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Effects of Cranberry Powder Supplements on Gut Microbiota Diversity and Metabolic Syndrome

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Insulin Resistance
Metabolic Syndrome
Microbiota
Overweight
Endotoxemia
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Cranberry powder
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT03754504
Lead Sponsor
Laval University
Brief Summary

It is of major importance to refine prevention strategies in order to alleviate inflammation, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and it appear that improving gut health and microbiota represent a promising strategy. Cranberry-enriched diets may help prevent metabolic syndrome and its associated chronic diseases by a protective effect of gut health and microbiota. It is therefore highly relevant to test the hypothesis that a whole cranberry powder supplements (which include a mixture of polyphenols, free and fiber-associated proanthocyanidins, and fruits fibers) is associated with changes on the gut health and microbiota playing a major role in alleviating inflammation and obesity-associated metabolic disorders.

Detailed Description

Over the past decade it has become clear that the gut microbiota is a key determinant of obesity and that its perturbations by nutritional insults play a significant role in the development of metabolic complications such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Indeed, there is growing amounts of studies that have shown that dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota promotes obesity-linked chronic inflammation, and is causally related to diet-induced type 2 diabetes. Our group recently published that a polyphenol-rich cranberry extract exert striking effect on the gut microbiota of high-fat and high-sucrose fed mice, which was associated with prevention of diet-induced weight gain, visceral obesity, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. Notably, metagenomic analyses of feces of the cranberry extract-treated mice suggested that these metabolic effects were associated with a dramatic increase in the proportion of Akkermansia muciniphila, a dominant commensal bacterium in the intestinal mucus layer which has received particular attention in the last few years since its abundance is associated with improved metabolic health and beneficial responses to various interventions in both mice and humans with obesity and diabetes. Polyphenols are now recognized as potent molecules capable to protect against obesity-linked metabolic diseases and dysbiosis. Among polyphenols, there is increasing evidence supporting the beneficial impact of dietary proanthocyanidins. Cranberries being rich in proanthocyanidins, we believe that these phyto-elements could be associated to their beneficial effects. On the other hand, apart from the recognized beneficial effects of fibers on gut health, their association with high molecular proanthocyanidins could also contribute to their health benefits.

The main objective of this study is to investigate in a cross-over randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial the beneficial properties of a whole cranberry powder on gut microbiota, intestinal health and metabolic syndrome parameters in overweight men.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
24
Inclusion Criteria
  • overweight
  • fasting insulin > 42 pmol/L
  • non smoking
  • Stable weight in the past 3 months
Exclusion Criteria
  • chronic diseases
  • Taking drugs that could affect glucose or lipid metabolism
  • Taking anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant or anticoagulant drugs
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • vegetarians, vegan or following any restrictive dietary pattern or if they are big consumers of berries (>1 portion/day)
  • taking pre- and probiotics
  • antibiotics in the past 3 months or change in their regular medication
  • Major surgery in the past 3 months
  • taste aversion for cranberries or cranberry allergy or allergies to other ingredients used in the placebo

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
CranberryCranberry powderWhole Cranberry Powder Supplements
PlaceboPlaceboPlacebo
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Gut Microbiota DiversityAt the beginning and the end of each treatment (4 weeks each)

Global variation of the fecal microbiota

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in EndotoxemiaAt the beginning and the end of each treatment (4 weeks each)

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

Change in Intestinal permeabilityAt the beginning and the end of each treatment (4 weeks each)

Plasma zonulin

Change in Inflammation state of the tissueAt the beginning and the end of each treatment (4 weeks each)

Fecal calprotectin and chromogranin

Change in Short chain fatty acids in the fecesAt the beginning and the end of each treatment (4 weeks each)

Measure short chain fatty acids in the feces

Change in Gut health and stool consistencyAt the beginning and the end of each treatment (4 weeks each)

Evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms and stool consistency using standardized questionnaires

Change in Lipid profileAt the beginning and the end of each treatment (4 weeks each)

Evaluation of plasma triglycerides (TG), Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and Apolipoprotein B from the beginning to the end of two dietary treatment

Change in chronic inflammationAt the beginning and the end of each treatment (4 weeks each)

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

Change in Glucose homeostasisAt the beginning and the end of each treatment (4 weeks each)

Evaluation of plasma fasting glucose and insulin concentration

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels

🇨🇦

Québec, Canada

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