Bioavailability of N-acylethanolamines: an Ileostomy Study (NAE Study)

University of Ulster14 enrolled

Overview

The endocannabinoids (ECs) and N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are a group of endogenous lipid mediators which have a pleiotropic activity in the body modulating several biological pathways such as: appetite cues, food intake, blood pressure, inflammation, glycaemia, cognition and immunity. The ECs consist of N-arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). They may have agonist activity on cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 which are located in the central nervous system (CNS) and in peripheral tissues such as in the enteric nervous system (ENS), in the liver and in the adipose tissue. NAEs are known as "endocannabinoid-like" molecules and include oleoylethanolamine (OEA), linoleylethanolamine (LEA), and palmitoyletahanolamine (PEA). Evidence indicates that diet composition may affect fasting and post-prandial plasma ECs, N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs) and NAEs profile due to the content of their precursors, fatty acids and amines. It is hypothesized that the concentration of NAPEs, NAEs and ECs in a meal could influence the intestinal concentrations of these lipid mediators that could bind the receptors located on the intestinal mucosa and in turn, differently modulate appetite and energy metabolism. The study is an acute randomized crossover feeding study in ileostmists (n=14), having a breakfast meal low or high in NAPEs, NAEs and ECs. The meals are designed on a database published by our collaborators (University of Naples) and detailed in the research proposal. Concentrations of NAEs and ECs in urine, plasma and ileal fluid, beside the blood glucose, hormonal response, appetite feelings and food intake will be monitored over the experimental days.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 70 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Participant must have previously undergone an ileostomy and be more than 1.5-years post-operative * Male or female * Aged 18-70 years at recruitment Exclusion Criteria: * Participants not undergone an ileostomy and/or is less 1.5-years post-operative * Adults \<18 or \>70 years at recruitment * Pregnant/lactating female * Current smokers * Lactose intolerant * Allergic to nuts

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs) levels in biofluids

Significant changes from baseline in plasma, urines and, Ileal fluids levels of NAPEs by HPLC-MS analysis.