Energy Homeostasis

Weight loss is a known negative prognostic factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Over the last years, various interventional studies targeting the energy deficit in ALS yielded promising results; however,it is still unclear which kind of nutrition or nutritional supplement is most beneficial. Moreover, there is lack of evidence regarding interventions in patients with a PEG in later disease stages.In a pilot study conducted in 2013, it was demonstrated that body weight can be stabilized in ALS by applying either a fat-rich or carbohydrate-rich high-caloric food supplement. In 2014, Wills et al. conducted a placebo-controlled randomized controlled pilot study, which indicated that a carbohydrate-rich, hypercaloric diet, consisting in 125% of estimated energy requirements as determined by indirect calorimetry, in patients fed via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was safe and well tolerated. Moreover, these patients showed longer survival than patients fed with a fat-rich, hypercaloric diet or an isocaloric diet . Hypercaloric, high-carbohydrate diet also showed beneficial effects on body weight and Body Mass Index . Although these results were promising, the low number of patients (n=24) was a severe limiting factor of this study. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a hypercaloric PEG nutrition, consisting of 120% of estimated calorie requierements, compared to an isocaloric nutrition. Individual energy requirement is determined by performing indirect calorimetry and activity questionnaire. The investigators hypothsize, that a hypercaloric PEG nutrition slows down disease progression as measured by neurofilament light chains (NfL) in serum after 6 months compared to placebo. Power calculation relies on the results of the lipids and calories for ALS (LIPCAL-ALS) study which tested the effect of an oral high-caloric fatty nutritional supplement in ALS. The study revealed that NfL serum values declined significantly in the intervention group while remaining stable in the placebo group over the course of the study. Assuming a similar effect size, we calculated that 76 patients had to be included in the current trial.

Inclusion: Possible, probable (clinically or laboratory) or definite ALS according to the revised version of the El Escorial World Federation of Neurology criteria 1; Loss of ALS functional rating scale revised (ALSFRS-R) of ≥ 0.33 points per month since onset (first paresis) based on the formula: (48 - Score at Screening Visit) / (Months between Onset and Screening Visit); Nutrition via PEG; Age ≥18 years; Intake of a stable dose of riluzole for at least 4 weeks, or no riluzole; Capable of thoroughly understanding all information given and giving full informed consent according to GCP.

Exclusion: Previous participation in another interventional study within the preceding 4 weeks; Evidence of a major psychiatric disorder or clinically evident dementia; Absence of adequate social support and cooperation, or personal motivation (in the judgment of the investigator) to complete the study satisfactorily; Pregnancy or breast-feeding females.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06877143