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The Impact of Food on Gut Microbiome Composition - a Clinical Trial Determining the Influence of Diet in Gut Microbiome Colonisation and Host Health

Early Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Healthy
Interventions
Other: Diet
Registration Number
NCT05986955
Lead Sponsor
Monash University
Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the impact of food derived bacteria on gut microbiome composition and host health. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* what is the the rate of gastrointestinal colonisation of food derived bacteria?

* what is the contribution of food derived bacteria to gut microbiome stability?

Participants will complete a cross over feeding study of dietitian designed meals of known microbial load and will be asked to provide stool and blood samples for analysis.

Detailed Description

To understand the role and stability of food derived bacteria in impacting microbiome composition, 20 healthy participants will be recruited for this single site double blinded randomised controlled crossover pilot trial. The study is divided into four 14 day diet phases - baseline habitual, specified diet 1, habitual washout and specified diet 2. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive a microbial or non-microbial diet in specified diet 1 phase. Each participant will then crossover to receive the alternative diet in the specified diet 2 phase. The microbial and non-microbial diets will be identical except for the removal of naturally occurring food derived bacteria in non-microbial diet. At the commencement of the study and at the end of each diet phase, participants will attend a research clinic to undergo comprehensive clinical and anthropometric assessment and dietary evaluation.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
25
Inclusion Criteria
  • Have no genetic conditions (e.g. Prader Willi or Down's Syndrome)
  • Not diagnosed with a significant medical conditions (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or type 1/2 diabetes)
  • Do not require drug-therapy (e.g. steroids or insulin or antibiotics)
  • Not taking dietary supplements, probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics or fibre supplementation
  • Any condition that will affect participation in the study
  • Not pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Able to complete a two-month dietary study and agree to eating all meals provided
  • Have no dietary allergies or dietary restrictions that prevent consumption of provided study meals
  • Open bowels regularly - mostly daily
  • Able to read, write and understand English
Exclusion Criteria
  • Dietary concerns identified by dietitian
  • Aged less than 18 years and older than 65 years
  • Diagnosed with a medical condition that requires drug therapy
  • Taking medications or supplements known to alter gastrointestinal microbiota
  • Women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Anyone with a diagnosed gastrointestinal condition/disease e.g. irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease
  • Known dietary allergy and/or intolerance, follows a vegan or vegetarian diet, or has coeliac disease
  • Anyone with a preference for specific food avoidance or exclusion of certain ingredients in habitual diet
  • Unable to tolerate blood collection procedures
  • Unable to provide regular stool samples throughout the study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Specified Diet 2 - Non-microbial DietDietDiet provided to participants is identical to Specified Diet 1 however after cooking and packaging, food for this arm will be sterilised by irradiation in line with International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards and Australian code of good manufacturing practice.
Specified Diet 1 - Microbial DietDietParticipants provided with a typical Australian diet including all food groups as described by the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating without any dietary exclusions. Meals have been designed by researchers and dietitians and prepared by professional chefs.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Characterisation of gut microbiomeDay 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14 of each phase

Sequencing and bacterial culturing of stool samples

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Participant weightWeight will be measured on day 14 (at end of each diet phase (fortnightly))

Measured using balance scales

Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressureBlood pressure will be measured on day 14 (at end of each diet phase (fortnightly))

Measured using digital blood pressure monitor

Habitual dietary intakeDaily throughout 14-day baseline habitual and habitual washout phases

Using research food diary mobile phone application

Participant body mass index (BMI)BMI will be calculated on day 14 (at end of each diet phase (fortnightly))

Assessed independently using height and weight measurements and appropriate formula

Participant Hip circumferenceBaseline day 1 and end of each 14-day diet phase

Measured using standard measuring tape

Mental Health AssessmentCompleted at day 1 and end of study (day 56)

Perceived Stress Scale survey completed by participants

Participant standing heightHeight will be measured on day 14 (at end of each diet phase (fortnightly))

Measured by stadiometer

Dietary complianceDay 1 to Day 14 of specified diet 1 and diet 2 phases

Measured by participant completed daily diet checklist noting the amount of food they consumed of provided meals during specific diet 1 and 2 phases

Lipid studiesBlood collected at baseline day 1 and day 14 of each phase (fortnightly)

Blood samples collected will be assessed for lipid studies

Participant waist circumferenceBaseline day 1 and end of each 14-day diet phase

Measured using standard measuring tape

End of study optional semi-structured interviewEnd of study (at least 8 weeks post-randomisation)

Interview participants to assess challenges of adhering to study and compliance

Gastrointestinal symptomatologyBaseline day 1 and day 14 of each diet phase (fortnightly)

Completion of Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)

Bowel movementBaseline day 1 and day 14 of each diet phase (fortnightly)

Completion of Bristol Stool Chart questionnaires

Changes in physical activity levelsCompleted at each of each 14-day diet phase

Using International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF)

Glucose levelsBlood collected at baseline day 1 and day 14 of each phase (fortnightly)

Blood samples collected will be assessed for glucose levels

Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Severity Scoring System (IBS-SS)End of each 14-day diet phase

Completion of Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Severity Scoring System (IBS-SS)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

BASE Facility

🇦🇺

Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia

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