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Omega 3 and Fibre Intervention Study to Improve Metabolic Health

Primary Purpose

Metabolic Disease, Immune Function, Cardiovascular Diseases

Status
Unknown status
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United Kingdom
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Omega 3 fatty acid
Inulin fibre
Sponsored by
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional basic science trial for Metabolic Disease focused on measuring Omega 3, Fibre, Gut microbiome, Metabolic profile, Dietary intervention, Randomised Control Trial

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participant eligibility includes those aged >18 years who have a body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 39.9 kg/m2. Participants must have low habitual fibre consumption of less than 15g/day.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refuse or are unable to give informed consent to participate in the study
  • Consume on average >15 g/day of NSP and RS (men and women) as part of their diets
  • Are taking the following medications: immunosuppressants, amiodarone and/or perhexiline
  • Are currently following or anticipated to commence a specialised commercially available weight loss diet and/or program
  • Have a diagnosis of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
  • Have a current or prior history of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease
  • Have clinically relevant pulmonary, gastro-intestinal, renal, metabolic, hematological, neurological, psychiatric, systemic or any acute infectious disease or signs of acute illness
  • Are women who are pregnant
  • Have psychosocial or gastrointestinal (e.g. malabsorptive conditions such as IBS, coeliac)
  • Have contraindications included bulimia nervosa, substance abuse, clinically significant depression, or current psychiatric care
  • Have had a recent (within 3 months) of change in dose/regime or introduction of vitamin E, C or high dose vitamin D (>3000 IU), fish oil, prebiotics or probiotics.
  • Are vegetarian and thus unwilling to take fish oil capsules
  • People on anticoagulants and people with atrial fibrillation

Sites / Locations

  • King's College London

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Omega 3 fatty acid supplements

Inulin fibre

Arm Description

Participants in this arm (N>32) will be required to take one 500mg capsule of Omega 3 along with a meal daily for 6 weeks.

The participants in the control arm (N>32) will be asked to take 20 g of fibre (inulin fibre) per day for a period of 6 weeks.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Gut microbiome diversity
16s sequencing will be carried out on whole stool samples to measure gut microbial diversity and composition. Stool samples collected and frozen within two hours will be assessed in greater detail for markers of microbiome function and gut health which include measuring key short-chain fatty acids using mass spectrometry.
Metabolites
Measure of faecal metabolites such as short chain fatty acids, blood glucose, blood lipids, ketone bodies
Immune phenotypes
Markers of immune response measured using peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Secondary Outcome Measures

Assessment of hunger
Appetite questionnaire
Assessment of sleep
Sleep pattern will be assessed using a validated questionnaire (Medical Outcomes Survey sleep questionnaire) at baseline, mid-intervention and the end of the intervention.
Assessment of physical exercise
Physical exercise will be assessed using a validated questionnaire(Sf-12) at baseline, mid-intervention and the end of the intervention.
Assessment of Mood
Mood will be assessed using a validated questionnaire (HADS, anxiety and depression validated questionnaire) at baseline, mid-intervention and the end of the intervention.

