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Effect of Daily Consumption of a Novel Biscuit Enriched With Edible Mushrooms, on Intestinal Health-related Parameters

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Healthy
Interventions
Other: Novel biscuit enriched with mushroom powder containing 3g of β-glucans
Other: Placebo biscuit
Registration Number
NCT04759625
Lead Sponsor
Harokopio University
Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to assess the effect of dietary intervention that includes the daily consumption of a novel biscuit (enriched with the selected mushrooms rich in β-glucans) on gut health related parameters of healthy subjects over 60 years old.

Detailed Description

After having been informed about the study and the potential risks, all subjects giving written informed consent will undergo screening to determine eligibility for study entry (inclusion criteria). At baseline, the participants will provide biological samples and they will be randomly assigned in a double-blind manner (investigator and participant) to one of the intervention groups, i.e. consumption of the novel biscuit (biscuit enriched with mushroom powder containing 3g of β-glucans) or consumption of the placebo biscuit for 3 months,. After a washout period of 2 months, the subjects will consume the novel biscuit or the placebo biscuit in a cross-over design for 3 more months. Throughout the interventional period subjects' dietary intake, anthropometrical data and gastrointestinal symptoms will be monitored. Meanwhile at baseline and at the end of each trimester physical activity, mental health and sleep habits will be evaluated with the use of questionnaires and biological samples will be provided for further analysis.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
37
Inclusion Criteria
  • healthy individuals aged 60-80 years old, of both sexes/genders
Exclusion Criteria
  • no recent weight loss and extreme dietary behaviors;
  • no history of gastrointestinal disease, chronic constipation, chronic/acute diarrhea, autoimmune disease, coronary disease, liver and/or kidney malfunction;
  • no consumption of antibiotics two months prior to the initiation of the intervention;
  • no consumption of probiotics and/or prebiotics and/or dietary fiber supplements two weeks prior to the initiation of the intervention.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Biscuit enriched with mushroom powderNovel biscuit enriched with mushroom powder containing 3g of β-glucansDaily consumption of a novel biscuit enriched with mushroom powder containing 3g of β-glucans
Placebo biscuitPlacebo biscuitDaily consumption of a placebo biscuit
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline in Gastrointestinal tolerance of novel biscuit during the interventional period and at 3 months.Gastrointestinal symptoms will be evaluated at baseline, during and at the end of each intervention. (3 months period)

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptomatology will be recorded through a 7d-questionnaire in certain time periods.The intensity of each GI symptom (abdominal pain, distension, flatulence and borborygmi) will be measured daily on a scale of 0-4, where '0' represents absence of symptoms and '4' severe symptoms. The possible range for each weekly symptom score is 0-28, and for the total symptom score 0-112. Frequency and consistency of evacuations will be also noted, and presence of diarrhoea will be defined.

Change from baseline to the effect on the intestinal microbial populations and their metabolic products [i.e. Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA)] (prebiotic effect) at 3 months.The levels of microbial populations and their metabolic products e.g. SCFA will be measured at baseline and at the end of each interventional period.(3 months period)

Microbial populations will be quantified with 16SRNA sequencing and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). SCFAs will be quantified with Gas chromatography.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline in blood serum Parathyroid Hormone at 3 months.Blood serum Parathyroid Hormone will be measured at baseline and at the end of each interventional period.(3 months period)

Blood samples will be obtained after an overnight, 12-h fasting. Blood serum analysis will include assessment of bone biomarker \[i.e. Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)\].(units of measure: pg/mL)

Change from baseline in blood serum Insulin at 3 months.Blood serum Insulin will be measured at baseline and at the end of each interventional period.(3 months period)

Blood samples will be obtained after an overnight, 12-h fasting. Blood serum analysis will include assessment of glucose metabolism \[i.e. Insulin (INS)\]. (units of measure: μIU/mL)

Change from baseline in Immune system reinforcement at 3 months.Immune system reinforcement will be measured at baseline and at the end of each interventional period.(3 months period)

The production of Interleukins (IL) (i.e. IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10) and Tumor-necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) in vitro by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cultured and isolated from healthy immunocompetent subjects, after mitogen stimulation, will be determined in cell culture supernatants by ELISA techniques with commercially available kits. The cytokine expression levels will be determined in cell pellets by Quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Concomitantly, the levels of the same cytokines will be assessed by ELISA in the serum collected from the same subjects.

Change from baseline in Metabolic health at 3 months.Metabolic health will be measured at baseline and at the end of each interventional period.(3 months period)

Blood samples will be obtained after an overnight, 12-h fasting. Blood serum analysis will include assessment of lipidemic profile \[i.e. Total Cholesterol (TC), Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), Triglycerides (TG)\], glucose metabolism \[i.e. Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG)\] and uric acid. (units of measure: mg/dL)

Change from baseline in Dietary intake at 3 months.Dietary intake will be measured at baseline and at the end of each interventional period.(3 months period)

Dietary intake will be evaluated with the use of 3-days (2-weekdays and 1 weekend day) diet intake records.

Change from baseline in blood serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D at 3 months.Blood serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D will be measured at baseline and at the end of each interventional period.(3 months period)

Blood samples will be obtained after an overnight, 12-h fasting. Blood serum analysis will include assessment of bone biomarkers (i.e. 25-hydroxy vitamin D).(units of measure: ng/mL)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Harokopio University

🇬🇷

Kallithea, Athens, Greece

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