BREATHE-Easy Trial

Western Versus Prudent Diet Feeding Study in Adult Women With Asthma

This research is being done to evaluate the feasibility of a prudent versus Western diet feeding study in women with asthma in Baltimore City. The results of this research will provide data to appropriately design a definitive study looking at the differential effects of these two diets on asthma health.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Asthma
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Prudent diet; Other: Western diet

Detailed Description

The investigators are interested in the effects of two different diets on asthma health. The first, a prudent diet, consists of a high intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, low-fat dairy products, and overall high levels of antioxidants (which may protect the lungs and the body against inflammation in patients with asthma). The second, a Western diet, consists of a high intake of processed foods, fast foods, sweets, omega-6 fatty acids, and a low intake of fiber (which may promote inflammation in the lungs and the body of patients with asthma).

This pilot study will test the feasibility/acceptability of the study design in providing these two diets to participants over a short period of time (6 days per diet), and gather preliminary data on asthma health outcomes that will be used to design a larger, definitive trial. Each participant will be randomly (by chance, like flipping a coin) assigned to start with one of these diets. All foods in each of the diets will be supplied by the study, and participants will be expected to eat all of the food provided and only the food provided for the next 6 days. The investigators will make sure that each participant gets enough food for what their body needs, based on a visit with a nutritionist at the beginning of the study. After eating either the Prudent diet or Western diet for 6 days, participants will have a 4-8 week break (or washout period), during which they will eat their usual diet. Then participants will begin the alternate dietary intervention (Prudent or Western) for another 6 days, depending on which they received first. Before and after each dietary period, researchers will ask questions, check lung function, and collect samples from participants to determine acceptability of the meals and study design, gather feedback on the intervention and overall study structure, assess for changes in lung health and asthma control, measure inflammation and oxidative stress in the lungs and systemic circulation, and evaluate changes in the airway and gut microbiome associated with the interventions that may influence the asthmatic response.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 3
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205
      • Johns Hopkins University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Age 18-55
• Female
• Obese (BMI>30kg/m2)
• Not breastfeeding

• Diagnosis of asthma, defined as

  • Physician diagnosis of asthma, and
  • Current treatment for asthma by a healthcare provider within the preceding twelve months. (Current asthma treatment defined as regular use of asthma medications. Asthma medications include short and long acting adrenergic bronchodilators, bronchodilator combinations, inhaled anticholinergics, inhaled corticosteroids, cromolyn sodium and nedocromil, leukotriene modifiers and methylxanthines.)
• Stable asthma, defined by no asthma exacerbation (ED visit, course of increased systemic steroids, or urgent health care visit for asthma) during the prior four weeks.
• Symptomatic asthma (Asthma Control Test <20 at baseline screening visit)
• Non-smoker, defined by no cigarettes in the past year and a negative urine cotinine
• No other major pulmonary disease such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Willing to eat study diet and nothing else for each of the 6 days of controlled feeding

Exclusion criteria:

• Chronic oral steroid therapy (daily)
• Oral corticosteroid use within the past 4 weeks
• Respiratory tract infection within the past 4 weeks
• Significant medical issues such as heart disease or poorly controlled hypertension, type 1 diabetes, poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, or hypothyroidism that would interfere with collection of outcome measures or present safety issues in the opinion of the Principal Investigator
• Pregnancy (self-report), planning a pregnancy, or nursing/breastfeeding mothers
• Food allergy that interferes with ability to complete the study
• Food preferences, intolerances, or dietary requirements that would interfere with diet adherence
• Taking vitamin supplements
• Planned dietary changes during the study period
• Use of coumadin
• Consumption of more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week, or consumption of 6 or more drinks on an occasion, one or more occasions per week
• Forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1)<1.5 liters or <60% predicted
• Inability to perform acceptable spirometry
• Any condition or compliance issue which in the opinion of the investigator might interfere with participation in the study
• Lack of appropriate food refrigeration and preparation equipment (oven or microwave)
• Inability to produce adequate sputum following induction with hypertonic saline neb

