A Study to Assess the Gut Health Effects of Heat-killed Post-biotics in Overweight and Obese Adults

A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Group Study to Assess the Gut Health Effects of Heat-killed Post-biotics EF2001 & beLP1 in Overweight and Obese Adults

The present study is a randomized, double-blind (Double dummy), placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to assess the gut health effects of heat-killed post biotics in overweight and obese individuals

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Placebo; Dietary supplement: EF2001; Dietary supplement: beLP1

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 188
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Dr. Shalini Srivastava, MBBS, MD; Phone Number: 022 42172300; Email: shalini.s@vediclifesciences.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Henali Bhoir, B.Pharm; Phone Number: 7738387606; Email: henali.b@vediclifesciences.com

Study Locations

• India
  • Ghatkopar, India, 400086
    • Recruiting
    • Metabol
    • Contact: Dr. Ketan Pakhale, MD General Medicine; Phone Number: 9819704302; Email: drketan.pakhale@metabolindia.com
  • Pune, India, 411002
    • Not yet recruiting
    • Dhanwantari Hospita
    • Contact: Dr. Bharat Jain, M.B.B.S, D.N.B; Phone Number: 8087448919; Email: dr_bharatjain@rediffmail.com
  • Maharashtra
    • Dombivli, Maharashtra, India, 421203
      • Recruiting
      • AIIMS Hospital
      • Contact: Dr. Vineet Chaudhari, MD, MNAMS (GE); Phone Number: 7337422597; Email: chaudhari.vineet@gmail.com
    • Nashik, Maharashtra, India, 422009
      • Recruiting
      • Life care Hospital
      • Contact: Dr. Namrata Modi, MBBS, DNB; Phone Number: 7045103821; Email: namratamodi11@gmail.com
    • Nashik, Maharashtra, India, 422001
      • Not yet recruiting
      • Sarthak Health Clinic.
      • Contact: Dr. Ashutosh Sonawane, MBBS, MD, DM; Phone Number: 8828226607; Email: drashutoshsonawane@gmail.com
    • Nashik, Maharashtra, India, 422003
      • Recruiting
      • Surya Multispeciality hospita
      • Contact: Dr. Prasad Nikam, M.B.B.S, MD; Phone Number: 9922999002; Email: drprasadnresearch@gmail.com
    • Nashik, Maharashtra, India, 422008
      • Not yet recruiting
      • Dr. Thakare superspeaciality clinic
      • Contact: Dr. Mahesh Thakare, MBBS,MD; Phone Number: 7822821643; Email: mahesh131090@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female individuals with the age ≥18 and ≤45 years with active lifestyle, moderate physical activity level as per International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF - SF)
• BMI of ≥ 25 - ≤ 35 kg/m2

• Individuals with liver & renal function test values as defined below:

  1. Individuals with ALT, AST values ≤ 2 times of the upper limit of normal (ULN).
  2. Individuals with creatinine values ≤ 1.5 times of the upper limit of normal (ULN).
  3. Individuals with ALP values ≥ 38 and ≤ 126 U/L

• Having at least two of the following five metabolic risk factors:

  1. Waist circumference > 102 cm (40 inches) for men and > 88 cm (35 inches) for women
  2. Fasting triglycerides >150 mg/dL and < 300 mg/dl
  3. Blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg (Systolic Blood Pressure) and/or ≥85 mm Hg (Diastolic Blood Pressure)
  4. Fasting blood glucose ≥ 100 mg/ dl
  5. Fasting HDL cholesterol level less than 40 mg/dl (men) or 50 mg/dl (women)
• History of mild to moderate gastrointestinal discomfort for at least last three months
• Individuals experiencing moderate-intensity gastrointestinal symptoms, evaluated based on the combined scores of two GSRS domains (dyspeptic syndrome and bowel dysfunction), falling within the range of ≥ 15 and ≤ 29 over the past two weeks. (The highest score out of two weeks' GSRS scores will be taken into consideration for the study)
• Willing to complete all study procedures including study-related questionnaires and comply with study requirements.
• Willing to abstain from other supplements or medication.
• Ready to give voluntary, written, informed consent to participate in the study
• No prohibited antibiotic usage within the last 30 days.
• History of stable weight over the last 6 months (<10% change)
• Willing to maintain current dietary and exercise habits, aside from any changes to be made per the study exercise protocol

Randomization Criteria:

• Two weeks of run - in period for weight stability (Weight instability defined as > 2 kg of weight gain or loss over 2 weeks of run-in period)
• GSRS scores not less than that reported at screening. (The highest score out of two weeks' GSRS scores will be taken into consideration for the study)
• Both the weekly at-home diaries for GSRS should be available
• 80% compliance to the run-in medication

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individual who smokes and consumes tobacco regularly.

• Presence of unstable, acutely symptomatic, or life-limiting illness.

  • Individuals diagnosed with diabetes and are on active medication
  • FBG > 125 mg/dl
  • Individuals diagnosed with hypertension and are on active medication.
  • Individuals with uncontrolled hypertension with systolic blood pressure ≥150 and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mm Hg.

• Individuals with neurological conditions causing functional or cognitive impairments.

  • Individuals with a history or presence of clinically significant renal, hepatic, endocrine, biliary, gastrointestinal, pancreatic or neurologic disorders that, in the judgment of the Investigator, would interfere with the subject's ability to provide informed consent, comply with the study protocol (which might confound the interpretation of the study results), or put the subject at undue risk.
  • Individuals under use of any psychotropic medication within four weeks of screening and throughout the study
• Individual under use of antibiotics or signs of active systemic infection at the time of screening. Treatment visits will be rescheduled to allow the subject to wash off the antibiotic for at least five days prior to any test visit

• Individual states they regularly consume supplemental enzymes and are unwilling to stop at least one week prior to screening and throughout the study. Supplemental enzymes may include standalone enzyme supplements, probiotic supplements with enzymes, and any medications containing enzymes.