Full Information

First Posted
October 11, 2017
Last Updated
July 31, 2018
Sponsor
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03442348
Brief Title
Omega 3 and Fibre Intervention Study to Improve Metabolic Health
Official Title
Utilising Omega 3 and Fibre to Improve Metabolic Health: A Proof of Concept Nutritional Intervention Study Targeting the Gut Microbiome
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
July 2018
Overall Recruitment Status
Unknown status
Study Start Date
May 31, 2018 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
February 28, 2019 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
February 28, 2020 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Metabolic syndrome represents a major health burden worldwide affecting 20-30% of the population. This clustering of abnormalities that confers an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, is the hallmark of "unhealthy" aging in longevity studies. Preventive strategies have so far failed since they have focused mainly on reducing caloric intake, ignoring the metabolic dysfunction in the aging body. The growing importance of the gut microbiota in all aspects of human health is clear, and unlike our genomes is potentially highly modifiable and tightly related to metabolic and immune efficiency, energy and fatty acid metabolism and satiety hormones. The investigators and others have reported that higher microbiome diversity correlates with significantly lower long-term risk of weight gain and metabolic syndrome. The investigators have recently shown that serum levels of omega-3 fatty acids correlate with higher microbiome diversity, and increased abundance of bacteria that produce butyrate are linked to lower inflammation of the gut. The investigators therefore propose to carry out a proof of concept nutritional intervention study in the TwinsUK cohort. The TwinsUK sample is probably the most detailed omic and phenotypic resource in the world and is ideal for this study. The mechanisms that result in improved microbiome composition and diversity will be explored in a highly focused novel interventional study hypothesizing that key fatty acid pathways are crucially involved in the link between diet, microbiome, immune phenotypes and metabolic syndrome. The specific objectives are to measure changes in gut microbiome composition in response to fibre supplementation compared to omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. The study will measure faecal metabolites relevant to fatty acid metabolism (short chain fatty acids), the abundance of microbial species linked to higher or lower inflammation and immune cell phenotypes to unravel the link between inflammation, diet and metabolic syndrome. There is a real lack of good diet intervention studies in this field and if successful this trial will pave the way to funding a wide variety of other diet intervention studies.
Detailed Description
Diet and nutrition are key determinants of chronic disease. However, additional information is needed on which bioactive compounds and in what amounts they should be consumed to obtain a given health benefit. One of the biggest recent breakthroughs in science has been realisation of the importance of the contents, function and homeostasis of the gut microbiome in human health. Dietary fibre: The influence of diet on the microbiome is illustrated by vast differences across cultures where African communities who have a plant based diet consume 7-fold more fibre compared with the West obtaining more of their energy requirements via utilization of gut microbiota. Hunter-gatherers have been shown to have 30-40% greater numbers and diversity of species than Western populations. Also, a multigenerational murine study showed a Western diet was responsible for depletion of microbiota diversity. Diversity is emerging as the common marker of good gut health across populations and related to production of beneficial short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The fermentation of dietary fibre changes the profile of microbial-derived metabolites within the GI tract, most importantly SCFAs. Low fibre intake results in reduced production of SCFAs and also shifts the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota metabolism to the utilization of less favourable nutrients, leading to the production of potentially detrimental metabolites derived from the fermentation of amino acids. Prevention of the generation of such metabolites through dietary fibre is one of the main mechanisms for the prevention of colon cancer. There is considerable observational evidence that fibre intake is beneficial for human health from observational epidemiological studies. However, findings from intervention studies are less consistent. The variability in human intervention studies could also arise from the highly inter-individualized responses of the human GI microbiome to dietary fibres providing a rationale for the individualization of dietary fibre applications. Omega 3 fatty acids: In humans, omega-3 fatty acids are readily incorporated into cell membranes resulting in increased cell fluidity, which may improve glucose transport. Additionally, omega-3 supplementation enhances resting fat oxidation and glycogen storage, potentially contributing to improved insulin sensitivity. Omega-3 supplementation may also reduce cardiovascular disease risk by reducing circulating very-low-density lipoproteins (LDL), triacylglycerols and free fatty acids (FFA). It also has additional anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties. Previously published data by the investigators suggest the potential use of omega-3 supplementation to improve the microbiome composition. Although trials of supplements are inconsistent, current recommended daily intake for omega-3 is 250 mg (active EPA and DHA) for the general population and higher for patients with cardiovascular disease. The study will be a proof of concept mechanistic study that will show to what extent omega-3 fatty acid supplementation adds to the benefits of a probiotic intervention in terms both of microbiome diversity and composition and of SCFA production. Moreover, it will show whether this results in measurable improvements in other markers of fatty acid metabolism and in the balance of various T-cell lineages some of which are pro-inflammatory and others which are anti-inflammatory. In this study we will test if 1) intake of fibre induces an increase in microbiome diversity, increased SCFA production in the gut and less inflammatory T-cell composition 2) omega-3 supplementation provides a comparable benefit in terms of microbiome diversity and cardiometabolic improvement to that supplied by fibre. The study will be a randomised controlled intervention study in which participants will be grouped into two different treatment arms. Randomisation will control for equal distribution of key characteristics that may confound between group comparisons and will be assessed by analysis of baseline data. 80 participants over the age of 18 years will be recruited from the TwinsUK database.The total length of the dietary intervention will be 6 weeks with an initial visit at baseline, and one final visit at 6 weeks.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Metabolic Disease, Immune Function, Cardiovascular Diseases, Systemic Inflammation
Keywords
Omega 3, Fibre, Gut microbiome, Metabolic profile, Dietary intervention, Randomised Control Trial

