Upper Body Subcutaneous Exosome Release in Response to a Meal in Obesity

Launched by MAYO CLINIC · Jun 18, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at how fat tissue just under the skin in the upper body responds after eating a mixed meal, especially comparing people with obesity to those with normal weight. Researchers want to understand how tiny particles called exosomes, which cells release and use to communicate, behave in this fat tissue and in the blood after a meal. This might help us learn more about how obesity affects the body’s response to food.

The study is open to adults of all genders, but women must be premenopausal (meaning they have not yet gone through menopause). People who take certain medications that affect blood flow or fat metabolism, have diabetes or heart disease, are pregnant, or allergic to lidocaine (a numbing medicine) cannot join. Participants will have a small tube placed in a vein near the upper belly to collect samples before and after eating. This helps researchers study the fat tissue’s response in detail. The study is not yet enrolling volunteers but aims to include those between about 65 and 75 years old.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • • All women must be premenopausal
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Participants taking medications know to affect blood flow (statins, β-blockers) or fatty acid or adipose tissue metabolism (TZDs, high dose fish oil supplements)
• • Diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease
• • Allergy to lidocaine
• • Post-menopausal women
• • Pregnant