Examining the Relationship Between Acute Meal Intake and Inflammation in Children

Recent evidence has shown that obese and overweight children exhibit states of chronic inflammation. In obese adults, a high carbohydrate meal induces an inflammatory response; however, the effects of a high carbohydrate meal on biomarkers of inflammation has not previously been examined in children. The purpose of this research project is to characterize the inflammatory response to a high carbohydrate versus a low carbohydrate meal in healthy weight, overweight, and obese children (age 7-17 years). After completing informed consent/assent, a Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan, and baseline blood draw on experimental day 1, children will then return to the lab two times to ingest either a high or low carbohydrate beverage followed by post-meal blood collection for a total of 3 blood draws. Biomarkers of inflammation will be analyzed by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Participants will be recruited through various studies through the Neurocognitive Kinesiology Lab/Body Composition and Nutritional Neuroscience Labs as well as through the local Champaign-Urbana community. Data from this project will provide a better understanding of the inflammatory response to different meals in healthy weight, overweight, and obese children.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Inflammation; Obesity
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Eggs and Carbohydrates

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Urbana, Illinois, United States, 61801
      • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 7 years to 17 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between the ages of 7-17

Exclusion Criteria:

• Younger than 7 years and older than 17 years
• Presence of allergies to eggs and/or sugar substitutes
• Presence of heart or respiratory disease
• Presence of uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes
• Use of anti-inflammatory medications
• Presence of cancer or metabolic disease

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Maltodextrin; Participants will consume 56g of maltodextrin dissolved in 500mL of water.	Other: Eggs and Carbohydrates; Participants are asked to consume both egg based powder or maltodextrin dissolved in 500mL of water at two different time points at least one week apart. Participants will then submit to a venous blood draw to assess levels of cellular inflammation.
Experimental: Egg; Participants will consume 36g of spray-dried egg powder (equivalent to 3 eggs) dissolved in 500mL of water.	Other: Eggs and Carbohydrates; Participants are asked to consume both egg based powder or maltodextrin dissolved in 500mL of water at two different time points at least one week apart. Participants will then submit to a venous blood draw to assess levels of cellular inflammation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effects of egg or maltodextrin on inflammatory cytokines (Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein, and Interleukin-6)	Will be used by determining any changes in inflammatory cytokines via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.	3 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effects of egg or maltodextrin on inflammatory monocyte cells with and without expression of Toll-like receptor 4 and C-C Chemokine receptor-2.	Will be used by determining the cells per microliter of lysed whole blood.	3 weeks.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Collaborators: Egg Nutrition Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Niemiro GM, Chiarlitti NA, Khan NA, De Lisio M. A Carbohydrate Beverage Reduces Monocytes Expressing TLR4 in Children with Overweight or Obesity. J Nutr. 2020 Mar 1;150(3):616-622. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxz294.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 29, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 2, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): February 2, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 13, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 13, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): July 24, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 31, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 28, 2018
• Last Verified: July 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Inflammation; Obesity; Children
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Inflammation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 17112

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