Cognitive and Metabolic Effects of a Probiotic Supplement

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Dietary Supplements; Probiotics; Microbiota; Metabolism; Food Preferences
• Interventions: Behavioral: Inhibitory task; Procedure: Blood samples; Biological: Feces collection; Procedure: Caloric preload; Behavioral: Food selection task; Behavioral: Memory task; Behavioral: Food consumption task

• Registration Number: NCT02005003
• Lead Sponsor: Uppsala University

Brief Summary

To examine the cognitive and metabolic effects of a probiotic supplement that is readily and already available for purchase in public drug stores. This study is a double-blinded randomized cross-over placebo-controlled intervention study. Participants will be randomized to receive either the probiotic supplement or the placebo during the first intervention period which will last 2 weeks. This will be followed by a washout period, after which they will proceed to the second intervention period, also lasting 2 weeks and also followed by a washout period.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-11
• Study First Submitted: 2013-11-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-12-03
• Study First Posted: 2013-12-09
• Status Verified: 2014-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-11-17
• Last Update Posted: 2014-11-18
• Primary Completion: 2015-12
• Study Completion: 2015-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Male
• Age 18-28y
• Healthy (self-reported) and not on medication
• Non-smoking
• Normal sleep-wake rhythm (i.e. 7-8 h per night, self-reported via diaries)
• Regular meal patterns with daily breakfast

Exclusion Criteria

• Major illness
• Taking any serious medications
• Any sleep conditions (e.g. irregular bedtimes, sleep complaints)
• Any dietary issues with the food items provided
• Current or history of endocrine, neurological or psychiatric disorders
• Shift work in the preceding three months or for a long duration
• Time travel over a significant number of time zones in the preceding two months
• Too much weight gain or weight loss in the preceding three months
• Excessive intake of fermented dairy products
• Intake of probiotics
• Recent antibiotic treatment (last 6 months)
• Recent intake of certain dietary supplements
• Excessive caffeine (>5 cups daily) or alcohol intake (>2 alcohol units daily)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Probiotic	Feces collection	Probiotic pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Placebo	Feces collection	Placebo pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Probiotic	Inhibitory task	Probiotic pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Probiotic	Caloric preload	Probiotic pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Probiotic	Food consumption task	Probiotic pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Placebo	Caloric preload	Placebo pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Placebo	Memory task	Placebo pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Probiotic	Blood samples	Probiotic pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Probiotic	Food selection task	Probiotic pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Probiotic	Memory task	Probiotic pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Placebo	Blood samples	Placebo pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Placebo	Inhibitory task	Placebo pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Placebo	Food selection task	Placebo pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.
Placebo	Food consumption task	Placebo pills given for 2 weeks, during one of the interventions that the participants is either randomized to as the first or second intervention period. At day 0 and following each intervention period (at week 2 and week 6), participants will be tested using Inhibitory task, Blood samples, Feces collection, Caloric preload, Food selection task, Memory task and Food consumption task.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Memory function	Change in memory function assessed at baseline (week 0), post-intervention 1 (at week 2), pre intervention 2 (week 6), post intervention 2 (week 8) and post-washout intervention 2 (week 12)	Memory test to examine the influence of probiotic supplement compared with placebo on memory function (declarative and working memory)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Glycometabolic regulation	Change in glycometabolic regulation assessed at baseline (week 0), post-intervention 1 (at week 2), pre intervention 2 (week 6), post intervention 2 (week 8) and post-washout intervention 2 (week 12)	Glucose, insulin and other hormonal values during fasting and 1 hour following a standardized caloric preload
Inhibitory task	Change in inhibitory task performance assessed at baseline (week 0), post-intervention 1 (at week 2), pre intervention 2 (week 6), post intervention 2 (week 8) and post-washout intervention 2 (week 12)	Participants perform a binary decision on each presented stimuli. Of the two possible outcomes, participants are instructed to make a motor response (go) for one type, and are to withhold a response (no-go) for the other type. Reaction time and accuracy are measured for each event.
Sleep patterns	Change in sleep patterns as assessed at baseline (week 0), post-intervention 1 (at week 2), pre intervention 2 (week 6), post intervention 2 (week 8) and post-washout intervention 2 (week 12)
Food preferences	Change in food preferences assessed at baseline (week 0), post-intervention 1 (at week 2), pre intervention 2 (week 6), post intervention 2 (week 8) and post-washout intervention 2 (week 12)	Will test whether participants food preferences are changed following each intervention, as compared with before each intervention. Test will be written and computer-based.
Food consumption task	Change in food consumption task assessed at baseline (week 0), post-intervention 1 (at week 2), pre intervention 2 (week 6), post intervention 2 (week 8) and post-washout intervention 2 (week 12)	Participants will be offered a food selection and their consumption will be measured.
Microbiome changes	Microbiome assessed at baseline (week 0), post-intervention 1 (at week 2), pre intervention 2 (week 6), post intervention 2 (week 8) and post-washout intervention 2 (week 12)	Changes in microbiome will be assessed following treatment with either placebo or probiotics; feces will be collected according to standardized criteria.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University; 🇸🇪 Uppsala, Sweden