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Impact Of A Phe-Restricted Diet On Gut Health In Children With PKU

21 de julho de 2026 atualizado por: Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Impact Of A Phenylalanine-Restricted Diet On The Microbiota Composition And Metabolome Of Children With PKU

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited disorder of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism. The mainstay of treatment is a Phe-restricted diet, which aims to maintain blood Phe concentrations within the recommended range and prevent neurological complications. Some individuals with PKU respond to pharmacological treatments, including sapropterin, a synthetic form of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), or sepiapterin. These treatments may increase Phe tolerance and allow a less restrictive diet.

Diet is an important determinant of gut microbiota composition and function. However, the effects of the Phe-restricted diet and pharmacologically enabled dietary relaxation on the gut microbiota in PKU remain poorly understood.

This observational study includes children and adolescents with PKU aged 3-17 years attending Birmingham Children's Hospital. Participants include those managed exclusively with a Phe-restricted diet, those receiving sapropterin, and those receiving sepiapterin. One healthy household control is recruited for each participant with PKU.

Faecal samples are collected for shotgun metagenomic sequencing and metabolite profiling. Dietary intake, gastrointestinal symptoms, stool characteristics, clinical information, and PKU treatment are also assessed.

The study investigates whether gut microbiota composition, microbial functional potential, and faecal metabolite profiles differ between participants managed with a Phe-restricted diet, those receiving pharmacological treatment, and healthy household controls. The findings may improve understanding of the relationships between PKU treatment, dietary restriction, gastrointestinal health, and the gut microbiome and may inform future nutritional strategies for individuals with PKU.

Visão geral do estudo

Status

Recrutamento

Condições

Intervenção / Tratamento

Descrição detalhada

This is a single-centre, cross-sectional observational study conducted at Birmingham Children's Hospital. The study investigates the association between phenylketonuria (PKU) treatment, degree of dietary restriction, gastrointestinal health, and the composition and functional potential of the gut microbiota.

Children and adolescents aged 3-17 years with early-treated PKU are recruited into one of three cohorts according to their existing clinical management: treatment with a phenylalanine-restricted diet alone (anticipated n=30), treatment with sapropterin alongside an individualised phenylalanine-restricted diet (anticipated n=30), or treatment with sepiapterin alongside an individualised phenylalanine-restricted diet (anticipated n=14). Participants receiving sapropterin or sepiapterin have been receiving treatment for at least three months and have achieved at least a 100% increase in natural protein tolerance compared with their pre-treatment prescription. Treatment allocation, medication dosage, and dietary management are determined as part of routine clinical care and are not assigned or modified by the study.

One healthy household control is recruited for each participant with PKU. Household controls are aged 3 years or older and do not have PKU or another inherited metabolic disorder. Recruiting controls from the same household aims to reduce the influence of shared environmental factors, including living conditions and food availability, when comparing gut microbiota profiles. The anticipated total enrolment is 148 participants, comprising 74 participants with PKU and 74 household controls.

Each participant provides a single faecal sample. Samples are stored at -80°C and analysed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing to characterise microbial taxonomic composition, within-sample diversity, between-sample community differences, and microbial functional potential. Taxonomic profiles are assessed at multiple levels, including phylum, genus, and species. Functional annotation is used to characterise microbial genes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways.

Dietary intake is assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall, including natural protein intake, protein substitute intake, dietary fibre intake, and consumption of special low-protein foods. Gastrointestinal symptoms are assessed using the age-appropriate self-report or parent-proxy version of the PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptoms Module, and stool form is assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Relevant demographic and clinical information, including age, sex, anthropometric measurements, PKU treatment, and metabolic control, is also collected.

The findings from this study may support the development of nutritional strategies and protein substitutes that more effectively promote gastrointestinal and metabolic health in individuals with PKU.

Tipo de estudo

Observacional

Inscrição (Estimado)

148

Contactos e Locais

Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.

