Age-associated Arterial Dysfunction, Western Diet, and Aerobic Exercise: Role of the Gut Microbiome

October 27, 2021 updated by: Douglas Seals, University of Colorado, Boulder
The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases increases with aging largely due to age-related declines in the function of arteries (arterial dysfunction), which are influenced by common lifestyle factors such as consumption of a "Western" diet and lack of sufficient physical activity; thus, it is important to study how these factors interact to affect artery function. This study will determine whether changes to the gut microbiome (the collection of bacteria and other "microbes" living in the intestinal tract) with aging, Western diet consumption and aerobic exercise influence arterial function, and the biological pathways (mechanisms) involved. Specifically, the investigators will perform a randomized, single-blind, controlled feeding crossover study design (comparing Western diet to non-Western diet consumption) in young and older, exercising and non-exercising healthy adults to determine the time course effects (temporal association) of diet on the gut microbiome and arterial function. Overall, this research has potential to establish the gut microbiome as a possible target for treating/preventing age-related arterial dysfunction and reducing the risk of age-associated cardiovascular diseases.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

In order to investigate how age-related changes to the gut microbiome, as modulated by Western diet and exercise, influences arterial function in humans, the investigators will capitalize on the plasticity of the gut microbiome to dietary perturbations. A randomized, single-blind, 2x1-week dietary intervention crossover study (with 3 week washout) will be conducted in young (18-29 years) and old (60-79 years), exercising and non-exercising, male and female adults from all races and ethnic backgrounds. Testing will take place on the University of Colorado Boulder main campus at the Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC - located in the Wardenburg Health Center). Subjects will undergo telephone and in-person CTRC screening, with those eligible assigned to either Group A or Group B using block randomization stratified by age and exercise status. Group A will undergo isocaloric WD feeding (high fat [40%], high sugar [25%], low fiber [15g], low nutrient) during Phase 1 (first 1-week treatment period) and non-WD feeding (low-fat [25%], low sugar [15%], high fiber [22g], high nutrient) during Phase 2 (second 1-week treatment period). Group B will undergo the dietary interventions in the opposite order. Phases 1 and 2 will be separated by a 3-week washout period to prevent carry over effects. During each 1-week intervention period, fecal swabs will be collected daily to characterize the gut microbiome and vascular function, will be measured at baseline and after 2 and 7 days of controlled feeding to gain insight into the temporal relation between these outcomes.

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 (Anticipated)

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.
120

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

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

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 79 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-29 or 60-79 years
  • Participating in < 30 min aerobic exercise < 2x/wk for >3 years OR > 45 min vigorous aerobic exercise > 4x/wk for > 3 yrs
  • Currently consuming levels of dietary fat intake with the 40th-60th percentile of Americans based on the NHANES survey (29-37% calories from fat)
  • Healthy (no clinical disease)
  • Body mass index < 30 kg/m2
  • Ankle-brachial blood pressure index > 0.9
  • Total cholesterol < 240 mg/dl
  • Fasting plasma glucose < 110 mg/dl
  • Weight stable in the past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current or past (within 3 months of screening) use of dietary supplements, anti-inflammatory medications, drugs known to affect the gut microbiome (antibiotics, pre/probiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antiparasitics), or gastrointestinal-targeted drugs (proton pump inhibitors, H2 receptor antagonists, laxatives, antidiarrheal medications)
  • Current of past (within 5 years) smoking
  • Major change in health status in the last 6 months
  • Chronic clinical diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowl diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, dementia or other brain diseases of aging)

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: Single

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.
Other: Western diet first
To receive Western diet controlled feeding first, followed by non-Western diet controlled feeding
Other: Western Diet
high fat (40%), high sugar (25%) and low fiber (15g/day)
Other: Non-Western Diet
low fat (25%), low sugar (15%), high fiber (30g/day)
Other: Non-Western diet first
To receive non-Western diet controlled feeding first, followed by Western diet controlled feeding
Other: Western Diet
high fat (40%), high sugar (25%) and low fiber (15g/day)
Other: Non-Western Diet
low fat (25%), low sugar (15%), high fiber (30g/day)

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
Change in the gut microbiome
Time Frame: 7 days
Sterile fecal swabs will be collected and analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing
7 days
Change in endothelial function
Time Frame: 7 days
Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation
7 days
Change in arterial stiffness
Time Frame: 7 days
Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity
7 days

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.
University of Colorado, Boulder

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.
University of California, San Diego

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.
March 15, 2018

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

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.
December 31, 2021

Study Completion (Anticipated)

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.
December 31, 2021

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).
November 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.
November 2, 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.
November 7, 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.
October 28, 2021

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.
October 27, 2021

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.
October 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • 16-0633

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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