MRI Exploration of Protein Digestion (MOVE)

MRI Exploration of Protein Digestion - a Feasibility Study

The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of using MRI for in vivo monitoring of gastric milk digestion (protein coagulation and breakdown). The study will be in healthy normal-weight individuals aged between 18 and 45 years.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Is there a significant effect of time on the postprandial magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) of the stomach contents?
2. Can a difference in postprandial MTR of the stomach contents between the test products be detected?

Participants will visit after an overnight fast two times and then have MRI scans of the stomach before and after the consumption of 500 mL of pasteurized or high-pasteurized skim milk.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Gastric Digestion
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: skim milk

Detailed Description

Rationale: Gastric digestion is the first step in the breakdown of dietary proteins, and is therefore essential for the further breakdown in the intestines and subsequent absorption of amino acids. Food processing, such as heating can modify the structure and digestibility of proteins. Digestion of dietary protein, and how this is affected by heating is often studied using in vitro digestion models that mimic the digestive tract. However, outcomes from these models need to be verified using in vivo digestion data from humans. Such data can in turn be used to improve digestion models. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to non-invasively monitor both in vitro and in vivo protein digestion, and hence, may bridge the gap between in vitro digestion models and real-life digestion physiology. The investigators have recently established candidate MRI markers for gastric protein digestion using in vitro models (MT and CEST MRI). As a next step, their potential for in vivo application needs to be established. Therefore, the aim of this research is to do a feasibility study in humans.

Objective: Assess the feasibility of using MT MRI for in vivo monitoring of gastric milk digestion (protein coagulation and breakdown).

Study design: Randomized cross-over study with two treatments.

Study population: 12 healthy volunteers, 18-45 years old.

Intervention: Participants will ingest 300 mL of commercial pasteurized skim milk (SM, heated for 20 s at 72 °C) and of high pasteurized skim milk (heated for 30 min at 80 °C). MRI scans of the stomach will be made at baseline, at t = 5 min and at 15-minute intervals up until t = 95 minutes after the start of ingestion. In addition, verbal ratings of hunger, fullness and nausea will be collected.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 12
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Wageningen, Netherlands, 6708 WE
    • Human Research Unit - Division of Human Nutrition and Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-45y
• Apparently healthy
• Normal weight (BMI 18.5-25)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Milk protein allergy or intolerance (self-reported)
• Lactose intolerance (self-reported)
• Gastric disorders or regular (>once a week) gastric complaints such as heartburn

• Use of medication which alters the normal functioning of the stomach, such as:

  • medical drug use that influences the GI tract's normal function, e.g. motility, and pH. For example, proton pump inhibitors, antacids, anti-depressants etc. (judged by our study doctor)
• Use of recreational drugs within one week before the test day (marihuana, XTC, GHB, helium)
• Being pregnant, lactating or planning on becoming pregnant during the study
• Alcohol consumption of more than 7 glasses per week
• Smoking (>2 cigarettes a week)
• Having gained or lost more than 5 kg of weight in the last month.
• Participating in other biomedical research during the study period

• Having a contra-indication to MRI scanning:

  • Intraorbital or intraocular metallic fragments
  • Ferromagnetic implants
  • Claustrophobia (self-reported)
• Unwillingness to be referred to their general practitioner in case of chance findings of pathology
• Being an employee or student of the Division of Human Nutrition and Health or the Laboratory of Biophysics at Wageningen University.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: pasteurized skim milk; 300 mL of commercial pasteurized skim milk (heated for 15s at ~72 °C)	Other: skim milk; pasteurized or high-pasteurized skim milk
Other: High-pasteurized skim milk; 300 mL of High-pasteurized skim milk prepared by heating commercial pasteurized skim milk for 30 min at 80 °C	Other: skim milk; pasteurized or high-pasteurized skim milk

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
MT MRI scans of the stomach	average MTR of the stomach content over time	Baseline, T = 5, 20, 35, 50, 65, 80, 95 minutes after start of consumption

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
CEST MRI of the stomach	Average CESTR of the stomach content over time (measure of soluble proteins and peptides)	Baseline, T = 5, 20, 35, 50, 65, 80, 95 minutes after start of consumption

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gastric content volume	Change from baseline gastric content volume over time in milliliter as determined from an abdominal MRI scan	Baseline, T = 5, 20, 35, 50, 65, 80, 95 minutes after start of consumption
Verbal subjective ratings of appetite, thirst and wellbeing provided on a scale of 0 - 100 units		Baseline, T = 5, 20, 35, 50, 65, 80, 95 minutes after start of consumption

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wageningen University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 9, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 8, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): September 8, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 19, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 11, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 5, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 4, 2023
• Last Verified: December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: NL83133.091.23

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