Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Protein Digestion
Conditions
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to test effects of consuming probiotics in healthy adults. The main question it aims to answer is: • Do consuming probiotics affect a healthy adult's ability to absorb amino acids from plant proteins? Participants will * Consume one dose of probiotic pills per day after meals for two weeks * Consume one dose of plant-based plant protein beverage after an overnight fast and collection of one 5 ml fasting blood sample * Undergo blood draw of 6 more 5 ml blood samples for the next 3 hours after consuming plant-based protein beverage
Detailed description
There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota contributes to a range of immune, inflammatory, and metabolic responses. Numerous studies have shown that administrating probiotics - strains of bacteria that benefits intestinal function - confer benefits to the host's immune system. Except for soy protein, plant proteins are incomplete proteins lacking in one or more essential amino acids. The incomplete amino acid profile of most plant proteins is compounded by their lower rate of absorption as compared to animal protein. Hence, the investigators aim to investigate the administration of probiotics as a potential strategy to overcome compositional shortcomings of plant proteins by improving the gastrointestinal absorption of plant-based proteins. The aim of Stage 1 is to formulate a plant-based protein beverage with optimized amino acid profile with consumer acceptance. Stage 2 of this study will be to conduct a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial using the formulation developed in Stage 1, together with probiotics supplementation to evaluate the effect of probiotics on the absorption of amino acids from plant proteins. The probiotics to be studied will be provided by the Asian Microbiome Library (AMILI) with the plant protein beverage to be developed within SIT. Findings from this mutually beneficial collaborative project with AMILI will pave the way to further understand the role of probiotics in human health, particularly its effect in nutrient absorption of plant protein.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTAMILI Probiotic pills
AMILI (AMILI Pte Ltd) will analyze stool samples provided by participants, and assign each participant a type of probiotic pill from the 5 different types of probiotic pills commercially available in AMILI retail store.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo pills
Placebo pills contaning maltodextrin with similar appearance to Probiotic pills will be provided to participants allocated to the Placebo Arm.
Sponsors
AMILI Pte. Ltd.
Singapore Institute of Technology
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)
Masking description
Masked personnel will be unaware of which arm each participant is allocated to, and what type of probiotics have been assigned to each participant.
Intervention model description
Randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Be willing and able to comply with study procedures and give written informed consent * Self-reported to be healthy * Within healthy BMI weight range (18.5-23kg/m2)
Exclusion criteria
* Any chronic medical condition * Individuals who were treated for or diagnosed with a gastrointestinal, cardiac, respiratory, circulatory, musculoskeletal, metabolic, immune, autoimmune, haematological, neurological or endocrinological disorder * Antibiotic use * Prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and/or digestive enzymes use * Food allergy/intolerances/avoidances towards eggs, soya, peanuts, tree nuts, crustaceans, and gluten * Smoking * Alcohol consumption
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in blood amino acid concentration | 0 to 150 minutes after ingestion of plant protein beverage on each study visit | Following ingestion of plant protein beverage, participants will be subjected to drawing of serial blood samples after consuming the plant protein beverage. These blood samples will be analyzed for amino acid profile using mass spectrometry methods. |
| Change in gut microbiota type | 0 to 6 weeks after start of study | Paricipants will provide a stool sample on each study visit (3 stool samples in total throughout the study). These stool samples given will be analyzed for any changes in type and population size of gut microbes of participants after probiotic intervention and placebo comparator intervention. |
| Change in gut microbiota population size | 0 to 6 weeks after start of study | Paricipants will provide a stool sample on each study visit (3 stool samples in total throughout the study). These stool samples given will be analyzed for any changes in type and population size of gut microbes of participants after probiotic intervention and placebo comparator intervention. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in blood glucose level | 0 to 150 minutes after ingestion of plant protein beverage | Following ingestion of plant protein beverage, participants will be subjected to drawing of serial blood samples after consuming the plant protein beverage. Serial blood samples will be analyzed for glucose profile using mass spectrometry methods. |
| Change in blood insulin level | 0 to 150 minutes after ingestion of plant protein beverage | Following ingestion of plant protein beverage, participants will be subjected to drawing of serial blood samples after consuming the plant protein beverage. Serial blood samples will be analyzed for insulin profile using mass spectrometry methods. |
Countries
Singapore
Outcome results
None listed