Spices for Cultivating a Healthy Gut Microbiome and Cardiometabolic Profile

Description

Among food products receiving attention for prebiotic functionality, spices represent a flavorful vehicle for cultivating a healthy gut microbiota. As the required doses of spice-derived polyphenols to elicit prebiotic and systemic metabolic effects are not well-characterized, additional research is warranted. Thus, the investigators propose to use a food-first synbiotic (prebiotic + probiotic) approach to examine alterations in the gut microbiota pre- and post-intervention/placebo and their relationship with systemic cardiometabolic effects mediated by short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and gut-derived metabolites.

Conditions

Cardiometabolic Syndrome

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Among food products receiving attention for prebiotic functionality, spices represent a flavorful vehicle for cultivating a healthy gut microbiota. As the required doses of spice-derived polyphenols to elicit prebiotic and systemic metabolic effects are not well-characterized, additional research is warranted. Thus, the investigators propose to use a food-first synbiotic (prebiotic + probiotic) approach to examine alterations in the gut microbiota pre- and post-intervention/placebo and their relationship with systemic cardiometabolic effects mediated by short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and gut-derived metabolites.

Spices for Cultivating a Healthy Gut Microbiome and Cardiometabolic Profile: the SPICE Study

Spices for Cultivating a Healthy Gut Microbiome and Cardiometabolic Profile

Condition
Cardiometabolic Syndrome
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Tuscaloosa

The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, 35487

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * post-menopausal women ages 50-69y with a BMI of 18.5 - 34.9 kg/m2
  • * Dx - Diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, type 1 or 2 diabetes, liver disease, cancer, endocrine disorders, or inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis.
  • * GI - History of gastrointestinal surgery, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal bowel disease, or other gastrointestinal distress such as chronic diarrhea, bulimia, anorexia, or frequent laxative use
  • * Rx or Supplements - Actively taking steroids or antibiotics in the previous two to three months, or currently using tobacco products, \> 10% weight loss or gain in the last 6 months, unwilling to stop taking prebiotic/probiotic or fiber supplements
  • * Dietary - Adherence to a high fiber/polyphenol rich diet, have an allergy, aversion, or intolerance to food and spices provided in this study

Ages Eligible for Study

50 Years to 69 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa,

Study Record Dates

2025-06