PHAGE Study: Bacteriophages as Novel Prebiotics

April 2, 2019 updated by: Tiffany Weir, Colorado State University

PreforPro: A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Crossover Study

The PHAGE study is designed to determine if a commercial prebiotic product can change the composition of bacteria in the gut for improved intestinal health. A prebiotic is defined as an indigestible dietary component that selectively enhances specific bacterial species in the intestines to confer a health benefit. In this study, the prebiotic a unique combination of bacteriophages, or viruses that infect bacteria. These phages are generally regarded as safe for human consumption and work by infecting bad bacteria in the gut, which allows beneficial bacteria populations to increase. The product, PreforPro, has shown to be effective in culture-based and animal studies, but its efficacy has not been demonstrated in humans. The goal of this study is to see if PreforPro consumption improves gut bacteria profiles in individuals relative to a placebo control and is associated with reduced incidence and severity of gastrointestinal distress.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The goal of this study is to see if consumption of PreforPro, a commercially available prebiotic dietary supplement consisting of a mixture of bacteriophages, improves gut bacteria profiles in individuals relative to a placebo control. Secondary outcome measures include determining changes in comprehensive metabolic profiles, inflammatory markers (systemic and local), microbial metabolites, and perceptions of gastrointestinal distress. To accomplish these research goals, 40 male and female volunteers between 18-65 years old with BMI scores of 20 to 34.9 who suffer from mild gastrointestinal distress will be enrolled.Recruitment will be by referral from local practitioners and through email solicitations. Eligibility will be determined at the Colorado State University Medical Nutrition Therapy Laboratory (MNTL) by a screening questionnaire and interview/assessment by the clinical coordinator. After determining eligibility and securing consent, participants will randomly be assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: prebiotic or placebo. Participants will consume one capsule daily of respective treatments for a period of four (4) weeks. At the beginning and end of the 4 week treatment periods blood and stool samples will be collected at the Human Performance Clinical Research Laboratory (HPCRL). This means that participants will make a total of four (4) clinic visits during each treatment period. Following the initial treatment period, all participants will be required to undergo a wash-out period for two (2) weeks. Upon completion of the wash-out period, participants will switch treatment groups for a period of four (4) weeks. Clinic visits at baseline and 4-weeks for collection of stool and blood samples will also be conducted during the second treatment period. Study participants will be required to provide a total of four (4) fecal samples and four (4) fasting blood samples. Additionally, study participants will be required to provide a weekly assessment of GI symptoms during the two treatment periods. All blood samples will be collected at Colorado State University by trained professionals. Fecal sample collection will be performed by the study participant with collection materials provided by study personnel. Both participants and researchers will be blinded during the course of the intervention and throughout the data analysis period. Blinding will be conducted by individuals from Deerland Enzymes, the company that is providing the capsules for intervention.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
43

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

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.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy adults
  • 18-65 years old
  • Mild to moderate GI distress (self-assessed)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Diagnosed GI disease (Celiac, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, cancer, or other gastrointestinal or metabolic diseases)
  • Antibiotic use in the past 2 months
  • Use of NSAIDS, statins, metformin, and other drugs known to modify the gut microbiota
  • BMI less than 18.0 or greater than 35.0

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Comparator
Placebo control: 1 capsule containing rice maltodextrin consumed 1x daily for 28 days.
Other: Placebo Control
Placebo control capsule consisting of rice maltodextrin
Other Names:
  • rice maltodextrin
Experimental: Experimental
Bacteriophage mixture: 1 capsule containing rice maltodextrin and a mixture of 4 bacteriophages consumed 1x daily for 28 days.
Dietary supplement: Bacteriophage mixture
Four bacteriophage strains: LH01-Myoviridae, LL5-Siphoviridae, T4D-Myoviridae, and LL12-Myoviridae.
Other Names:
  • PreforPro

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Microbiota modulation
Time Frame: Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Use of 16s rRNA sequencing of stool samples to determine whether the administered interventions resulted in changes to microbial composition.
Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Local inflammation
Time Frame: Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Inflammation in the bowels will be assessed by use of ELISA test for fecal calprotectin.
Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Systemic Inflammation
Time Frame: Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Systemic inflammation will be assessed by an ELISA test for CRP and circulating cytokines and immune factors.
Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Microbial metabolism
Time Frame: Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Fermentation by microbes in the gut will be assessed by measuring fecal short chain fatty acid concentrations.
Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Circulating lipids
Time Frame: Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides will be determined in venous blood using a clinical analyzer (Piccolo Xpress).
Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Comprehensive metabolic panel
Time Frame: Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Basic metabolic parameters such as fasting glucose, and levels of BUN, creatinine, and liver enzymes will be determined from a single 200 ul aliquot of venous blood using a CMP clinical analysis panel for Piccolo Xpress.
Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
GI symptom self-assessment
Time Frame: Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2
Participants will complete a validated questionnaire to track changes in GI symptoms.
Baseline visit prior to starting treatments,4 weeks after starting treatment 1, end of 2-week washout period, 4-weeks after starting treatment 2

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Colorado State University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Metabiomics Corp
George Mason University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Tiffany Weir, PhD, Colorado State University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 30, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 30, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 1, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 30, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 1, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 4, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 2, 2019

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 16-6666HH

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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