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Effects of Maple Syrup on Gut Microbiota Diversity and Metabolic Syndrome

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Overweight
Endotoxemia
Metabolic Syndrome
Microbiota
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Insulin Resistance
Interventions
Other: Maple syrup
Other: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT04117802
Lead Sponsor
Laval University
Brief Summary

It has been suggested that the actual obesity epidemy is related to chronic overconsumption of added or free sugars. The increasing popularity of artificial sweeteners attest the population willingness to reduce added sugars intake and to use alternatives to alleviate health impact of free sugar overconsumption. However, recent findings suggest that artificial sweeteners may rather contribute to obesity epidemy and its associated adverse health effects, potentially via a negative impact on gut microbiota. It has been shown in various studies that, for the same amount of sucrose, unrefined sugars (such as maple syrup) are associated with favorable metabolic effects. The polyphenols contained in maple syrup, especially lignans, could contribute to these positive effects. Indeed, the strong impact of those biomolecules on the modulation of gut microbiota and on gastro-intestinal and metabolic health has been demonstrated in several studies. It is therefore highly relevant to test the hypothesis that the substitution of refined sugar by an equivalent amount of maple syrup (5% of daily energy intake) result in a lesser metabolic deterioration, by the modulation of maple syrup on gut microbiota, than the one observed with refined sugar.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
47
Inclusion Criteria
  • BMI between 23 and 40 kg/m2
  • At least one of the following: Fasting triglyceride > 1,35 mmol/L, Fasting insulinemia > 42 pmol/L, fasting glycemia between 5,5 and 6,9 mmol/L and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) between 5.7 and 6.4 %
  • Understanding of spoken and written french
  • Accept to follow study instructions
  • If there is natural health product consumption, the dose and frequency of consumption must be stable since 3 months or more
Exclusion Criteria
  • Smoking
  • Any metabolic disorder requiring medication or affecting glucose or lipid metabolism
  • Aversion for maple taste
  • Allergy or intolerance for maple syrup or for an ingredient of the placebo syrup
  • Alcohol consumption of > 2 drinks / day
  • Weight change > 5% of body weight in the last 3 months
  • Being in a weight loss attempt
  • Antibiotics intake in the last 3 months
  • Regular probiotics intake in the last 3 months
  • Major surgical operation in the last 3 months or planned in the next months
  • Gastrointestinal malabsorption
  • Cirrhosis
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women or women planning pregnancy in the next months
  • Participation in another clinical trial

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
MapleMaple syrup-
PlaceboPlacebo-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Glucose homeostasisChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of plasma glucose, insulin and c-peptide concentration using a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in anthropometric measurementsChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of waist circumference

Change in Lipid profileChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of plasma triglycerides (TG), Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Apolipoprotein B and free fatty acids end of two dietary treatment

Change in Intestinal permeabilityChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Plasma zonulin

Change in Short chain fatty acids in the fecesChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Measure short chain fatty acids in the feces

Change in fat accumulation in the liverChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of fat accumulation by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Change in Glucose homeostasisChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of glycated haemoglobin

Change in EndotoxemiaChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Plasma Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein (LBP)

Change in Inflammation state of the tissueChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Fecal calprotectin and chromogranin

Change in Gut health and stool consistencyChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms and stool consistency using standardized questionnaires (the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) and Bristol stool chart)

Change in body compositionChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of body composition by osteodensitometry

Change in Gut Microbiota alpha DiversityChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

To quantify bacterial alpha diversity, Simpson's reciprocal index will be calculated

Change in gene expression levelsChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Transcriptomic analyses to investigate underlying mechanisms of action

Change in chronic inflammationChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of plasma high sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)

Change in maple-derived metabolites present in stoolChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of metabolome: camu-camu derived metabolites, short chain fatty acids, branched chain fatty acids, bile acids, phenolic compounds

Change in Gut Microbiota CompositionChange between the beginning and the end of maple syrup treatment (8 weeks)

Gut microbiota composition will also be evaluated by whole genome sequencing

Change in circulating levels of plasma metabolitesChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Metabolomic analyses to investigate underlying mechanisms of action

Change in blood pressureChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Evaluation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure

Change in Gut Microbiota beta DiversityChange between the beginning and the end of each treatment (8 weeks each)

Principal component analysis (PCA) will be performed on the Aitchison distance matrix to measure beta diversity.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

INAF, Université Laval

🇨🇦

Québec, Canada

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