'GutFood' - Effect of a Food Intervention With a Prebiotic Alone or Combined With B-vitamins on Gut Microbiota Diversity, Inflammation and Mental Health Outcomes in Older Adults
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- University of Ulster
- Enrollment
- 84
- Locations
- 1
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Ageing is associated with changes in gut microbiota composition, increased inflammation, and a greater risk of poor mental health outcomes. Nutritional inadequacies, including low dietary fibre intake and suboptimal B-vitamin status, are common in older adults and may contribute to these age-related health issues. Research suggests that increasing dietary fibre intake, particularly through prebiotics such as inulin, may help to improve gut health. In addition, B-vitamins have been linked to both gut and mental health, although their combined effects with prebiotics are not well understood.
With the assistance of a food company, the investigators have developed a functional drink enriched with chicory inulin, alone or in combination with B-vitamins. Therefore, the investigators plan to conduct a 12-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to test the effect of this functional drink on gut health outcomes, nutritional status, inflammation, and mental health in adults aged 50 years and older.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Investigator)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 50 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Community-dwelling
- •Non or low consumers (≤ 4 portions/week) of foods/beverages fortified with B-vitamins
- •Individuals with the capacity to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •B12 injection users
- •Using supplements containing the nutrients of interest (B-vitamins, inulin, probiotics)
- •Taking medications that interfere with B-vitamin metabolism
- •Currently taking antibiotics
- •GI disease (Crohn's, coeliac)
- •Serious chronic disease (e.g. cancer, liver disease)
Investigators
Leane Hoey
Dr
University of Ulster