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Antimicrobial-free Production of Beef Cattle's Affect on Gut Microbiome

Does Antimicrobial-free Production of Beef Cattle Reduce Foodborne Transmission of Resistant Bacteria to Human Consumers?

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04023604
Acronym
S54
Enrollment
36
Registered
2019-07-17
Start date
2021-01-04
Completion date
2022-03-04
Last updated
2022-09-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diet Modification

Keywords

antibiotics, gut microbiome, antimicrobial resistance, beef

Brief summary

The primary purpose of this study is to assess whether consuming foods from animals raised with antimicrobial medications influences gut health in adults between the ages of 21-69 years old. Antimicrobial medications are commonly used to help animals avoid infections while growing.

Detailed description

The researchers plan to investigate differences in the resistome (i.e., populations of antimicrobial resistance genes) and microbiome (populations of bacteria) in feces obtained from people when they consume diets containing beef derived from cattle raised conventionally (i.e. using antimicrobial drugs(AMDs)) vs. those produced in raised without antibiotics (RWA) systems. In addition, the researchers will investigate whether specific antimicrobial resistant (AMR) genes are transmitted from food to people. The hypothesis is that beef is not a significant source of resistant bacteria, and there is no difference in the likelihood of gut colonization with resistant bacteria in people eating beef derived from cattle raised conventionally (i.e. using AMDs) vs. those eating beef produced in RWA systems.

Interventions

OTHERControlled diet with beef raised without antibiotics

The controlled diet with beef raised without antibiotics will follow the Dietary Guidelines for American's recommendations. All foods and beverages will be provided during intervention to achieve the desired eating pattern. Beef included in this diet were raised without antibiotics.

OTHERControlled diet with beef produced in conventional systems

The controlled diet with beef raised without antibiotics will follow the Dietary Guidelines for American's recommendations. All foods and beverages will be provided during intervention to achieve the desired eating pattern. Beef included in this diet were raised with antibiotics.

Sponsors

Colorado State University
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Minnesota
CollaboratorOTHER
Purdue University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

This is a 16-week randomized, cross-over, controlled, blinded study. During weeks 2 and 9, participants usual, unrestricted dietary intakes will be assessed. At week 3 the participants will be randomized and assigned to consume either the controlled U.S. Healthy Eating Pattern with beef produced in conventional systems or to an identical controlled U.S. Healthy Eating Patter with beef produced in RWA (raised without antibiotics) systems. Week 10 will be the second 3- week long dietary intervention period. A total of 14 stool samples will be collected during the study (two after baseline, washout 1 and washout 2, and 4 during the two dietary interventions). Two fasting state serum samples and a psychological questionnaire will be collected during study weeks 2, 5, 9, and 12.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 69 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Male or female, 21-69 years old; * BMI 22.0-34.9 kg/m2; * Fasting serum total cholesterol \<240 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol \<160 mg/dL, triglycerides \<400 mg/dL, and glucose \<110 mg/dL; * Systolic/diastolic blood pressure \<140/90 mmHg; * Body weight stable (± 4 kg in previous 3 mo); * Medication use stable for 6 months prior and not using medications or supplements known to impact gut function; * No use of topical, oral or parenteral antibiotic medications in previous 6 months. * Non-smoking; * Physical activity regimen stable for 3 months prior; * Not drinking more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day; * No history of gastrointestinal disorders, surgeries or cancers; * Non-pregnant and not lactating * No acute illness and non-diabetic; * Willing and able to consume the prescribed diets that may include meat, dairy and gluten-containing foods and beverages.

Exclusion criteria

* Male or female, \< 20 or \>70 years old; * BMI \< 21.9- \>35 kg/m2; * Fasting serum total cholesterol \>240 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol \>160 mg/dL, triglycerides \>400 mg/dL, and glucose \>110 mg/dL; * Systolic blood pressure \>140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \>90 mmHg; * Body weight stable for \< 3 months prior (±3 kg); * Stable physical activity regimen \< 3 months prior; * Medication use unstable for 6 months prior and using medications or supplements known to impact gut function; * Smoking; * Drinking more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day; * Diabetic; * A history of gastrointestinal disorders, GI surgeries or GI cancers; * Pregnant or lactating

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Differences in the resistome and microbiome2 yearsThe resistome and microbiome of rinsates will be obtained from dietary components, and feces collected from the particpants. Researchers will sequence all of the published AMR genes. Microbiome data will be obtained from 16s rRNA gene sequencing to produce amplicons of the V4 region of 16S rRNA genes. Statistical analyses will be conducted of microbial features to assess whether microbial/resistome communities diverge between the two groups. Additionally, foodborne transmission of AMR genes with discriminatory SNP(DNA fingerprints) profiles will be investigated through the food chain into dietary trial participants to identify highly discriminatory patterns in individual genes, or discriminatory profiles in gene sets. Hypothesis: beef is not a significant source of resistant bacteria and there is no difference in the likelihood of gut colonization with resistant bacteria in people eating beef derived from cattle raised conventionally vs beef produced in RWA systems

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Level of fasting blood pressure2 yearsThe hypothesis is that there is no difference in blood pressure in people eating beef derived from cattle raised conventionally vs. those eating beef produced in RWA systems.
Level of fasting serum insulin2 yearsThe hypothesis is that there is no difference in fasting serum insulin in people eating beef derived from cattle raised conventionally vs. those eating beef produced in RWA systems.
Level of fasting serum glucose2 yearsThe hypothesis is that there is no difference in fasting serum glucose in people eating beef derived from cattle raised conventionally vs. those eating beef produced in RWA systems.
Size of lipoprotein particle2 yearsThe hypothesis is that there is no difference in lipoprotein particle size in people eating beef derived from cattle raised conventionally vs. those eating beef produced in RWA systems

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Questionnaire score of mood and health and well being2 yearsThe POMS (Profile of Mood States) Questionnaire is a psychological rating scale to assess distinct mood states. There is a total of 35 questions using a five point scale ranging from not at all to extremely indicating the range of mood swings over a period of time. The Optum SF-36v2 (Short Form 36 question Version 2) Health Survey measures the functional health and wellbeing of a participant. SF-36v2 consists of eight scaled scores which are the weighted sums of the questions in their section. Each scale is transformed into a 0-100 scales, with the assumption that each questions carries equal weight (the lower the score the more disability, the higher the score the less disability). The hypothesis is that there is no difference in mood and health and wellbeing in people eating beef derived from cattle raised conventionally vs. those eating beef produced in RWA systems.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026