The aim of this study is to develop and validate an adequate protocol of volatolome (volatile metabolites) measurement in breath of human volunteers (18-65 years) to study gut microbiome - nutrition - host interactions in a general healthy population. For this purpose, breath volatile metabolites (BVM) will be analyzed throughout test days in fasting state and after standardized meals using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). In addition, gut microbial functions linked notably to hydrogen/methane production, carbohydrates utilization (CAZymes), and in the production of other volatile metabolites of interest (i.e. indole, fatty acid derivatives, ...) will be unraveled through microbiome sequencing data analysis (in silico), metabolomic analyses and measurement of enzymatic activities from saliva, urine and/or fecal samples.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
100
Subjects will be invited to perform the screening visit to sign the informed consent and then to ensure that they are able to participate in this study.
Fasted subjects (at least 10 hours) will receive on oral load of 10 g of lactulose. Then, exhaled H2 will be measured every 30 minutes during 4 hours.
Subjects will receive standardized breakfasts and lunches characterized in terms of dietary fiber content. Urine, saliva, feces samples will be collected. Breath test and gastrointestinal symptoms will be followed during maximum 8h. Subjects will also complete SF36 questionnaire, food diary and stool/transit questionnaire.
Center of Investigation in Clinical Nutrition (CICN), UCLouvain/CICN
Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Brabant Wallon, Belgium
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGMetabolism and Nutrition research group (MNUT), Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), UCLouvain
Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels Capital, Belgium
RECRUITINGTesting rooms of Institute of Neuroscience (IONS), UCLouvain/IONS
Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels Capital, Belgium
RECRUITINGExhaled volatile compounds
Selected Ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) - Area under the curve (calculated on 8 hours following breakfast ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gut microbiota
Illumina sequencing of 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Salivary microbiota
Illumina sequencing of 16SrDNA, quantitative PCR
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gastrointestinal symptom - discomfort
100 mm Visual analog scale (0 = no symptom, 100 = very severe symptom) - Area under the curve (calculated on 8 hours following breakfast ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gastrointestinal symptom - nausea
100 mm Visual analog scale (0 = no symptom, 100 = very severe symptom) - Area under the curve (calculated on 8 hours following breakfast ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gastrointestinal symptom - bloating
100 mm Visual analog scale (0 = no symptom, 100 = very severe symptom) - Area under the curve (calculated on 8 hours following breakfast ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gastrointestinal symptom - flatulences
100 mm Visual analog scale (0 = no symptom, 100 = very severe symptom) - Area under the curve (calculated on 8 hours following breakfast ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gastrointestinal symptom - gastrointestinal reflux
100 mm Visual analog scale (0 = no symptom, 100 = very severe symptom) - Area under the curve (calculated on 8 hours following breakfast ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gastrointestinal symptom - cramps
100 mm Visual analog scale (0 = no symptom, 100 = very severe symptom) - Area under the curve (calculated on 8 hours following breakfast ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gastrointestinal symptom - rumbling
100 mm Visual analog scale (0 = no symptom, 100 = very severe symptom) - Area under the curve (calculated on 8 hours following breakfast ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gastrointestinal symptom - burps
100 mm Visual analog scale (0 = no symptom, 100 = very severe symptom)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Gut microbiota metabolic capacity
Enzymatic analysis via in-vitro studies, incubation of fecal extracts
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Exhaled hydrogen (H2)
Lactotest 202 - Area under the curve (calculated on 4 hours following lactulose ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Exhaled methane (CH4)
Lactotest 202 - Area under the curve (calculated on 8 hours following breakfast ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2)
Lactotest 202 - Area under the curve (calculated on 4 hours following lactulose ingestion)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Carbohydrates utilization - Carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes)
Saliva enzymatic activities
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Nutrient intake
Food diary (daily log of what the volunteer eats and drinks each day)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Dietary habits
Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) (record the volunteers' usual diet and dietary habits)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Well-being
The short form (36) health survey (SF36) (0 = worse physical and mental health functioning, 100 = best physical and mental health functioning)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Transit - frequency
Questionnaire on stool frequency (record each defecation time)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Transit - type of stool
Bristol stools scale (BSS) (classify the form of feces into 7 categories; type 1 = severe constipation, type 2 = mild constipation, types 3 and 4 = normal, type 5 = lacking fiber, type 6 = mild diarrhea, type 7 = severe diarrhea)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Transit - ease of passage
5-point Likert's scale (1 = very difficult to defecate, 5 = very easy to defecate)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Transit - level of emergency
5-point Likert's scale (1 = very urgent need to defecate, 5 = very nonurgent need to defecate)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
Transit - empty feeling
5-point Likert's scale (1 = very nonempty feeling after defecation, 5 = very empty feeling after defecation)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 24 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.