  • Individuals states they regularly consume probiotic supplements and are unwilling to stop at least one week prior to screening and throughout the study. Supplemental probiotics may include standalone probiotic supplements, vitamins with probiotics, and any foods supplemented with probiotics
  • Exposure to any non-registered drug product within 3 months prior to the screening visit.
  • Unable/unwillingness to complete study specific diaries (digital/paper-based).
  • Current use of the following medications: monoamine oxidase inhibitors, prescription or herbal weight loss medications/ dietary supplement.
  • Females who are pregnant/planning to be pregnant/lactating or taking any oral contraceptives.
  • Individual who reports alcohol intake as average of 3 or more servings per day 18. Individuals with thyroid dysfunction as assessed by TSH ≤ 0.4 or ≥ 4.3 mIU/L.

• Individuals state they have an allergy or intolerance to any ingredient in the study product or test meal.

  • Individual is deemed unsuitable for study based upon study physician assessment.
  • Individual is taking part in another clinical trial

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; 1 capsule to be consumed once a day	Dietary supplement: Placebo; One capsule to be consumed once a day
Active Comparator: EF2001; 1 capsule to be consumed once a day	Dietary supplement: EF2001; One capsule to be consumed once a day
Active Comparator: beLP1; 1 capsule to be consumed once a day	Dietary supplement: beLP1; One capsule to be consumed once a day

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To assess efficacy of the Post-biotics on Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) from baseline.	Questions are to be rated on a Likert scale ranging from no discomfort at all (0) to very severe discomfort (3). A total score is calculated by summing the ratings provided on all questions. The questionnaire has 18 items - epigastric pain, colicky pain, dull pain, undefined pain, heartburn, acid regurgitation, sucking sensation, nausea and vomiting, borborygmus, abdominal distension, eructation, increased flatus, decreased passage of stools, increased passage of stools, loose stools, hard stools, urgent need for defecation and feeling of incomplete evacuation	Day 42

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To assess the impact of the IP from baseline as compared to placebo on Body Composition using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scan (DEXA)..	The overall body composition (Lean Body Mass, Body Fat percent, Fat Free Mass, android and gynoid fat) will be evaluated using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scan (DEXA).	Day 42 and Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP from baseline as compared to Gut permeability by assessing the levels of Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein (LBP).	The amount of the LBP will be calculated based on the standard curve. A study demonstrated an average of 7.8 μg/mL of LBP in obese individuals and 6 μg/mL in normal weight individuals.	Day 42 and Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP from baseline as compared to placebo on Homeostasis Model Assessment-Estimated Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)	HOMA-IR = (Fasting glucose × Insulin levels) ÷ 40 In a clinical study, subjects without metabolic syndrome exhibited a HOMA-IR value of 2.39, whereas obese subjects showed a higher HOMA-IR of 4.04.	Day 42 and Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP from baseline as compared to placebo on Immunomodulation using INF-γ	In the current study, the impact of the heat killed postbiotics will be evaluated in enhancing the immune-modulatory characteristics in individuals under metabolic stress	Day 42 and Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP from baseline as compared to placebo on Cytokine levels like IL-6.	IL-6 may be considered as a significant prognostic indicator of risk of any metabolic disorder.	Day 42 and Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP from baseline as compared to placebo on Inflammation by assessing the levels of Tumor necrosis factor -alpha (TNF - α)	TNF levels were elevated in adipose tissue in obese and insulin-resistant rodents and suggested that TNF had a role in mediating insulin resistance	Day 42 and Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP from baseline as compared to placebo on Lipid profile: Total cholesterol, Triglyceride, HDL, LDL.	The Lipid Profile will be performed on Roche cobas, Desirable cholesterol level is < 5.17 mmol/L (< 200 mg/dL). Desirable HDL level is > 1.68 mmol/L (> 65 mg/dL) in females & > 1.45 mmol/L (> 55 mg/dL) in males. Normal range of triglycerides is < 1.70 mmol/L (< 150 mg/dL)	Day 42 and Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP from baseline on Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)	Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Individual scores on the PSS can range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.	Day 42 and Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP from baseline as compared to placebo on Quality of life using Digestive Associated Quality of Life Questionnaire.	Quality of life using Digestive Associated Quality of Life Questionnaire., The total score represents the sum of the responses to the 9 statements with possible scores ranging from 0 to 9. A higher score indicates a lower (worse) digestion-associated QOL.	Day 42 and Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP on change in the following parameters baseline on Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA)	Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA)	Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP on change in the following parameters from baseline on Humoral response as assessed by Th1/Th2 in plasma.	Th1 cells secrete the cytokine interferon-gamma and activate inflammatory pathways mainly via macrophage activation .Th2 cells secrete cytokines interleukin-4 and -5 that upregulate antibody formation via B cells, mast cells, eosinophils, and other pathways. Th1 and Th2 cells can cross-inhibit each other	Day 0 to Day 84
To assess the impact of the IP on change in the following parameters from baseline on Gut microbiome diversity using metagenome NGS sequencing of the fecal samples.	Gut microbiome diversity using metagenome NGS sequencing of the fecal samples.	Day 0 to Day 84

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Vedic Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 14, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 15, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 6, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): April 20, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 26, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 25, 2024
• Last Verified: January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Body Weight; Overweight
• Other Study ID Numbers: BR/221101/EFLP/GH

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