This study evaluates the impact of increased intake of fruits and vegetables and whole grains on markers of inflammation and gut microbial composition. The treatment groups are 3 servings of whole grain per day; 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day; and a control (3 servings of refined grains per day provided).
Literature data suggests that fruits and vegetables and whole grains containing dietary fiber and other nutrients are important for maintaining beneficial microbes in the gut. The presence of beneficial microbes in the gut may mediate the subclinical inflammation experienced in metabolic disease. In this project, overweight or obese participants with low intakes of fruits and vegetables or whole grains will increase their intake of these foods to recommended levels. Changes in markers of inflammation and gut microbiota composition will be determined to assess and compare the potential impact of these foods on metabolic disease.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
52
5 servings of fruits or vegetables
3 servings of whole grain
3 servings of refined grain
Food Innovation Center
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Change in Interleukin-6 (Value at Week 8 Minus Value at Week 0)
Plasma samples collected from participants at the beginning (week 0) and end of the study (week 8) will be analyzed for interleukin-6 concentrations using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Changes in the concentrations of these inflammatory markers will be determined from week 0 to week 8.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (Value at Week 8 Minus Value at Week 0)
Plasma samples collected from participants at the beginning (week 0) and end of the study (week 8) will be analyzed for tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Changes in the concentrations of these inflammatory markers will be determined from week 0 to week 8.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in High Sensitivity C-reactive Protein (Value at Week 8 Minus Value at Week 0)
Plasma samples collected from participants at the beginning (week 0) and end of the study (week 8) will be analyzed for high sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Changes in the concentrations of these inflammatory markers will be determined from week 0 to week 8.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein (Value at Week 8 Minus Value at Week 0)
Plasma samples collected from participants at the beginning (week 0) and end of the study (week 8) will be analyzed for lipopolysaccharide binding protein concentrations using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Changes in the concentrations of these inflammatory markers will be determined from week 0 to week 8.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Gut Microbiota Shannon's Alpha Diversity (Value at Week 8 Minus Value at Week 0)
The Shannon Diversity Index is a quantitative measure that reflects how many different bacterial species there are in a sample. The greater the index, the more diverse the gut microbiota. A negative change indicates a decrease in diversity and a positive change indicates an increase in diversity.
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Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Fecal Short Chain Fatty Acids (Value at Week 8 Minus Value at Week 0)
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the end products of fermentation of dietary fibers by the anaerobic intestinal microbiota. SCFAs have been shown to exert multiple beneficial effects on mammalian energy metabolism.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Branched Chain Fatty Acids (Value at Week 8 Minus Value at Week 0)
Branched chain fatty acids (BCFA) are mostly saturated fatty acids (SFA) with one or more methyl branches on the carbon chain. BCFAs were extracted from stool samples and measured using gas chromatography.
Time frame: 8 weeks