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: OTHER
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
• Masking: DOUBLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Prudent diet then Western diet; Participants randomized to this arm will received 6 days of meals consistent with a Prudent diet, followed by a washout period, and then 6 days of meals consistent with a Western diet.	Other: Prudent diet; Six days of meals provided with high amounts of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, low-fat dairy products, and overall high levels of antioxidants.; Other: Western diet; Six days of meals provided with high amounts of processed foods, fast foods, sweets, omega-6 fatty acids, and a low intake of fiber.
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Western diet then Prudent diet; Participants randomized to this arm will received 6 days of meals consistent with a Western diet, followed by a washout period, and then 6 days of meals consistent with a Prudent diet.	Other: Prudent diet; Six days of meals provided with high amounts of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, low-fat dairy products, and overall high levels of antioxidants.; Other: Western diet; Six days of meals provided with high amounts of processed foods, fast foods, sweets, omega-6 fatty acids, and a low intake of fiber.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Feasibility: participant feedback	We will measure this via questionnaire at the final study visit.	At conclusion of second feeding period, 7-14 weeks post-enrollment
Feasibility: adherence to diet	Daily adherence diaries completed by each participant during each dietary intervention.	Completed daily during each of the two, 6-day feeding periods.
Feasibility: serum carotenoids	Serum carotenoids will be measured the morning prior to initiating each feeding period and the morning following completion of each 6-day feeding period.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period
Feasibility: serum lipids	Serum lipids will be measured the morning prior to initiating each feeding period and the morning following completion of each 6-day feeding period.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period
Feasibility: serum free fatty acids	Serum free fatty acids will be measured the morning prior to initiating each feeding period and the morning following completion of each 6-day feeding period.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period
Feasibility: obtaining sputum samples	Induced sputum will be collected for analysis of airway inflammation, a proposed key outcome for a definitive future trial.	Difference between baseline levels and levels on day 7 of each feeding period.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ)	Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) is a 32 item questionnaire and each question uses a 7-point Likert scale (7 = not impaired at all - 1 = severely impaired).	Difference between baseline levels and levels on day 7 of each feeding period.
Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI)	Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI, range 0-1, higher score denoting fewer symptoms) will be measured.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period
Asthma Control Test (ACT)	Asthma Control Test (ACT, range 5-25, higher score denoting better asthma control).	Difference between baseline levels and levels on day 7 of each feeding period.
Daily symptoms	Daily symptom diaries completed by each participant during each dietary intervention.	Completed daily during each of the two, 6-day feeding periods.
FEV1	Spirometry will be measured according to the American Thoracic Society standards. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) will be assessed.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period
FVC	Spirometry will be measured according to the American Thoracic Society standards. The forced vital capacity (FVC) will be assessed.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period
FEV1/FVC ratio	Spirometry will be measured according to the American Thoracic Society standards. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio will be assessed.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period
Albuterol inhaler (rescue medication) use	Daily diaries of self-reported albuterol use completed by each participant during each dietary intervention.	Completed daily during each of the two, 6-day feeding periods.
Exhaled nitric oxide	Exhaled nitric oxide is an indicator of airway inflammation and will be measured according to American Thoracic Society standards.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period.
Markers of systemic Th2 inflammation	Serum and urine will be assessed for markers of Th2 inflammation.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period.
Markers of airway Th2 inflammation	Sputum will be assessed for markers of Th2 inflammation.	Difference between baseline levels and levels on day 7 of each feeding period.
Markers of systemic Th1 inflammation	Serum will be assessed for markers of Th1 inflammation.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period.
Markers of airway Th1 inflammation	Sputum will be assessed for markers of Th1 inflammation.	Difference between baseline levels and levels on day 7 of each feeding period.
Markers of systemic oxidative stress	Serum and urine will be assessed for markers of oxidative stress.	Difference between day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period.
Markers of airway oxidative stress	Sputum will be assessed for markers of oxidative stress.	Difference between baseline levels and levels on day 7 of each feeding period.
Upper airway microbiome	Microbiome assessment via nasal swab collection.	Difference between microbial community composition on day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period.
Lower airway microbiome	Microbiome assessment via sputum collection.	Difference in microbial community composition between baseline and day 7 of each feeding period.
Gut microbiome	Microbiome assessment via stool collection.	Difference between microbial community composition on day 1 and day 7 of each feeding period.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
• Collaborators: National Institutes of Health (NIH); University of Nebraska
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Emily Brigham, MD, MHS, Johns Hopkins University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): October 12, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): July 3, 2018
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): July 3, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 21, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 23, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): June 27, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): September 14, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 9, 2021
• Last Verified: August 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Asthma, Diet
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Lung Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Bronchial Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity; Asthma
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB00111434; 4KL2TR001077-04 (NIH)

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