Description

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an inherited disease that leads to the accumulation of porphobilinogen (PBG), resulting in severe abdominal pain, paralysis, fatigue, low-grade inflammation, and an increased risk of kidney failure and liver cancer. Studies at the cellular level and in mice have shown that elevated levels of glucose and insulin can affect heme synthesis, potentially reducing PBG levels. The investigators have previously demonstrated that individuals with AIP consume less carbohydrate (E% 40) than recommended. The investigators aim to conduct a crossover study involving 50 participants with AIP, where 50% will be subjected to a 4-week intervention with 60-65 E% carbohydrates, while the other half will consume 40-45 E% carbohydrates for 4 weeks. After a 4-week intervention-free period, the two groups will switch to the respective carbohydrate percentages. Symptoms, PBG levels, continuous tissue glucose, plasma/serum insulin, glucose, cytokines, amino acid levels, microbiota in the gut, body composition, and physical activity measured using accelerometers will be assessed before and after each intervention and compared. Mitochondrial activity will be assessed at the cellular level as oxidative activity. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA and RNA will also be examined since defects in oxidative energy metabolism are known to be associated with inflammation and cancer. The work will be carried out at Nordland Hospital and at the University of Oslo. The study will be coordinated and conducted by the Postdoc and partners at Nordland Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm and Norrland University Hospital, Umeå, the University of Oslo, the Arctic University of Tromsø, and Nord University. Clinical nutritionists will create dietary plans, and bioengineers will perform analyses. Stay abroad for postdoc, and research cooperation, with porphyria researchers at UTMB, Texas and MGH, Boston, US.