Environmental Health Effects on Your Physiology (HYPHY)

Exposure to Air Pollutants and Green Space: Implications for the Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Young Adults Living in Denver, Colorado

This study evaluates the associations between exposure to air pollutants, green space, and the gut microbiome and metabolome.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Obesity

Detailed Description

A rapidly evolving field of study suggests a link between the gut microbiome and fecal metabolome with obesity. Recent studies show that environmental exposures, such as ambient air pollution (AAP) exposure can affect gut bacteria and modify risk for obesity. Additionally, proximity to green space has been shown to reduce exposure to air pollutants and increase gut microbial diversity. The investigator's preliminary work has shown that near-roadway air pollution exposure was positively correlated with gut microbial taxa that have been linked with obesity. These findings suggest that air pollution exposure may increase susceptibility to obesity through alterations in the composition and function of the gut microbiome. Despite this, no studies have systematically examined the impact of air pollutants and green space on the gut microbiome and metabolome among adolescents. The overall goal of this research is to determine whether exposure to air pollutants and/or green space affect the gut microbiome and metabolome in young adults residing in Denver, Colorado. This study will examine residential-based estimates of air pollution exposure and green space and also perform detailed gut microbial and metabolite profiling in 100 adolescent and young adults.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 100

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Tanya L Alderete, PhD; Phone Number: 3037356249; Email: tanya.alderete@colorado.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Colorado
    • Boulder, Colorado, United States, 80309
      • Clinical and Translational Research Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 25 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Young adults from Denver, Colorado.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• The participant population includes young adults (18-25 years of age) who live in Denver, Colorado.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria include physical, mental, or cognitive disability that prevents participation
• Current incarceration
• Antibiotic usage in the previous month
• Pregnant or nursing
• Non-English speaking
• Any medical conditions known to affect body composition, insulin secretion, or the gut microbiota (i.e., type 1 or 2 diabetes, intestinal bowel disease, Crohn's Disease, kidney disease, heart disease, autoimmune disease).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gut Microbiome	16S rRNA and Shotgun Sequencing	Measured once at baseline visit date
Fecal Metabolome	Targeted and/or Un-targeted Metabolomics	Measured once at baseline visit date
Body mass index (BMI)	Weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m^2	Measured once at baseline visit date
Body Composition	Waist and hip measurements will be taken	Measured once at baseline visit date

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Air Pollution	Modeled residential exposure to air pollution	One year before baseline visit date
Green Space	Modeled residential exposure to green space	One year before baseline visit date
Serum Metabolome	Targeted and/or Un-targeted Metabolomics	Measured once at baseline visit date
Diet	Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour (ASA24)	Measured once at baseline
Physical Activity	International Physical Activity Questionnaire	Measured once at baseline
Fasting Glucose	Fasting Glucose (mg/dl)	Measured once at baseline
Fasting Insulin	Fasting insulin (uU/mL)	Measured once at baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Colorado, Boulder

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 18, 2019
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 12, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): June 14, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 9, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 8, 2023
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 19-0201

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