Contato de estudo

Estude backup de contato

Locais de estudo

    • Birmingham
      • Birmingham, Birmingham, Reino Unido, B4 6NH
        • Recrutamento
        • Birmingham Children's Hospital
        • Contato:

Critérios de participação

Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.

Critérios de elegibilidade

Idades elegíveis para estudo

  • Filho

Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis

Sim

Método de amostragem

Amostra Não Probabilística

População do estudo

Children and adolescents aged 3-17 years with early-treated phenylketonuria receiving clinical care at Birmingham Children's Hospital are recruited into one of three cohorts according to their current treatment: a phenylalanine-restricted diet alone, sapropterin, or sepiapterin.

One healthy household control aged 3 years or older, without phenylketonuria or another inherited metabolic disorder, is recruited for each participant with phenylketonuria. All participants are enrolled according to predefined eligibility criteria.

Descrição

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants with PKU:

  • Aged 3-17 years.
  • Confirmed diagnosis of phenylketonuria following newborn screening.
  • Receiving ongoing clinical management for PKU.
  • For the diet-only cohort: managed with standard phenylalanine-restricted dietary treatment and not receiving sapropterin or sepiapterin.
  • For the sapropterin cohort: receiving sapropterin for at least three consecutive months and having achieved at least a 100% increase in natural protein tolerance compared with the pre-treatment prescription.
  • For the sepiapterin cohort: receiving sepiapterin for at least three consecutive months and having achieved at least a 100% increase in natural protein tolerance compared with the pre-treatment prescription.

Healthy household controls:

  • Aged 3 years or older.
  • Living in the same household as a participating child or adolescent with PKU.
  • No known diagnosis of PKU or another inherited metabolic disorder.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Congenital malformations.
  • Chronic gastrointestinal disease.
  • Endocrine, liver, or kidney disease.
  • Other chronic medical conditions likely to affect gut microbiota composition.
  • Following a therapeutic diet for a medical condition other than PKU within the six months before stool sample collection.

Plano de estudo

Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.

Como o estudo é projetado?

Detalhes do projeto

Coortes e Intervenções

Grupo / Coorte
Intervenção / Tratamento
PKU - Diet Only
Children and adolescents aged 3-17 years with early-treated phenylketonuria who are managed exclusively with a phenylalanine-restricted diet and are not receiving sapropterin or sepiapterin. Participants provide a faecal sample and undergo dietary, clinical, gastrointestinal symptom, and stool assessments.
Participants are managed with a phenylalanine-restricted diet and prescribed protein substitutes as part of their usual clinical care. They are not receiving sapropterin or sepiapterin. Dietary treatment is not assigned or modified by this observational study.
PKU - Sapropterin
Children and adolescents aged 3-17 years with early-treated phenylketonuria who have been receiving sapropterin for at least 3 months and have achieved at least a 100% increase in natural protein tolerance compared with before treatment. Sapropterin treatment is not assigned as part of this observational study. Participants provide a faecal sample and undergo dietary, clinical, gastrointestinal symptom, and stool assessments.
Participants receive sapropterin as part of their usual clinical care, alongside an individualised phenylalanine-restricted diet. Sapropterin treatment and dosage are prescribed independently of this observational study and are not assigned or modified by the investigators.
Outros nomes:
  • Kuvan
PKU - Sepiapterin
Children and adolescents aged 3-17 years with early-treated phenylketonuria who have been receiving sepiapterin for at least 3 months and have achieved at least a 100% increase in natural protein tolerance compared with before treatment. Sepiapterin treatment is not assigned as part of this observational study. Participants provide a faecal sample and undergo dietary, clinical, gastrointestinal symptom, and stool assessments.
Participants receive sepiapterin as part of their existing clinical management, alongside an individualised phenylalanine-restricted diet. Sepiapterin treatment and dosage are determined independently of this observational study and are not assigned or modified by the investigators.
Outros nomes:
  • Sephience
Healthy Household Controls
Healthy household members without phenylketonuria who are recruited at a ratio of one control for each participant with phenylketonuria. Controls provide a faecal sample and complete the relevant dietary, gastrointestinal symptom, and stool assessments.