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Model Description
The study will be a randomised controlled parallel intervention study in which participants will be grouped into 2 different study arms.
Masking
Participant
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
80 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Omega 3 fatty acid supplements
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Participants in this arm (N>32) will be required to take one 500mg capsule of Omega 3 along with a meal daily for 6 weeks.
Arm Title
Inulin fibre
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
The participants in the control arm (N>32) will be asked to take 20 g of fibre (inulin fibre) per day for a period of 6 weeks.
Intervention Type
Dietary Supplement
Intervention Name(s)
Omega 3 fatty acid
Intervention Description
Participants in the bottom median of dietary fibre intake (<15 g per day) will be randomised into one of two arms. Participants in the second arm (N>32) will be required to take one 500mg capsule of Omega 3 along with a meal daily for 6 weeks.
Intervention Type
Dietary Supplement
Intervention Name(s)
Inulin fibre
Intervention Description
The participants in the control arm (N>32) will be asked to take 20 g of fibre (resistant starch + inulin) per day that are known favour production of SCFAs in the colon for a period of 6 weeks. The inulin powder will be provided in pre-weighed sachets containing 10g each which can be taken mixed in water or a suitable beverage of choice taken twice (morning and evening) per day.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Gut microbiome diversity
Description
16s sequencing will be carried out on whole stool samples to measure gut microbial diversity and composition. Stool samples collected and frozen within two hours will be assessed in greater detail for markers of microbiome function and gut health which include measuring key short-chain fatty acids using mass spectrometry.
Time Frame
3-6 weeks
Title
Metabolites
Description
Measure of faecal metabolites such as short chain fatty acids, blood glucose, blood lipids, ketone bodies
Time Frame
3-6 months
Title
Immune phenotypes
Description
Markers of immune response measured using peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Time Frame
3-6 months
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Assessment of hunger
Description
Appetite questionnaire
Time Frame
6 weeks
Title
Assessment of sleep
Description
Sleep pattern will be assessed using a validated questionnaire (Medical Outcomes Survey sleep questionnaire) at baseline, mid-intervention and the end of the intervention.
Time Frame
6 weeks
Title
Assessment of physical exercise
Description
Physical exercise will be assessed using a validated questionnaire(Sf-12) at baseline, mid-intervention and the end of the intervention.
Time Frame
6 weeks
Title
Assessment of Mood
Description
Mood will be assessed using a validated questionnaire (HADS, anxiety and depression validated questionnaire) at baseline, mid-intervention and the end of the intervention.
Time Frame
6 weeks

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
85 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Participant eligibility includes those aged >18 years who have a body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 39.9 kg/m2. Participants must have low habitual fibre consumption of less than 15g/day. Exclusion Criteria: Refuse or are unable to give informed consent to participate in the study Consume on average >15 g/day of NSP and RS (men and women) as part of their diets Are taking the following medications: immunosuppressants, amiodarone and/or perhexiline Are currently following or anticipated to commence a specialised commercially available weight loss diet and/or program Have a diagnosis of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus Have a current or prior history of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease Have clinically relevant pulmonary, gastro-intestinal, renal, metabolic, hematological, neurological, psychiatric, systemic or any acute infectious disease or signs of acute illness Are women who are pregnant Have psychosocial or gastrointestinal (e.g. malabsorptive conditions such as IBS, coeliac) Have contraindications included bulimia nervosa, substance abuse, clinically significant depression, or current psychiatric care Have had a recent (within 3 months) of change in dose/regime or introduction of vitamin E, C or high dose vitamin D (>3000 IU), fish oil, prebiotics or probiotics. Are vegetarian and thus unwilling to take fish oil capsules People on anticoagulants and people with atrial fibrillation
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Ana Valdez, Dr
Organizational Affiliation
King's College London
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
King's College London
City
London
State/Province
England
ZIP/Postal Code
SE1 7EH
Country
United Kingdom

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
Undecided

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Omega 3 and Fibre Intervention Study to Improve Metabolic Health

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