9 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Studies show that family members share as much or more of the composition of their microbiota (the trillions of micro-organisms in our guts) with their dogs as they do with each other (Song et. al. 2013). This shows that the introduction of dogs into home environments has a profound impact on the human microbiota. Additionally, many studies show that children raised with dogs are less likely than others to develop a range of immune-mediated disorders, including asthma and allergies (Ownby, Johnson, and Peterson 2002; Almqvist et al. 2003; Havstad et al. 2011). This suggests that dogs can serve as probiotics for children by appropriately training their immune systems not to produce inflammation in response to harmless stimuli. What is not known, however, is whether the same is true for elderly populations and dogs. Thus, this study seeks to explore whether dogs might also improve the physical and mental health of elderly adults by improving the structure and function of their microbiota. The investigators propose a pilot/proof of concept study to investigate whether dogs might improve the physical and mental health of elderly adults via changing (improving) the structure and function of their microbiota (gut flora). The investigators propose a pre-post study design that among 20 elderly individuals (aged 50 and older) to investigate the probiotic effect that dogs might have on these individuals. The investigators are particularly interested to know whether introducing a dog into a home where one has not lived in the recent past increases the "positive" microorganisms in the guts of the humans living with them. The investigators will also measure the changes in markers of inflammation (from blood samples) as well as the changes in self-reported scores of depression, frailty, physical activity, and general health and well-being mobility among human participants. In order to assess any effects in the animal study participants, the investigators will also collect and analyze fecal and blood samples as well as conduct home visits to observe canine and human interactions and bonding and conduct assessments of canine well-being using questionnaires/observational techniques that have been validated for these purposes in other studies. Additionally, the investigators will assess the interactions between of the participants with the dog and how having a dog in the home may influence an individual's relationship with the dog and his/her thoughts about the microbiota, human and canine health and human-animal interactions through monthly semi-structured interviews. The investigators have previously received IACUC approval for this study, approval number 14-537.
This proposal will quantify dietary exposure of a nano- food additive in the U.S. food supply, and determine its impact on the human gut microbiome, gut inflammation, permeability and oxidative stress. Titanium dioxide (TiO2, or E171 food grade additive) is used in processed foods, with thousands of tons produced annually and an expected increase \>8.9% from 2016 to 2025. Preclinical models demonstrate \>99% of consumed TiO2 is retained within the intestinal lumen and excreted in the feces. In animal models, dietary TiO2 causes shifts in the gut microbiome, decreases acetate production, increases biofilm formation, and causes profound disruption of gut homeostasis and intestinal tight junctions, due to the production of reactive oxygen species and increased inflammation. However, the relation between chronic TiO2 intake and human gut homeostasis has yet to be elucidated. France issued an executive order to ban food grade TiO2 use after January 1st 2020, over serious safety concerns. Since then, multiple European civil societies have jointly called for an executive order to ban TiO2 across the EU. Typical TiO2 intake among U.S. adults remains to be documented, and there are no known studies that estimate dietary exposure of TiO2 using a whole foods approach. Therefore, the overarching goals of this project are to: 1) measure dietary TiO2 exposure in a sample of U.S. adults, using dietary recalls and fecal TiO2 content; 2) determine how fecal TiO2 content is related to gut dysbiosis, metatranscriptomics, intestinal inflammation, permeability and oxidative stress.
Normal aging can lead to loss of gut microbial biodiversity which is linked to inflammaging and immunosenescence or the loss of immunocompetence. Probiotics, such as VSL#3®, and certain herbal supplements such as Triphala are associated with restoration of gut community architecture, increased gut barrier function and decreased inflammation. The present project will examine the potential benefits of a synbiotic (which denotes a prebiotic plus probiotic, and in this study, is an herbal prebiotic plus probiotic) intervention (8 weeks of supplementation) on gut microbiome profiles assessed via stool, inflammatory blood markers, and questionnaires about gastrointestinal health and mood. In this exploratory study, the investigators will examine psychological and physical functioning at baseline and after 8 weeks of supplementation with synbiotic, Triphala alone, or placebo.
This study aims to investigate the impact of various healthy diets, specifically a modified plant-based Mediterranean diet, on the gut microbiome and overall well-being post-colonoscopy. The investigators hypothesize that certain diets can positively influence gut bacteria, reducing inflammation and enhancing metabolic signals. To explore this, they will utilize metagenomic testing on stool samples to analyze the DNA of gut microorganisms. Additionally, they will conduct immune profiling on serum samples and perform metabolomic analysis to comprehensively evaluate the diet-induced changes in immune response and metabolic pathways. This multi-faceted approach will help them understand how dietary changes affect the composition and function of the gut microbiome, immune function, and overall metabolism.
As concerns regarding the effects of agriculture on human and environmental health mount, a growing number of farmers are seeking ways to improve health from the ground up. A promising way by which a growing number of farmers are seeking to improve environmental health is by using agro-ecological practices (i.e., farming more closely in harmony with natural systems), which include practices such as multi-cropping, ley rotations, and/or integrated crop-livestock systems. Despite potential ecological benefits, there is a lack of critical knowledge if consuming foods from agro-ecological systems impacts biomarkers of human health, including inflammatory and metabolomics profiles. The purpose of this project is to test the hypothesis that consuming foods produced using agro-ecological practices improves biomarkers of consumer health compared to consuming similar foods from conventional (monoculture) agriculture. All diets will be matched one-to-one in terms of macronutrients and food sources.
The objectives of this study are to investigate the effect of fruit consumption on the gut microbiota and their collective fecal and plasma metabolomes, vascular and cardiometabolic functions, cognition, and motor control.
The purpose of this study is to determine if adding dietary fiber, such as inulin, to a diet that does not have enough fiber would raise the levels of potentially beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, in the gut. There is evidence to suggest that these microbes can affect gut health and immune response, including to vaccines. The investigators will examine how inulin in the diet (compared to the maltodextrin control) (1) causes changes in the composition and function of the gut microbes, (2) reduces gut inflammation and gut leakiness caused by the vaccine, (3) increases immune response to vaccination, and (4) changes the expression of important adhesion molecules on the surface of white blood cells. Intestinal and whole-body responses will be measured in all participants.
This study evaluates the effects of probiotic consumption on inflammatory outcomes and measures of gut health. Participants will be given yogurt with probiotics for one period and yogurt without probiotics for another, with a break in between. These periods will occur in random order.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether oral HA35 supplementation changes the normal intestinal bacteria, increases intestinal protection, decrease intestinal inflammation and permeability, and to assess any health benefits and confirm the safety profile of HA35.