Dietary Supplement, Gut Health, Gut Microbiome, L-Phenylalanine, Phenylpropionic Acid
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to explore how the dietary supplement L-Phenylalanine affects the production of the metabolite phenylpropionic acid (PPA) and changes fungal populations of the gut microbiome.
Detailed description
The human gastrointestinal tract hosts a diverse microbial community that has a role in influencing the host's pathophysiological responses. Although there is an abundance of metagenomic data available, the functional dynamics of the gut microbiota still need exploration in different conditions. The microbiota produces various metabolites from dietary products, impacting both host health and pathophysiological functions. The metabolites produced by different microbiota may selectively suppress or stimulate the growth of some components of the gut microbiome, ultimately influencing the dynamic of gut bacterial and fungal populations. Our lab is specifically interested in a metabolite, known as phenylpropionic acid (PPA) produced by a human gut resident bacteria known as Clostridium sporogenes. C. sporogenes produces PPA by metabolizing the amino acid, L-phenylalanine, which is sourced from human diet. Many studies have observed the antimicrobial and antifungal effects of PPA. Our lab determined PPA holds antifungal activity of PPA in the gut of mice colonized with Candida albicans. We are interested in investigating how diversity in the mycobiota populations, which focuses on the fungi species in the human gut, are related to changes in PPA levels. Therefore, this study will asses whether additional oral supplementation of L-phenylalanine has an effect on the way gut mycobiota responds to this amino acid. Healthy subjects received a 14-day supply of L-phenylalanine supplements and provided stool and blood samples to the study team.
Interventions
DRUGL-Phenylalanine 500 mg Veg Capsule product
500 mg Veg Capsule product
Sponsors
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male or female adults over the age of 18 years
Exclusion criteria
* History of a diagnosis of any gastrointestinal condition, such as inflammatory bowel syndrome or disease * Antibiotic usage within the past two weeks * Antifungal usage within the past month * Allergy to L-Phenylalanine or individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) * Adults taking medications known to interact with L-phenylalanine supplements, such as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MOAI), L-DOPA, and some antipsychotic drugs (complete and extensive drug list will be provided to interested participants during screening) * Pregnant or nursing women
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in phenylpropionic acid levels from baseline in subject fecal material | Baseline, Week 2 (Day 14) | Metabolite phenylpropionic acid levels will be measured using mass spectrometry before (baseline) and after intervention |
| Change in fungal population levels, specifically gut Candida levels, from baseline in subject fecal material and swabs | Baseline, Week 2 (Day 14) | Fungal populations, including Candida, will be measured using microbiota sequencing before (baseline) and after intervention. The most abundant fungal populations will be reported; however, the identity of those populations won't be known until sample analysis. |
| Change in the number of T cells that react to fungal antigens from baseline in subject blood samples | Baseline, Week 2 (Day 14) | Blood will be processed through ELISA-based and in vitro restimulation assays to measure T cell reactivity to fungal antigens |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in phenylpropionic acid levels from baseline in subject fecal material | Baseline, Week 4 (Day 28) | Metabolite phenylpropionic acid levels will be measured using mass spectrometry before (baseline) and after intervention |
| Change in fungal population levels, specifically gut Candida levels, from baseline in subject fecal material | Baseline, Week 4 (Day 28) | Fungal populations, including Candida, will be measured using microbiota sequencing before (baseline) and after intervention. The most abundant fungal populations will be reported; however, the identity of those populations won't be known until sample analysis. |
| Change in the number of T cells that react to fungal antigens from baseline in subject blood samples | Baseline, Week 4 (Day 28) | Blood will be processed through ELISA-based and in vitro restimulation assays to measure T cell reactivity to fungal antigens |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTEmilia T Vignogna, BS
CONTACTTsering D Sherpa-Ngima, BSc
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORIliyan D Iliev, PhD
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Outcome results
None listed