Physiological Stress, Cognitive Change, Gastrointestinal Health
Conditions
Brief summary
This research intervention aims to examine the effects of prebiotic consumption on changes in behavioral and biological measures of cognition and stress among adults.
Detailed description
Evidence-based dietary strategies provide behavioral means benefiting physical and cognitive function. Pertinent to the proposed work, dietary intake has been recently shown to have the potential to directly influence the gut microbiota composition as well as brain function. Specifically, the consumption of prebiotics or fibers metabolized by gut bacteria may also play a role. These foods are readily available in the marketplace, however, their implications for physical and cognitive function are not clear. Accordingly, the proposed study aims to investigate effects of prebiotic beverage consumption on changes in behavioral and biological measures of cognition and stress among adults.
Interventions
OTHERLactose Free 1% Milk
8 oz of study beverage daily
OTHERLactose Free 1% Milk + 10 g prebiotic
8 oz of study beverage supplemented with 5 grams of fructooligosaccharide and 5 grams of galactooligosaccharide
Sponsors
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Double blind (participant and investigative team)
Intervention model description
Participants will pass through 2 arms, control and prebiotic, in a randomized, counterbalanced order.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Males and females * Between the ages of 25-45 years at the time of consent * BMI ≥18.5 kg/m2 * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision based on the minimal 20/20 standard in order to complete the cognitive task. * Ability to drop-off fecal sample within 15 minutes of defecation
Exclusion criteria
* Current pregnancy or lactation * Tobacco use * Dairy allergy or intolerance * Prior diagnosis of metabolic and gastrointestinal disease (cardiovascular disease and type 1 or type 2 diabetes, chronic constipation, diarrhea, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, stomach or duodenal ulcers, hepatitis, HIV, cancer, etc.) * Prior diagnosis of cognitive or physical disability, including ADHD, severe asthma, epilepsy, chronic kidney disease * Use of any anti-psychotic, anti-depressant, antianxiety, or ADD/ADHD medications * Use of medications that alter normal bowel function and metabolism (e.g., recent antibiotic use, laxatives, enemas, anti-diarrheal agents, narcotics, antispasmodics, diuretics, anticonvulsants). * Prior malabsorptive bariatric surgery (i.e. gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy) or restrictive bariatric surgery (i.e. adjustable gastric band)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Biological markers of stress | 4-5 weeks | Changes in 24-hour urinary cortisol, inflammatory markers (e.g. IL-6, CRP). |
| Behavioral markers of stress | 4-5 weeks | Change in reported questionnaire responses specific to depression, stress, and anxiety using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS) Questionnaire. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive function | 4-5 weeks | Computer tasks will be used to assess working memory, interference control, cognitive flexibility, and hippocampal function/relational memory |
| Gastrointestinal microbiota beta-diversity | 4-5 weeks | Impact on beta-diversity measures |
| Gastrointestinal Microbiota composition | 4-5 weeks | Impact on bacterial genera abundances. |
| Sleep | 4-5 weeks | The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) will also be used to assess sleep, as will actigraphy. |
| Gastrointestinal Microbiota alpha-diversity | 4-5 weeks | Impact on alpha-diversity measures |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed