The goal of this interventional study is to assess the safety and tolerability of the daily administratrion of bacterium Phascolarctobacterium faecium in healthy adults with normal weight, and in individuals with overweight and alterations in glucose metabolism. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Is the bacterium intake safe? Is the bacterium intake well tolerated? The objecitves are to assess if the intake of the bacterium is well tolerated by assessing gastrointenstinal symptoms, and safe, by assessing biochemical markers, incidence of adverse events and the general health status. Participants will take daily the bacterium for 15 days. Study assessments include stool collection for microbiota analysis; blood sampling form biochemical tests, anthropometric measurements, and validated questionnaires on diet, physical activity, and perceived health.
A total of 20 adult volunteers will consume a daily dose of Phascolarctobacterium faecium once per day for 15 consecutive days. Stool and blood samples will be collected at baseline and after the intervention; blood draws will be performed following an overnight fasting of at least 8 hours. Participants will also complete online questionnaires assessing sociodemographic characteristics, gastrointestinal symptoms, bowel habits, general health status, physical activity, and dietary habits. In addition, body composition parameters will be evaluated.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
The participants will be given Phascolarctobacterium faecium orally (pill form) for 15 consecutive days.
Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC)
Valencia, Spain
Incidence of adverse events and general health status
Participants will have access to a 24-hour contact number to report any inconvenience or adverse effects. All adverse effects will be recorded throughout the intervention period and for one additional week after completion. Outcomes will be reported as the presence or absence of adverse effects.
Time frame: 21 days
Systemic safety of P. faecium intake assessed in all the clinical trial participants by biochemical markers
Complete hemogram and biochemical analysis will be permormed at baseline and after bacterum intervention and includes red blood cells, white blood cells, and assessments of lipid profile (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol), renal function (urea, creatinine, and uric acid), hepatic function (total protein, AST, and ALT), and glucose homeostasis (glucose, insulin, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR). All parameters will be measured using standard units commonly applied in clinical practice, and results will be compared before and after the intervention. It will be interpreted as either unchanged or altered relative to baseline values.
Time frame: 15 days
Tolerability assessment measured by stool habit
To assess the tolerability of P. faecium, participants will complete gastrointestinal symptom questionnaires before and after the intervention, capturing both weekly bowel movement frequency and stool consistency using the Bristol Stool Scale. Stool habits will be evaluated by integrating these two variables: a normal habit will be defined as 4-14 bowel movements per week together with a Bristol score of 3-5, whereas any deviation from these ranges will be classified as an altered stool habit.
Time frame: 15 days
Tolerability assessment measured by the frequency of heartburn.
Use of probiotic bacteria may occasionally elicit mild gastrointestinal discomfort, including bloating, gas or abdominal cramps. To assess the tolerability of the tested bacterium, participants will complete gastrointestinal symptom questionnaires before and after the intervention, which also capture the frequency of heartburn. Response options include: "all the time," "most of the time," "sometimes," "a few times," and "never." Changes in frequency will be compared between pre- and post-treatment assessments.
Time frame: 15 days
Tolerability assessment measured by the frequency of abdominal bloating.
Use of probiotic bacteria may occasionally elicit mild gastrointestinal discomfort, including bloating, gas or abdominal cramps. To assess the tolerability of the tested bacterium, participants will complete gastrointestinal symptom questionnaires before and after the intervention, which also capture the frequency of abdominal bloating. Response options include: "all the time," "most of the time," "sometimes," "a few times," and "never." Changes in frequency will be compared between pre- and post-treatment assessments.
Time frame: 15 days
Tolerability assessment measured by the frequency of constipation.
Use of probiotic bacteria may occasionally elicit mild gastrointestinal discomfort, including bloating, gas or abdominal cramps. To assess the tolerability of the tested bacterium, participants will complete gastrointestinal symptom questionnaires before and after the intervention, which also capture the frequency of constipation. Response options include: "all the time," "most of the time," "sometimes," "a few times," and "never." Changes in frequency will be compared between pre- and post-treatment assessments.
Time frame: 15 days
Tolerability assessment measured by the frequency of diarrhea.
Use of probiotic bacteria may occasionally elicit mild gastrointestinal discomfort, including bloating, gas or abdominal cramps. To assess the tolerability of the tested bacterium, participants will complete gastrointestinal symptom questionnaires before and after the intervention, which also capture the frequency of diarrhea. Response options include: "all the time," "most of the time," "sometimes," "a few times," and "never." Changes in frequency will be compared between pre- and post-treatment assessments.
Time frame: 15 days
Tolerability assessment measured by the frequency of nausea.
Use of probiotic bacteria may occasionally elicit mild gastrointestinal discomfort, including bloating, gas or abdominal cramps. To assess the tolerability of the tested bacterium, participants will complete gastrointestinal symptom questionnaires before and after the intervention, which also capture the frequency of nausea. Response options include: "all the time," "most of the time," "sometimes," "a few times," and "never." Changes in frequency will be compared between pre- and post-treatment assessments.
Time frame: 15 days
Tolerability assessment measured by the frequency of flatulence.
Use of probiotic bacteria may occasionally elicit mild gastrointestinal discomfort, including bloating, gas or abdominal cramps. To assess the tolerability of the tested bacterium, participants will complete gastrointestinal symptom questionnaires before and after the intervention, which also capture the frequency of flatulence. Response options include: "all the time," "most of the time," "sometimes," "a few times," and "never." Changes in frequency will be compared between pre- and post-treatment assessments.
Time frame: 15 days
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