Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37495576›Full record

Trial reportNature communications2023

Effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes.

Doris R Pierce, Malcolm McDonald, Lea Merone, Luke Becker, Fintan Thompson, Chris Lewis, Rachael Y M Ryan, Sze Fui Hii, Patsy A Zendejas-Heredia, Rebecca J Traub and 6 more

Open access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Nature communications, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed
6.2field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.

Doris R PierceCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Malcolm McDonaldCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Lea MeroneCollege of Health Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Luke BeckerCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6834-7850
Fintan ThompsonCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Chris LewisCollege of Health Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Rachael Y M RyanCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Sze Fui HiiMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Patsy A Zendejas-HerediaMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4072-7728
Rebecca J TraubMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Matthew A FieldCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0788-6513
Tony RahmanThe Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5551-4688
John CroeseCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Alex LoukasCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Robyn McDermottCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Paul R GiacominCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia. paul.giacomin@jcu.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-6326-6792
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine · AUThe University of Melbourne · AUJames Cook University · AUUniversity of South Australia · AUGarvan Institute of Medical Research · AUPrince Charles Hospital · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The reduced prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in countries with endemic parasitic worm infections suggests a protective role for worms against metabolic disorders, however clinical evidence has been non-existent. This 2-year randomised, double-blinded clinical trial in Australia of hookworm infection in 40 male and female adults at risk of type 2 diabetes assessed the safety and potential metabolic benefits of treatment with either 20 (n = 14) or 40 (n = 13) Necator americanus larvae (L3) or Placebo (n = 13) (Registration ACTRN12617000818336). Primary outcome was safety defined by adverse events and completion rate. Homoeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose and body mass were key secondary outcomes. Adverse events were more frequent in hookworm-treated participants, where 44% experienced expected gastrointestinal symptoms, but completion rates were comparable to Placebo. Fasting glucose and insulin resistance were lowered in both hookworm-treated groups at 1 year, and body mass was reduced after L3-20 treatment at 2 years. This study suggests hookworm infection is safe in people at risk of type 2 diabetes and associated with improved insulin resistance, warranting further exploration of the benefits of hookworms on metabolic health.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Hookworm InfectionsInsulin ResistanceAdultAnimalsFastingFemaleHumansMaleNecator americanus

Identifiers

PMID37495576
PMCPMC10372076
OpenAlexW4385289386

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.