O que o estudo está medindo?

Medidas de resultados primários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Faecal gut microbiota taxonomic composition assessed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing
Prazo: At enrolment (single faecal sample collection)
Taxonomic profiles, expressed as the relative abundance of microbial taxa at phylum, genus, and species levels, are derived from shotgun metagenomic sequencing of one faecal sample per participant. Profiles are compared among participants with PKU managed by a phenylalanine-restricted diet alone, sapropterin, or sepiapterin and healthy household controls.
At enrolment (single faecal sample collection)

Medidas de resultados secundários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Faecal gut microbiota alpha diversity assessed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing
Prazo: At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Within-sample microbial diversity is assessed from shotgun metagenomic sequencing data using alpha-diversity indices, including Shannon, Simpson, Chao1, ACE, and observed species. Alpha-diversity measures are compared across the study cohorts.
At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Faecal gut microbiota beta diversity assessed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing
Prazo: At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Differences in overall microbial community composition between participants are assessed using beta-diversity measures derived from shotgun metagenomic sequencing data, including Bray-Curtis dissimilarity. Microbial community profiles are compared across the study cohorts.
At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Microbial functional potential assessed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing
Prazo: At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Microbial genes and functional pathways are characterised from shotgun metagenomic sequencing data using functional annotation databases. The relative abundance of microbial genes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways is compared across the study cohorts.
At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Gastrointestinal symptom burden assessed using the PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptoms Module
Prazo: At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Gastrointestinal symptoms are assessed using the age-appropriate self-report or parent-proxy version of the PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptoms Module. Total and individual symptom-domain scores are calculated, with lower scores indicating a greater gastrointestinal symptom burden, and compared across the study cohorts.
At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Stool form assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale
Prazo: At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Usual stool form is classified using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, ranging from type 1, representing separate hard lumps, to type 7, representing entirely liquid stool. Stool-form distributions are compared across the study cohorts.
At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Dietary intake assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall
Prazo: At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample
Dietary intake is assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall. Nutrient and food-group measures, including natural protein intake, protein substitute intake, dietary fibre intake, and consumption of special low-protein foods, are estimated and compared across the study cohorts.
At enrolment, based on a single faecal sample

Colaboradores e Investigadores

É aqui que você encontrará pessoas e organizações envolvidas com este estudo.

Patrocinador

Colaboradores

Investigadores

  • Investigador principal: Anita MacDonald, PhD, Birmingham Children's Hospital

Datas de registro do estudo

Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados ​​pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.

Datas Principais do Estudo

Início do estudo (Real)

1 de outubro de 2025

Conclusão Primária (Estimado)

1 de dezembro de 2026

Conclusão do estudo (Estimado)

1 de dezembro de 2026

Datas de inscrição no estudo

Enviado pela primeira vez

21 de julho de 2026

Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ

21 de julho de 2026

Primeira postagem (Real)

27 de julho de 2026

Atualizações de registro de estudo

Última Atualização Postada (Real)

27 de julho de 2026

Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade

21 de julho de 2026

Última verificação

1 de julho de 2026

Mais Informações

Termos relacionados a este estudo

Outros números de identificação do estudo

  • IRAS project ID: 353831

Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)

Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?

NÃO

Descrição do plano IPD

There is no current plan to share individual participant data because the study involves a small population with a rare condition, which may increase the risk of participant identification. Any future data sharing would be subject to participant consent, ethical and institutional approvals, and an appropriate data-sharing agreement. Aggregated study results will be disseminated through scientific publications and presentations.

Informações sobre medicamentos e dispositivos, documentos de estudo

Estuda um medicamento regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Estuda um produto de dispositivo regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Essas informações foram obtidas diretamente do site clinicaltrials.gov sem nenhuma alteração. Se você tiver alguma solicitação para alterar, remover ou atualizar os detalhes do seu estudo, entre em contato com register@clinicaltrials.gov. Assim que uma alteração for implementada em clinicaltrials.gov, ela também será atualizada automaticamente em nosso site .