NCT03098433

Effects of Liothyronine on Energy Expenditure and Cardiovascular Function

Completed Phase 1, PHASE2 Results posted Last updated 26 March 2021

What this trial tests

Phase 1, PHASE2 trial testing Liothyronine in Healthy in 22 participants. Completed in 24 June 2019.

Timeline

20 October 2017

Primary endpoint
24 June 2019

24 June 2019

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Virginia Commonwealth University
Phase	Phase 1, PHASE2
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	crossover
Masking	triple
Primary purpose	other
Enrollment	22
Start date	20 October 2017
Primary completion	24 June 2019
Estimated completion	24 June 2019
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• Liothyronine (LIOTHYRONINE) — full drug profile →
• Levothyroxine (levothyroxine) — full drug profile →
• Placebos — full drug profile →

Conditions studied

• Healthy — all drugs for Healthy →

Sponsor

Virginia Commonwealth University

Who can join

Adults 18 to 45, any sex, with Healthy. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Cardiac Output Primary · five hours

Cardiac output measured by Echocaridogram, Difference in Stroke Volume Pre- and Post- Drug Administration

Liothyronine

Group	Value	95% CI
Three Treatments in Random Order	-3.7	± 8.8

Levothyroxine

Group	Value	95% CI
Three Treatments in Random Order	-1.4	± 6.5

Placebo

Group	Value	95% CI
Three Treatments in Random Order	1	± 6.2

Energy Expenditure Secondary · five hours

Energy expenditure measured by Whole-Room Indirect Calorimeter, Difference in energy Expenditure Pre- and Post- Drug Administration Kcal

Liothyronine

Group	Value	95% CI
Three Treatments in Random Order	0.006	± 0.067

Levothyroxine

Group	Value	95% CI
Three Treatments in Random Order	-0.05	± 0.058

Placebo

Group	Value	95% CI
Three Treatments in Random Order	-0.007	± 0.062

Sponsor's own description

This study will assess the short term effects of a single dose of liothyronine on the cardiovascular system and energy expenditure

Publications & conference data

2 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Acute Effects of Liothyronine Administration on Cardiovascular System and Energy Metabolism in Healthy Volunteers.
   Chen S, Wohlford GF, Vecchie' A, Carbone S, et al · · 2022 · cited 3× · PMID 35295986 · DOI 10.3389/fendo.2022.843539
2. Chloroindazole based estrogen receptor β ligands with favorable pharmacokinetics promote functional remyelination and visual recovery.
   Feri M, Kim SH, Cardenas FD, Anderson AM, et al · · 2025 · PMID 41062626 · DOI 10.1038/s41598-025-20254-9